Living In Harmony: Imitating Christ

LIVING IN HARMONY: IMITATING CHRIST’S HUMILITY
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


In the name of Jesus:

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.
Pride comes before the fall. Just like stubborn captains who didn’t not want to give way to another, so human nature seeks its own way, unwilling to submit, unwilling to give in, more willing to be proud than humble, and as such, pride and arrogance can destroy a church. The congregation at Philippi was no strangers to dissention.
The Philippians’ church was near and dear to the Apostle Paul. Just listen to what he has to say to his brothers and sisters: “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” There was the problem! Within that church there was a lack of unity in how they thought about one another; there was a lack of love for one another; there was strife; people seeking their own glory; a lack of humility and a total lack of concern for the well being of others.
The church at Philippi and the problems which the congregation encountered were not rare, it still takes place today. These very same sins are evident today. For who of us has not at one time in our lives or another experienced strife between another person, who of us has not had the love that we should have for brothers and sisters in Christ or for members of our own flesh and blood; who of us are guilty of seeking our own welfare and glory; or have had a lack of concern for others? Like the church at Philippi, we stand condemned before God! We have not lived in harmony with one another, and our lack of harmony displeases God.
This is why Paul speaks as he does in our text for today. He wrote these verses so that sinful Christians can compare their behavior with the Savior’s behavior, for Jesus is the greatest example of humility and love in the history of the world.
There are two ways of being united -- one is by being frozen together, and the other is by being melted together. What Christians need is to be united in brotherly love, and then they may expect to have power. Yes, there can be union without unity: tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline. God does not call us to this type of unity, a unity which is only for show. No, we are called to be united in brotherly love, a unity which starts with our spirits and in our hearts. We cannot achieve this unity in and of ourselves. It IS given to us, only in Christ, as a gift of God.
This unity has been given to us in Christ as a gift, for He Himself became united with us in our nature, yet without sin. Christ just didn’t speak words of mercy and comfort; He actually became our mercy and comfort. God’s only Son set aside His glory for a time, to be united with humanity in His life, experiencing everything that we experience, from being formed in the mother’s womb, born into this world, growing into the Person that God had planned, living His life in service to others and giving Himself in death for the life of sinners. All this Jesus did and He did it in your place and mine. He did it perfectly, that by His innocently led life, His damnable death on the cross, and His victorious resurrection all who believe in Christ would be forgiven. And you are. You have become a child of God in your Baptism, in Baptism your sins were nailed to Jesus’ cross, and a new life was given, so that even as Jesus rose from the grave, you too are empowered to rise to live before God in righteousness and purity.
We as God’s children are called to live this new life in thanks to God. WE aren’t to live this new life when and where we please, but our lives are to be living examples of the love that Christ has for us. This is what Paul means when he writes: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
You have been freed from sin, so that in thanks to God, you can now do God’s will. You can do what God calls you to do in your life. God’s will is this: that you have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Jesus through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection has given us a harmonious relationship with the Father. We, in turn, are to seek to live in harmony with one another. This means crucifying the sinful self, with its pride and arrogance, and allowing the Sprit to work in and through you so that you will live in harmony with all. To have the mind of Christ means that just as Jesus sought to serve His Father first and foremost, loving God above all else by sacrificing Himself for the sins of the world, so too you have been recreated in Christ to serve God BY serving others, in humility, and living in harmony, all to the glory of God. Note what Paul says, that on the Last Day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. Jesus never seeks His own glory, even in His glory He is giving glory to His Father. So too you have been recreated in Christ, not so that you will get your own way or get the glory, honor and praise in your life, but so that you might imitate Christ in your life, living in harmony with all, to the glory of God the Father.
The strange tale of the Rose Baskavsa and Theresa Sokatitis serve to illustrate what God calls us to do. Rose and Theresa are in their eighties and are sisters. Throughout their lives they have been best of friends. But no longer. You see, they live in New England and there is no love between the two. Why? They are arguing over a $500,000 Powerball lottery ticket. To make a long story short, these two sisters were joined at the hip throughout their lives, and they used to play the lottery together, go to casinos together, and they would always split the winnings. A contract was drawn up that said the same. But they got into a disagreement, in which one sister in anger tore up the contract. She didn’t want to be partners anymore. And in this dispute, the issue grew larger. They hadn’t spoken for a year, and one sister ended up buying a winning Powerball ticket, the $500,000 ticket. And the winner wasn’t sharing.
Now, I am no lawyer, but as I look at this, I wonder, what has gotten into these people? For the sake of harmony, for the sake of family, why not split the winnings, each getting $250,000? Is it really worth it to sue for the winnings, for the sake of peace in the family, why not just share? I know that legally one sister may not have a case, but come on! Looking from the outside, how sad it is to see a family split over this. Shouldn’t family love be stronger than money?
In a way, we can all relate. For we have God’s bountiful treasures given to us in Jesus. Heaven is ours and God gives us a relationship with Him that is to be shared and realized with others. How we saddened our Lord, who loves us and died and rose for us, when we as God’s children don’t live in harmony with one another.

May God so bless us, that even as Jesus humbled Himself unto death to make us God’s children, we too might imitate Jesus by living in harmony with one another.
May God grant it in Jesus’ name.
Amen