Humbly United as One
by David Wright
Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4
Throughout Philippians the Apostle Paul encourages Christ followers to unite as one in Jesus as we imitate and demonstrate our Lord’s unity with His Father. The world might encourage us to strive as individuals to be the best one can be. Often their encouragement is to strive for one’s personal gain and satisfaction. For example, look at these slogans that most of us will recognize and know the company each promotes:
“What’s in Your Wallet?”
“Just Do It!”
“Have It Your Way!”
Now I am not saying to stay away from the products these slogans promote. That is up to each of us. I am simply suggesting they do not point to unity, or for that matter, humility. They point to our personal desires and perceived needs.
On the other hand, let’s look at some unifying slogans that have helped create winning cultures. Unlike the corporate slogans above, these likely require some explanation.
“Play Like a Champion Today” is a sign that every member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish touches as they head out of their locker room to face their opponent on their home football field. They also see and touch it when they leave the locker room for their practice sessions. The message encourages each player to reach beyond one’s best for the good of the entire team. Not only has “Play Like a Champion Today” encouraged Irish teams, these words have inspired millions of faithful fans to support their team.
“We Before Me” is a slogan that an entire central Indiana high school embraced approximately fifteen years ago. It began with a young coach who knew that if his small high school basketball teams were to succeed, they would need to band together as one, using and honing their individual gifts to win as a team. On court success was not immediate but it did develop. The team experienced success with winning, including sectional and then regional championships all while exhibiting the “We Before Me” culture. The young coach, a follower of Christ, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He persevered, encouraging his players and coaching staff to stay the course even in dark times. The team continued and it looked as though their ultimate goal of winning an Indiana state championship was possible. Though their young coach passed away, his “We Before Me” legacy continues. Two years after his passing they did win a state championship! Throughout the season, dedicated to their beloved coach, they remained unified and humbly gave their best on the court and in their community.
The entire school system honors the coach’s memory with the motto, “We Before Me” emblazoned on their home court. Far beyond the basketball court this young, gifted, and wise coach would want his players and students to unite to humbly serve their teammates, their school, and others. And they do!
Together As One Live, Love, Lead Like Jesus is the inspired three-year vision of the elders, staff, and believers of e2 partner, Bright Christian Church. This is their directive as a church body that worships, serves, grows, and demonstrates that everyone has God given gifts that are to be utilized for the Bride of Jesus Christ. This is a healthy church and as we know, healthy things grow. Much like the early church of Acts, through the Lord, they are adding to their numbers daily. They are experiencing growth that is deeper spiritually and broader numerically.
A humble heart surrendered to God and in service to others will have a cadence of service that will result in multiple examples of unity. It begins with unity with Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, and flows into our relationships with others.
Once again, the Apostle Paul provides an amazing yet simple illustration of how one body united from many parts can humbly serve the greater good on behalf of one another and glorify our Lord Jesus.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Here are questions I must ask myself each day:
Am I using my God given gifts to humbly serve others?
Am I serving like a champion for Christ today?
Am I committed to thinking of others before thinking of myself?
As I consider the questions above, I also turn to Jesus’ Prayer of Unity in John 17. Jesus spoke to His Father on our behalf, and He concludes so humbly with a desire to unite His followers with a righteous Father.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
John 17:20-26
Let us be humbly united forever in Him!
