August 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Our calling as members of the church is not only to live in a personal relationship with Christ but to live in unity with each other. We are called to live with each other and for each other. The church of Christ must constantly ward off individualism and the idea that we have little to do with each other beyond our Sunday worship. Living for one another involves so much more than saying hello to our circle of friends and acquaintances. What we say about and to each other ought to reflect that our Lord Jesus gave His precious blood to allow us to live for one another in the bond of peace.

Since this is a constant struggle, the Lord keeps reminding us of our mutual task within the community of believers in which He places us. That concern weighed on Paul’s heart. In Philippians 1:27 he writes, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” (NIV) The communion of the church is the union of hearts and minds in a common cause.

Why is it important for us to be of one mind and live for one another as members of one body? Paul gives a fourfold basis for his appeal to unity, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

“If” has a ring of uncertainty to it; it places a condition on something. In the Greek language “if” also serves as a basis for making a request and for giving further instruction. “If” in this sense could easily be substituted by “since” or “because.” To paraphrase: If there is any consolation in Christ (and there is) fulfill my joy by being of the same mind. Since there is consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship in the Spirit, affection and mercy, we are compelled to be of one mind. We are united as brothers and sisters not because we all sit in the same church building but because we are drawn together by Jesus Christ and by the magnetic power of His Word.