Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline continued

II. THE MIND OF CHRIST 2:1-30

Key verse: 2:5

The idea here is not that we now possess all the mental faculties and capabilities of the "brain" of Jesus Christ, but that we are developing and demonstrating the mental attitude of Jesus Christ because we now have the Life of Christ in us.

As I see this chapter I discover that the prevailing attitude of this new mental attitude is one of peace, both internally and externally, vertically and horizontally. It is the peace that comes from humility and meekness. It in NO way weakens one but enables one to keep strength under control, remain calm and cool, and surrendered to the will of God.

Consider:

A. Peace Among the Members - An Exhortation 2:1-4

[2:1] If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
[2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
[3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

It is important that we English readers understand that the Greek text indicates these things to be assumed true from the writer's perspective. It is as if he is saying "since these things are true" or "assuming these things to be so". The first four verses in the Greek are one sentence.

Wuest says, "The four things mentioned in this verse are not hypothetical in their nature. They are facts." So we may safely assume that an individual or a body of believers experiencing the Life of Jesus Christ would also experience the things that accompany the Mind of Christ also.

1. It Brings Harmony

I have always wished I could play the piano. I can chord, but that is the extent of it. I hear the chords in my head and my fingers can find them on the keyboard but that's it. I enjoy melody but when harmony is added I really get excited about the sound. God designed sound AND saints for harmony and without it both are dull. It is the harmony that adds the flavor. When there is harmony in diversity that is so exciting. When people from different backgrounds, with different ideas, gifts, knowledge, and understanding can function together harmoniously it is AMAZING! That is what God wants.

It was what Paul said brought him great joy -

a. Encouragement in Christ -
As believers we are IN Christ and HAVE been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Him. Heaven is merely frosting on the cake. Heaven is our destiny, but eternal life is our journey - Yes! Yes! Yes! There is encouragement in Christ! For one and all the body!

b. Consolation of love -
13:4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Can you possibly read that and not find consolation in love?

c. Fellowship of the Spirit -
Together we participate in what the Holy Spirit of God is doing in and through, and by and with and for and to us. We are a part of one another for there is ONE SPIRIT AND ONE HOPE OF OUR CALLING. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body and we are vitally connected to each other regardless of our color, our country, our culture, or our customs, we are ONE.

d. Compassion -
It is written of Jesus that He looked upon the multitudes and had "compassion" upon them for they were as sheep without a shepherd. Has His attitude changed? When He looks through my eyes and yours does He have compassion or do our eyes only see condemnation and criticism?

Again Wuest says, "The word "bowels" we treated in 1:8. It means here "tenderheartednesses." "Mercies" could also be rendered "compassionate yearnings and actions." These graces present in the lives of the Philippian saints would move them to live at peace with one another."

BLESSINGS!