Feb. 13/25 -- Philippians 2:1-2 --Overstatement and humility

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People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Philippians 2:1-2 ESV
 
On Sunday, when reminded those gathered of the challenge to memorize Philippians, I also directly mentioned there will be people there who’d assume I am telling the others to memorize, but not him, or her specifically. That’s wrong. Anyone in range of this reading, I am strongly urging you to memorize.
 
Here are some benefits. Paul spells them out. He does so by an ingenious wordplay. Look at the parallelism in this passage as phrase is matched to phrase.

  • Any encouragement in Christ is completed in joy by being of the same mind as Christ. This union with Jesus is expressed by the phrase “in Christ”. Being united with Him so transforms the believer that we desire to think His thoughts (“How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17 ESV). Like a young child who deeply loves and admires his father, he wants to walk like him, talk like him and do what he does. Linked to Jesus we long to do as He does,

  • Any comfort from love is completed in joy by having the same love as Christ. Paul has modeled this love (take a moment and look back at Philippians 1:8, where Paul yearns for this people with the affection/love of Christ). Love is not something we conjure up from within. Love is not a fleeting emotion. Love is result of being so directly connected with Jesus Himself that His love wells up within us, enabling us to love others.

  • Any participation in the Spirit is completed in joy by being in full accord. As Paul had previously expressed it, he has great confidence that this imprisonment and the consequences of it will turn out for his deliverance with the help of the Spirit. When believers participate in the Spirit, we yield ourselves to the Spirit’s working. We see the union that is already ours, the gift of being brought together is now the work of believers of maintaining the unity of the Spirit among us. This full accord is not that we are exactly the same, no way. As individuals, unique as we’ve been created to be, gifted in a variety of ways as we’ve been by the Spirit, each one’s participation in the Spirit blesses the whole body of Jesus.

  • Any affection and sympathy is completed in joy by being of one mind. Affection is the word “bowels”; like when you use the expression, I feel it in my guts. Such a deep emotion that your body vibrates with it. Sympathy is mercy, or compassion and pity. Paul expressed such sentiments when he called out the those who preached Jesus from false motives (Philippians 1:15-18). Later Paul will urge Syntyche and Euodia to agree in the Lord—and though this passage is not expressly referred to, you’ll realize it can only happen for them based on the affection and sympathy which is theirs in Christ. To be of one mind is not to have one admit they’re wrong and the other humbly claim victory. No. Sinners, deeply aware of their great sinfulness, yield in love to Jesus and have His mind and attitude of self-sacrifice among themselves.

 
That four-fold repetition of “any” is exaggerated speech to make a point. Whatsoever small point of encouragement in Christ you might have in you, let its sufficiency propel you forward in obedience to Him. You’d be inclined to answer back as you read Paul’s letter, of course there’s love and comfort from love. Yes, the Holy Spirit’s presence is more than a small grain-of-sand-like tiny “any”, which is implied in Paul’s hyperbolic expression. The Spirit is at work in us and by the Spirit we are cooperating and working together. By his inflated way of speaking, Paul is also poking at the pride which lingers within his readers. If the love of Christ, the participation of the Spirit and the affection and sympathy are at work in you, don’t you think those same divine forces are at work among the others in your congregation, in your circle of friends, among even those you are currently opposed to but who are also named as brothers and sisters in Christ?
 
Memorization of this passage pushes its truth past your defenses. The strong barriers your ego wilfully erected to confirm to yourself you right when are fighting against fellow Christians. This passage will be used by the Spirit to tear down that wall of pride. The memorization of this passage plants the word deep into your soul, against the unexpected day when a fellow Christian pushes hard against you, and you must draw deeply on the encouragement that is yours in Christ so that you don’t make hurtful, damaging, and hasty verbal slashes upon them. Memorization of this passage aligns you with Jesus, by Whom and in Whom you are brought to complete joy.
 
Spirit of the Living God, I am asking that you give to me the mind of Jesus, day by day, so by Your power I live for Him and I will control all I do and say. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/PNww8F6G9U8?si=f34E2tKLiNZ4cKOo Make My Life a Prayer to You
 

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