Be of the Same Mind in the Lord
“1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
In Philippians 4:1-9, the Apostle Paul encourages the beloved believers in Philippi with a heart full of joy and gratitude, urging them to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Despite writing from prison, Paul’s joy and peace transcended his circumstances because it was rooted in his union with Christ. His joy was strengthened by the faith of the Philippian church, their participation in God’s work, and their support of Paul’s ministry.
In this passage, Paul addresses two women in the church, Euodia and Syntyche, urging them to be of “the same mind in the Lord.” This “same mind” doesn’t mean they must agree on everything. The mindset Paul speaks of is the "mind of Christ Jesus," that is, a mindset modeled after the incarnation and the sacrifice of the cross. When we embrace the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death as mentioned in Philippians 2, we can achieve maturity in our relationships within the church.
Euodia and Syntyche may have had different opinions or approaches, but they were encouraged to respect each other and yield to one another in the spirit of Christ. This is the true image of serving the Lord: acknowledging Jesus’ lordship, seeking to reflect His character, and growing in spiritual maturity and health as a church community.
Let our prayer be that we serve one another in Christ’s grace, humbly united in one heart. May each member of our church remember Jesus’ lordship, emulate His love and sacrifice, and grow in mature faith and fellowship together.
Prayer: Lord, we confess that through Your suffering and death on the cross, we have been restored in Your image and invited to walk the path of salvation. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, renew our inner being so that we may carry Your heart. May we experience Your presence and grace deeply in our worship, small groups, and gatherings, walking the journey of faith together. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.