“In The Same Mind”

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment ”   – 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB)

Paul here is encouraging the Corinthian brethren to be one, and the message is the same for us today.  The church was designed to be a community of like-minded individuals set aside for a single purpose.  A single purpose cannot be achieved if everyone is not on the same page.

Notice here that he is exhorting or pleading his brethren to do this.  Why?  He is using such language because having no divisions and being of the same mind is difficult.  Such unity requires:

1. A Commitment to God and His Word
2. A Willingness to Serve Others
3. A Desire to Invest in Your Salvation
4. An Ability to Admit Being Wrong
5. Humble Teachers and Humble Leaders
6. Elders Who Are Willing to Lead
7. Sheep Who Are Willing to Be Lead
8. A Heart of Prayer
9. Saints Who Talk to Each Other
10. Saints Who Hold Each Other Accountable
11. People Who Accept Constructive Criticism
12. A Properly Organized Church
13. A Trust in God
14. A Hope for Heaven
15. A Diligence in Seeking God
16. A Devotion to loving others
17. A Daily Effort
18. People Who Will Stand Up for the Truth
19. Peacemakers and Peacekeeprs
20. Those Who Love God

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  But try today to evaluate how you are contributing to the effort to be one in Christ with you fellow brethren.  Could Paul have described you this way?  If not, why not, and what can you do to change it?

-Jason Budd

“My Beloved Brethren”

“This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God ” – James 1:19-20 (NASB)

Three simple commands are given to us here in the book of James.  While they are simple in saying, they are often not so in application.

1. Quick to Hear .  We are very good at hearing… when we want to be.  It’s really quite amazing that we are able to devote sound attention to something at an instant.  We can hush our friends or our spouse to catch the faintest sound of something interesting on TV, yet we so often fail to hear the soft whisper of a brother in need.  Be quick to hear, what’s important!

2. Slow to Speak .  Most of us have plenty on our mind, and we’re not afraid to tell other people.  When someone says something we don’t agree with, we’re often not afraid to let them know.  When our opinions seemingly outweigh another’s judgment, we’re the first to be heard.  It’s important to deeply consider a matter before opening our mouths, or we might just find a foot in it.  We must be slow to speak after much deliberation, and even then, sometimes the best thing to say is, nothing at all.

3. Slow to Anger .  We often use the time when Jesus overturned tables in the temple or the passage about being angry and not sinning to justify our anger.  While there are many times where anger is certainly understandable and others where it should be expected, we must be slow to it.  Someone pulling in front of you, a co-worker making an honest mistake, nor spilled milk should be cause for an outrage.
You see, such violations by the Christian do not bring about the righteousness of God, they simply undermine it.  Let’s do out best this week to consider carefully these important lessons and use them to take advantage of the opportunities presented to us.

-Jason Budd