unity and humility

i like what odj says for today's devotion.

philippians 2:1-11
...make me truly happy by...loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose...be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves... (v2-3)

question to think about:
when was the last time you had a squabble or experienced conflict with a family member or friend? What was the centre of your disagreement? How long did it take you to resolve the conflict? How was your joy affected by the conflict?

conflict between you and the people you love strips you of the full measure of Christian joy.

purpose of paul:
help them experience the full measure of joy, by reducing the friction in their relationships.

only way to happen:
-to show one another the deep love that God had shown them (2:2)
this love was unconditional, and nondiscriminating. it was a love for one another that should be growing, not eroding.
-reduce conflict by working together with one mind and purpose (v2)
doesn't mean to think and act alike. it meant that they should be striving passionately for the same goal (which is the glory of God and His kingdom)



i know i'm just typing everything out from odj, but would love to keep a record of it to remind ourselves to be united in Christ and like Jesus, to be humble. it's inevitable to experience conflicts in this fallen human relationship. but it doesn't mean we can't have no conflicts right! we just need to try to reduce the conflicts so that we can experience the fullness of the joy God has so graciously given to us!