Becoming like Christ. Whose responsibility is it? Is it all up to God? Is it all up to us? Paul supplies the answer in his letter to the Philippians.

Jesus is Lord, is a comforting thought because it points us to a time when all things that trouble us will forever cease to trouble us. I like that Jesus is Lord gives us hope. We can't live without hope. We need hope. I hope that our circumstances will change, hope that heaven awaits. Physical and mental illness will no longer plague us, strife and unrest will be replaced with peace and harmony. There'll be no more death, no more pain, no more war, no more hunger, no more loneliness, no more divorce. No more rebellious children. No more strife. No more discord. When you think of Jesus, Lord, think about those words no more. Because Jesus is Lord someday, no more no more pain, no more sickness, no more poverty, no more hunger. No more injustice, no more. Jesus, Lord. Because Jesus, Lord, we pray, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

The sign of our sanctification is in evidence of our growth. So, how do you know if you're exercising the mind of Christ? We'll take a look at that in much greater detail next week in verses six through eight. but in verses six through eight, we do see the mind of Christ in action. Let me give you three things that we learn from the mind of Christ, and we'll wrap up for today. Number one, He had a mind to be humble. We'll see this next week. Number two, He had a mind to let go. Number three, He had a mind to give Himself for the sake of others. That's the mindset of Christ. That was his mind, his attitude in action. If you and I are going to live in unity, it's imperative that we have this mind. And the reason you can have this mind is because you are in Christ Jesus. It is our union with Christ which makes all this possible. Our union with Christ provides all the necessary resources, all the necessary access, and unlimited ability to have the mind of Christ among ourselves. When we display the mind of Christ, our joy will be full, the gospel will be advanced, and God will be glorified. 

Unity. Much needed but seldom achieved. And why is it seldom achieved? Because the only way to achieve unity is through humility. The path to unity requires us as Christians to have the same mind, to be like-minded, to have the same love, to have a love that unites us at the deepest level so that our souls are knit together. The path to unity requires us to put the needs of others before our own, to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. The path of unity requires us to count others more significant than ourselves. And unity brings us joy. But it also brings joy to those to whom we serve. But most importantly, our unity advances the gospel and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.

John MacArthur writes in his commentary on Philippians; “Anything that attacks the unity of the church is to be feared.” That means that discord, disharmony, conflict and division in the church are not to be taken lightly nor are they to be consider a normal part of church life as it seems to be in many churches.

January 31, 1945, was the day that the life of Eddie Slovik came to an end. Eddie didn't die of natural causes, nor did Eddie live a long, prosperous, and glorious life. No, on January 31, 1945, private Eddie Slovik became the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion. He was executed because he deserted not only his country but those who needed him the most, which was a time of war. And when they needed him the most, when they thought they could count on him, not only to protect their nation but to protect their own lives, Eddie deserted them.

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