Day 98/260: Read Philippians 2

Paul writes in Romans 12:8-10, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Isn’t it interesting that this same inspired apostle also bases the doctrine of unity within the church on love as well? In the second chapter of Philippians, as he addresses the importance of “being of one accord, of one mind,” look at what that is based on: “having the same love.”

And he is not addressing some pie-in-the-sky ideal. He is urging them to seek after that unity in a very practical way: by esteeming each other as better than self, and by looking out for the interests of others.

We will not agree on everything in matters of opinion, but if we keep in mind that opinions don’t really matter in the long run, and things don’t always have to be my way, we can achieve this divine unity that is commanded in the Scriptures.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Philippians 2:4. Let each of you look out not only for his __________ interests, but also for the interests of __________.

Pray

Pray for Biblical unity based on love in the local church.