One of the most important things Christians must cultivate and nurture in the church is a spirit of unity and humility. Unity and humility are of utmost importance as brothers and sisters in Christ seek to be a spiritual family with God as their loving heavenly Father. How are unity and humility cultivated? By thinking like Jesus.
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
For centuries theologians have regarded Philippians 2 as one of the most vital passages in the entire Bible about Jesus. The shocking truth about this passage is that Paul told us what Jesus did in order to tell us what we should do for one another. Obviously Paul is not telling us to leave heaven, take on human flesh, and die on a cross. Paul is, however, instructing us to think like Jesus. The same humility that drove Jesus’ willingness to humble himself, to put others before himself, to take the position of a servant, and to give his life away is to be the exact same humility you and I exibit towards one another.
What is a key to having a wonderful church family? We must learn to think like Jesus in everything, but especially in how we treat one another. Humility is to undergird all our interactions. We have the opportunity to provide one another, by God’s grace, with a spiritual family of brothers and sisters who are seeking the very best for one another. Friends, you will not find that anywhere else in the world!
I am so grateful for Church on Mill’s growing unity and humility. May God grant us many years of thinking like Jesus as we seek to glorify Him through lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
See you Sunday if not before,
Chuck
