June 18, 2019

BIBLE READING: Philippians 2

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Paul lets the church of Philippi know that they could bring joy to his heart and fulfill the hopes and prayers that Paul had for them. They could do this by working together for a common cause, and that cause was unity in Christ. By the way, that is a cause that each of us should be working towards.

As Paul gives them a list of a few things, Paul says to have the “same love”, “one accord”, and “one mind”. Paul says you do this in verse two by being like-minded. Then in verse three encourages them to be lowly-minded. It seems like it could be an impossible task, and it is certainly not an easy one. But Paul says that it would give him joy if this church would be like-minded and would learn to be lowly-minded. Being lowly minded prevents us from doing things through strife, or contention, or vanity. Lowliness of mind makes us esteem others higher than ourselves. When that happens, it sure is easier to have the same love one for another, and to dwell in one accord with one mind.
I guess we will never be truly like-minded, until each of us learn to be lowly minded.

Paul knew what that meant. Paul said he had learned whatever state he was in, there with to be content. Paul also said that he learned how to be abased and to suffer need. And even in those conditions, Paul was an individual that esteemed others better than himself.

I encourage you today, put others first. Put your wife first. Put your husband first. Put your coworkers first. If we do, it might be that that not only would we “fulfill” Paul’s joy, you and I might find that it “fills” our joy.