Being One In Spirit And Of One Mind

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:1-5

When Moses gathered the children of Israel together to begin work on the tabernacle, he called on Bazalel, a gifted artisan, to help make the furnishings. It has been said that certain women were asked to give up their precious bronze mirrors to make the bronze basin he was constructing. They gave them up to help prepare a place where God’s presence would reside.

When we forget about our own faces quickly and remember that God loves us as we are – in all our imperfections – then we can begin to “look out not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Augustine said that we get lost in loving ourselves but found in loving others. Put another way, the secret of happiness is not getting our face right but giving our hearts away, giving our lives away, giving ourselves away, in love.

A heart that is focused on others will not be consumed with self.

Our Daily Bread – March 13, 2015