Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philippians 1:27

A Roman Legion was a fighting unit of three to six thousand men. These men were trained to work together and to stay in step with each other. They had to put the cause of their country above their own desires. They conquered much territory due to their working together.

As Christians we are to strive together in one spirit and one mind for the cause of the gospel. The cause of the gospel unites us. In chapters two and three of Philippians Paul implores the Philippians and us to be of one accord and one mind. (The phrase ‘one accord’ is found many times in the book of Acts. God greatly blessed the church in Jerusalem when it was on ‘one accord’.) In these chapters Paul also warns us against strife, vainglory, murmurings, and disputings.

In Chapter two Paul uses Jesus Christ, himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as examples of humility and obedience for the cause of the gospel. Jesus Christ is not on the same level as Timothy and Epaphroditis. Jesus demonstrated great humility in not demanding His rights, but instead submitted to the death of the cross. One day we will all be in unison bowing before Jesus in worship. We don’t need to wait until we get to heaven. We can be in unison in worship of Jesus now.

We should also be able to identify with Timothy and Epaphroditis, and we should desire to be a companion in labor, a fellow soldier, and minister to others as they did. In chapter three Paul gives his personal testimony. Paul ends his testimony with Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. -- Paul then challenges us and the Philippians church to be ‘thus minded’ and ‘to mind the same thing’.

Paul concludes his message on unity by beseeching two important ladies in the church to be of the same mind in the Lord: Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

All the above wasn’t written for just two ladies. Every one of us at times needs to put aside those things that don’t portray the gospel of Christ, nor our citizenship in heaven. Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry