Read: Philippians 2:1-5
Be of the same mind. (v. 2 NRSV)
What song does your heart sing? In these verses, we get a picture of the song swirling in Paul’s heart. He begins it with a call, a command: “Be of the same mind.” And then as if to hammer it home, he adds, “being in full accord and of one mind” (v. 2 NRSV). A life lived in a manner worthy of the gospel, Paul tells us, involves a tenacious pursuit of unity.
Unity—echoed in this passage as the song of God’s heart. Unity—like when Jesus prayed that his disciples “may all be one” (John 17:21). Unity—as in the vision of new creation where people from every language and tribe and nation will gather together around the throne (Rev. 7:9). Unity is the tune in God’s heart and the economy of his kingdom. Think about this: every time followers of Jesus are divided, we play out the script of the fall, when Adam and Eve hid themselves from each other and from God.
In Eden, they hid. For some of us, when things get hard, we hurl fists or angry words. Hide or hurl: this has been the instinct of humanity ever since the fall. This impulse may be natural, but it’s not the gospel. The gospel gets at a humanity deeper than skin: a true humanity that far outstrips instinct. I wonder sometimes: do we as the church more often mirror ourselves after the brokenness and division of the world, or do we proclaim to the nations the hope we have in Christ?
As you pray, ask God to replace division with unity.
Co-authored by Rev. Jon Brown and Justin Kuiper.
Jon Brown is the lead pastor of Pillar Church in Holland, Michigan. Jon loves preaching and loves walking with people through all of life’s circumstances. He loves to invite people to follow Jesus in community on mission. Jon and his beloved wife, Kristyn, are the proud parents of four daughters.
Justin Kuiper is a student from Holland, Michigan, studying English literature at Hope College. His own writing explores the many intersections of faith, storytelling, and the created order.
