How can #competition be destructive between #Christians? LEM Daily #Devotion Series: #Philippians Philippians 1:27b “(Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ), so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” As humans, we are often prone to competition and individualism. These are certainly not bad traits, but they can be destructive, especially to unity within the church. When we don’t see the value and necessity of “standing firm” and “striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” then we become one weak strand along with many other weak strands—easily broken and destroyed by the world and its deceptions. Together, however, we are woven into a strong chord, one that cannot be easily broken or frayed. Paul was concerned that the Philippian church be able to stand against the persecutions and trials they were enduring and no doubt would continue to endure. When he used the word “striving,” he was using the Greek word “sunathleo” from which we get our word “athletics.” The picture is of an athletic team, working and striving together toward one common goal. That goal for the church is the “faith of the gospel.” The human characteristic of competition when applied to the church sets us against members of our own body, whether those members are worshipping with us in the same building on Sunday morning or in another gospel-centered gathering across town. Once again, when the center is Christ, then all need for goals focused on anything else fall by the wayside in favor of the advancement of His gospel. Study/Meditation: Read what Paul wrote to the Roman church in Romans 12:3-8. (esvbible.org/Romans+12/) How does this passage relate to the truths Paul wrote in Philippians 1:27? *Father, thank You for my local church and for the fellowship of believers I have. Help me to see all the ways in which I can strive together with them for the advancement of the gospel. Amen.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 14:16:16 +0000
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