What does Paul mean when he says “make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” What does this mean? Does he mean we all have to believe and think the exact same things? That we have to love exactly the same way? Does being in full accord and of one mind mean that we have to think the same things and understand things the same way as everyone else? Does this mean that the disciples drove a Honda? Because they were all of one Accord… (sorry bad joke, but I had to…)
If so I think we are all in trouble, or at least I know I am. Sometimes I have a hard time agreeing with myself or always thinking the same thing about a subject for more than 3 seconds.
I believe what Paul was saying in the be of one mind and in one accord was explained in the next part of Philippians Chapter 2: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Regard others before yourself! Do nothing that helps yourself, but rather do the things that will lift others up and by that you will be feeding your own soul and life. If we can think of the other before we worry about our own needs, then we will be of one mind and work in one accord.
Then Paul unpacks this statement even more in the next verses which is better known as the Christ Hymn. This section of Philippians was thought to be an early hymn that Paul used to talk about how Christ was. How he gave up His own life, not thinking about what He was going to go through, but rather what it would do for the other. What His sacrifice would do for you.
Paul is telling the Philippians that they are not the center of the universe! The world does not revolve around them. That there are other people that matter more then they do. And if we can understand that, then our lives will be richer and filled with such love and grace and mercy that we will wonder how we lived before.
So think of the other before yourself and give love, grace and mercy to everyone freely, because Jesus will give you more when you need it, and more when you don’t because that is how He is. And that is how He wants you to be as well!
aSacredRebel 