DAY 2

DAY 2: RADICAL COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER

Yesterday, we looked at growing in our radical commitment to Christ. Today, we’re going to focus on the reality that we can only do this when we are living out our radical commitment to one another – Christ’s body. Let’s remind ourselves that Philippians was not primarily written to individuals but to the whole church community, ‘to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus’. Philippians 1:1. At the centre of Paul’s prayer for them (and for us!), is: ‘that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight’. Philippians 1:9. He is particularly concerned that this loving church continues to live in unity and serve with humility - two of the most important and potent principles of the Christian faith. He implores them: ‘Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.’ Philippians 2:1-2 NIVUK. There is such power in unity. Not only can we achieve so much more together than individually, but our unity is a sign and a wonder to those looking on. In a world where there is so much division and hostility, we owe it to each other and to those who don’t yet know Christ, to model something so completely counter-cultural that it provokes people to ask the question, ‘How do you live like this and why?’

As well as living in unity with one another, Paul also reminds us to serve one another with humility. Jesus, Himself, is our supreme example of this, as the passage then goes on to say, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3-8. This is a breathtaking reminder of the humility that Jesus demonstrated as He walked upon the earth. Rather than coming as a victorious King, riding on a magnificent stallion, with a crown of gold on His head, He came as a servant, riding on a donkey, hanging on a cross wearing a crown of thorns. One of the beautiful by-products of humility is that it promotes unity, as it means thinking of ourselves less so that we can honour one another and glorify God by serving others, within are church community and our wider spheres of influence. Paul’s encouragement to the Philippian church is as pertinent today as it was at the time of writing. So, as a church family, let’s excel in building unity through humility.