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by Sandy Shaw
We are in Philippians Chapter 2 – To be called to preach and teach and explain the Word of God to others is always an awesome task – and sometimes it can be harder than at other times, especially when you come to a passage like this.
We have seen how Paul is so very personal – sharing and baring his heart – and he continues to be so practical. So what might the aim of this passage be? What is Paul seeking? What is he after? Is it about what we believe? Is it doctrinal? Yes, it is – partially – but it is also about our behaviour, or our conduct.
Our behaviour is determined by what we believe. Our conduct is determined by our creed. It is all about having the mind of Christ. This passage is here to help us to behave rightly, in our dealing with others in the Christian fellowship – all the fellows in the one ship. It is basically about relationships.
“Therefore” – there is no break – there is a continuity. It is not a new theme or a different subject. Remember the background – imprisonment, and yet full of joy – because people are coming to believe. I am ready to die – but I am concerned about you – so I am also willing to remain in the body.
Let your life be worthy – stand together – be united. Stay with the Bible and the Word of God in the Scriptures, no matter what people say about you. Paul spells out the kind of unity he wants to hear about. He is concerned about their doctrine and their behaviour. There was immorality at Corinth, and he speaks firmly about that. But here he is deeply concerned about their unity.
Doctrine and unity and beliefs and behaviour and creed and the way we conduct ourselves is vitally important. When other things can be right, the enemy can have a go at spoiling the church’s testimony on the matter of unity. This is nothing new.
The theme here is the mind – not the brain. If intimidation will not destroy the church, then disunity might be more successful – two characteristic strategies of the evil one.
It is outlook – disposition – attitude – intention – motive. What makes you think in a certain way? What do you have a mind to do? What we believe in most of all - influences us more than we think. In the Word of God doctrine and deed are inseparably linked – like suffering and fruitfulness.
When the brakes are off what do you most want to do – when nobody is watching you? When you think you are free and nobody is watching you, what do you most want to do? How do we behave in such moments? That was one piece of advice Billy Graham gave his children!
Paul is saying, “Have the right mind and seek to have the mind of Christ”.
Unity must be internal, before it can be external. It must come from within. You can try and impose unity upon people, by giving them a uniform – but that is uniformity.
Unity comes from inside people when they have the same mind – and for these people it is to be the mind of Christ. Paul appeals to us in these opening verses.
Verse 1 - Here we have the basic ingredients of unity. He speaks firstly about Jesus and the love of Christ. If there is any response in your heart, to the challenge of Christ, and to the restraint of his love – have you felt the challenge of Christ – I appeal to that! Let his love restrain you. Let his love hold you back. There are things you once would have done, or would have said, or would have gone to, but you cannot, and that is as a result of his love.
His love holds you in certain situation. You may have wanted to run away, but if Jesus has held you in his love, then we have something on which to build our Christian unity. If we do not respond to his love, there can be no unity.
See clearly that the first thing to which Paul appeals is Jesus and his love.
“Loving Father – our gracious caring compassionate God – not only do we have Your loving presence with us and around us and among us, but we have the love of Jesus our saviour too – we give You thanks and praise – and we bow in worship before You. Deepen our love – may our obedience to Jesus and the Scriptures grow and develop and mature – producing fruit – to the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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