Having The Same Mind
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Image text paraphrased from Philippians 2:1-2
In Philippians 2, Paul explains what type of mindset we should have by using Jesus as an example. If we have received any joy in Jesus, we should be unified by having the same love and mind. Paul’s joy did not come from earthly things but from seeing believers become more Christ-like. That should be our goal, to be more like Jesus.
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
If we want to be more like Jesus, we should consider others more worthy of attention and focus not on things that will benefit us, but on what will benefit others. Jesus, the King of Kings, was not concerned with Himself; He sat with sinners and healed them. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He served them. We should ask ourselves, “How can I serve others instead of myself?”
Philippians 2:5-8
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!
Here, Paul points to the great humility of Jesus. Jesus, being equal to God, laid down His sovereignty to become man and die for our sins. It’s like the book The Prince and the Pauper. The prince becomes a poor man who has to work and embrace the “common life”, but he is still a prince. His title never disappears. Jesus was still God; He let go of His deity, becoming man, and He became the perfect example of how we should live. Paul is telling us to be humble like Jesus. Suffering for others and treating others better. We should become imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1).
Philippians 2:12
12 continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling
Paul is not saying you have to work for your salvation; he is saying you should work it out. When we accept Jesus, we are born again. God changes us within, and we can work out this new life. Work out your salvation; show others you have been born again by living like Jesus. Paul wants us to put effort into our Christian lives, not stay stagnant. What Jesus has done for us should be evident in our lives. We should be living in a sense of awe for what God has done.
Philippians 2:14-16
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Paul encourages the Philippians and us not to be like the old Israel, who constantly complained about God when things did not go well. Instead, we should be patient and obedient, and by doing this, we show our relationship with God. We are called to shine like lights in a dark world. We have the opportunity to shine like stars in the sky, to stand out. Matthew 5:16 says it best.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Light shines brightest in darkness. Paul was an excellent example of this. Despite being in chains, he showed others Christ by the way he lived. He did not let his circumstances dim his light.
