Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.
1 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Calvin abridged: 2:1- “if you have any encouragement” (any consolation)- there is extraordinaty tenderness here, to encourage the Philippians to cherish harmony among themselves. Otherwise they may expose themselves to the false apostles. Comfort, fellowship of the Spirit ought to make us all one, From this we may infer how breat a blessing unity in the Church is, and with what eagerness pastors should endeavor to secure it. Paul humbles himself asking for their pity more than commanding them as a father. He knew he would gain their respect this way.
2:2 “FULFILL MY JOY” Paul cares little about himself here. Paul is encouraging them to be of one mind and have the same views, accommodating themselves to each other.
Thoughts: If you have any reason to be a Christian, then you have a reason to pursue church unity. The Church is after all, his body.
Prayer: Lord, though we stumble and fall, uphold us with your hand to bring about unity in your church.
Philippians 2:5 “ 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,”
ReplyDeleteCf. 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 12:16; 15:5,6;
2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27