The Ideal Christian Community

Text: Philippians 2:1-11

Reflection and Question: We all have our canons within the Canon, our favorite Scripture passages that we return to over and over or that we have written on our hearts. This is one of those special sections for me. Would that the church in our time behaved with the humility of Christ, and in the same mind and same love which was in Him! That Paul wrote of the ideal church in this way suggests that the Philippians were as poor at succeeding in this as we are. We do well to tremble because, then as now, “it is God who is at work” in us. How can you more fully embody Jesus’ humility and love in your own faith community?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in You, any compassion and sympathy, complete our joy by putting us in the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord with one another. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).