June 6 | Philippians 2:1-11

---

DAILY READING

Philippians 2:1-11

---

REFLECTION

Until Christ is Formed in You

by Ken Dillman 

The apostle Paul labored intensely over many of the early churches found in the New Testament, Colossae, Galatia, Corinth, and Philippi; his desire was to see people grow spiritually so that “Christ is formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19)

Paul didn’t go from church-persecutor to super-apostle overnight, he had to “unlearn” what he believed was righteousness and learn anew what living in the righteousness of Christ was like. Paul had confrontations with Barnabas, confrontations with Peter, could come across as brazenly assertive, and even arrogant when he refused to take John Mark on a missionary journey with him and Barnabas. (Acts 15:36-41)

In today’s text, Paul encourages the Philippians to be like-minded in loving each other and others, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Phil. 2:1-2) Paul’s desire was to see the Philippians focused squarely on Jesus.

My wife and I have been attending UALC for the past eight years and have come to appreciate just how desirous the pastors at UALC are for the congregations to be focused squarely on Jesus, while having an intense love for each other; they too want to see Christ formed in each one of us, with the encouragement of being like-minded in Jesus.

As a former pastor, I recognize that working to help a congregation be like-minded is sometimes like herding cats; all of us have our individual personalities, desires, likes, wants, needs, wounds, and preferences, and we can sometimes think the world revolves around us.

Imagine trying to herd those cats all day every day!

The apostle Paul experienced this regularly, as seen in Philippians Chapter 4, when he encourages the congregation to assist two women, Euodia and Syntyche who were members of their congregation having a disagreement. Paul understood that like-mindedness was needed, but even more so, lowly-mindedness was needed, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4)

The pastors at UALC are focused on helping our congregation mature in Christ, and at the same time to willingly confess their own need for maturity, that their feet, like ours, are made of clay. I thank God for their example and humility.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the pastors of UALC, please help them to help us grow in Jesus, in like-mindedness, in lowly-mindedness, and love. Amen

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.

---