Thoughts that Stick from Philippians 2:1-11
Division really gets to Paul; he often pleads for unity. He lists four “ifs”…
1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ (I do)
2. If any comfort from his love (that’s me)
3. If any fellowship with the Spirit (last I checked)
4. If any tenderness and compassion (on my better days)
If these four ifs are true of me, then Paul tells me to make his “joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
If, if, if, if; in other words, it’s “iffy” to think I’m really a Christian if I’m typically divisive.
Paul is purposely redundant on unity because it’s the most significant authentication of our Message.
The life Paul is calling us to is totally counterintuitive: jettison selfish ambition, pride, division, and vain conceit.
I see a ladder. If we follow Christ’s example in vv 5-8, then we climb down.
In the kingdom of God, down is the new up.
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