BE OF THE SAME MIND ONE TOWARD ANOTHER

A literal translation of this verse is, ‘Think of, that is, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other; that is, what you regard or seek for yourself, seek also for your brethren. Do not have divided interests; do not be pursuing different ends and aims; do not indulge counter plans and purposes; and do not seek honours or offices for yourself which you do not seek for your brethren, so that you may still regard yourselves as brethren on a level, and aim at the same object’.

The Christian life is not a self-centred life, but an others- centred life. Christian fellowship is not a collection of people pursuing self interest to see if the most gifted, or successful or forceful can somehow prevail, but rather we are called to be one in Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus prayed, ‘And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me’, John 17. 22-23.

Division among the Lord’s people is not of God and is to be avoided by all means. Division is a tactic of the enemy. True Christian fellowship is characterized by harmony. This is not easy to achieve or maintain, but Paul speaks of the abundant resources available from ‘the God of patience and consolation’, Rom. 15. 5. This is the way we glorify God.

In a practical way we know that differences will arise among believers. Some differences may be a sign of our own deficiency in the truth. Another may have a greater grasp on the truth of scripture. When I see this I need to yield to the truth and be of the same mind. God’s word must rule, not my opinions.

Perhaps the greatest aid in obeying today’s command is to follow Paul’s words to the Philippians: ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus’, Phil. 2. 5. We should have the mind of Christ who, ‘as a man, he humbled himself’, Phil. 2. 8. When we endeavour to be like Christ, we will be rid of self interest and have His interests in mind. This is the only way to eliminate division among us.