Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Philippians 4:2, “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Background

Have you ever been in a meeting where the speaker was describing a situation, and he kept making vague or generic references to the problem? Or maybe he spelled out the issue plainly, but he wouldn’t come out and say who was at fault. If so, it usually evokes two types of responses. One comes from the people who don’t know the details or the unspoken story, and they wonder what’s going on and who they are talking about. The other response is from those who think they know exactly what the problem is and just who is causing it all, and they wish that the speaker would just come right out and say it. Well, Paul wasn’t one to beat around the bush or deal in subtleties and innuendos. He was a straight shooter who called it like he saw it, whether in his own life or in the lives of those around him. And so he does what so many of us wish that someone would do in our own situation, and that’s call out the offenders by name. I have thought many times that a problem could be resolved if only the ones involved could hear their names spoken in correlation with the issue at hand, and then they would be compelled to address it and commit to putting it behind them.

Application

And Paul takes this tactic by imploring two leaders of the church in Philippi, two who had labored alongside him in the gospel, to come together in unity and agreement. His desire is that the differences polarizing these two will be resolved for the sake of the Lord. And our challenge is to have this same desire, to see God’s holiness preserved in the daily lives that we live, rather than wanting to see someone be put in their place or be knocked down a peg. That’s what feeds our pride and warps our devotion to God. No wonder Paul immediately goes on to tell us what types of things to focus our minds on, rather than being anxious about whatever might be swirling around us. And trying to fix everyone else brings a boatload of anxiety with it. So try and listen for just your name to be called, and try to have your mind be in line with the One who calls.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask the Father to expose any desires you have to see others stumble. Take that issue to Him by name, and let your mind be transformed by the Trinity that is of one mind.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words