The Servant’s Mind
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2
If someone is described as “single-minded”, it means that they are determined. That person’s mind has one thought, one drive, one goal that it must complete. Being single-minded can be a positive or a negative trait. It depends on the goal.
Jesus was single-minded when it came to winning your salvation. After the transfiguration He turned His full attention toward that goal. “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) This is not to say that He was eager to face the cross. But He was certainly determined to fulfill the Father’s will for you and for me.
A person can become single-minded easily enough. But getting multiple people on the same page is hard. Every person has his or her own goals. To get a group of people to have the same united goal can be challenging.
Here, Paul implores the Philippian congregation to have the same goal. What is that goal? That all have the same mindset of love. That was the same mindset Jesus had when He went to the cross. He was focused by love. Focused by love for His Father and love for you. Christians are to share in that same love. This does not come naturally from our sinful natures. But it does come naturally to us by faith. We can all have the same goal. That goal is love. Love that comes from our Savior, which we show to others. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us this same mind. What a loving God we have! He loves us, unites us in love, and allows us to love others. May God empower us all to be single-minded in love!
So may we join Thy name to bless,
Thy grace adore, Thy power confess,
From sin and strife to flee.
One is our calling, one our name,
The end of all our hopes the same,
A crown of life with Thee.
The Lutheran Hymnal 412:2