Title: Have This Mind (Philippians 2:1-11)
Contents
Philippians 2:1-11
hold this heart
A few days ago, I took the car to a mechanic and took the bus to work to have it repaired. It was a bus I hadn't seen in a long time. When I went to the stop, the monitor kindly informed me that several times the bus was coming and the estimated time to arrive at the stop was in a few minutes. The bus arrived exactly at the predicted time. It's been a while since I've ridden the bus, so I didn't know what the fare was, but I didn't have to be mistaken for a spy by paying by card. The young people don't know, but South Korea sent North Korea and North Korea spy each other until the two Koreas promised not to spy on each other. Since a spy from North Korea does not know the affairs of South Korea well, people who do not know the bus fare or the cost of cigarettes are often mistaken for a spy. Let's ask people who only drive their own cars every day. Do you know how much the bus fare in Chuncheon is? “If you pay with cash, it is 1,100 won, if you pay with a card, you get 150 won off, and you can transfer to another bus for free. The above was informed by the Chuncheon City Bus Association.”
But what I really want to say is the pleasant experience of getting on the bus. Seeing the world on the bus looked completely different. When I was driving a car myself, I couldn't see the sincerity of people's lives because I only looked ahead to drive. Also, the view of the world was extremely limited because the car was low. But when I looked down at the world from a high place on the bus, I was able to see more of the world. The appearance of Soyanggang was different from what I had always seen, and the appearance of Lightning Market was different. The appearance of Central Rotary was also different. The appearance of the people passing by was different, and the appearance of the people in the cars passing by was also different.
The world hasn't changed, but things and people look different depending on where you look. That's right. Even when you look at the same object and person, you look different depending on the point of view. A Christian must have a different perspective from the world. Different thoughts, different words, different actions. The Bible calls it a distinction. In Leviticus 20:24, God said, “I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from all people.” When a person is distinguished, it becomes a 'saint', when a place is distinguished, it becomes a 'sanctuary', and when an object is distinguished, it becomes a 'holy thing'. These separated saints, sanctuaries, and holy things are called 'kodesh' in Hebrew, which means 'separate', 'divide', and 'separate'. That's right. If we think like the world, say the same things, go to the same places, and dream the same dreams, we should seriously ask ourselves if we are really Christians.
Dear brothers and sisters, what are you going through right now? I do not know what the pain and suffering are, but there is one thing I do know for sure. That God is good. God always changes us into something good. There is nothing to be discouraged because of a terrible disease, nothing to cry because you have nothing, nothing to give up because business is difficult, and nothing to complain about or be discouraged because of hardship and trials. Joseph said to his brothers who had abandoned him, “You did it against me, but God changed it for good, so that as it is today, the lives of many people are saved” (Genesis 50:20), and the Apostle Paul said, “We know But all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
The book of Philippians is a letter that Paul wrote to the saints of the Philippian church, whom he loved. As we well know, this letter was written from prison. That's why it's called the 'Prison Letter'. However, there is not a single word of resentment or complaint anywhere in this letter, even though it was written in a desperate situation where you do not know what will happen tomorrow. Rather, it is full of joy and gratitude from beginning to end. That's why it is called the 'Gospel of Joy'.
Today is Machu Thanksgiving Day. Among those who criticize Christianity, some say, “What kind of Thanksgiving Sunday do you observe when you don’t even farm?” and “How many of the members of barley farming keep this Thanksgiving Sunday?” It has created a feast.” I think that those who criticize Christianity might think so.
The famous Japanese theologian Kanzo Uzumura said, “If God curses us, He will not curse us by disease, failure, or death. With a closed ear that cannot hear the word of God even after hearing the word of God, with unbelief that does not believe in God while looking at the work of God without limits, with a dry heart that does not feel grateful even though we live under the grace of God I will curse you.” Christianity is a religion of thanksgiving. Parents teach their children to receive something by saying “thank you.” So, when your child receives something, he habitually says, “Thank you.” These words of a child are habitual words, not from the heart. However, when the child grows up and becomes self-aware, he will begin to express sincere gratitude from the heart. When a child expresses sincere gratitude from the heart, his character is mature. The expression of gratitude is the level of faith. For mature believers, all three hundred and sixty-five days a year are Thanksgiving.
God wants all of God's children to mature and become saints who have the heart of Christ.
1. First, the heart of Jesus Christ is one.
Let's read verse 2 together. “Be of one mind, of the same love, of one accord, of one mind.” Amen.
In John 17, Jesus' prayer is recorded. Jesus prayed three things. First, He prayed for Himself who would bear the cross. Second, he prayed for his disciples. And third, he prayed for all who believe. But when he prayed for all who believe, the first thing he said, “Father, may they all be one in us, as you are in me and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). ) prayed. This prayer is for the unity of the community of saints based on the unity of God the Father and Jesus the Son. However, the unity of the community of saints does not mean that all the members of the church are mechanically integrated without losing their identity. Just as the Father and the Son are each independent in their mode of existence, but form a complete unity in their essence, so each member in the Church has its own various characteristics and is a unity in diversity.
Since liberation, we have been told countless times, ‘If we unite, we live, and if we disperse, we die.’ He cried out for unity at the end of every word. However, they try to become one, but they cannot become one. Workers at an automobile factory in Pyeongtaek lock the factory doors and fight to ‘live together’. But looking at their struggles, you can't shake the impression that they'd rather die together than live together. The National Assembly is not even open by the ruling and opposition parties due to laws related to non-regular workers and media. The two Koreas try to sit together, but the conflict is only deepening. They talk to become one, but only love and hate are deepening.
It is not easy to become one even though we should be one. The reason we cannot become one is first, because of our arrogance. Where there is a proud heart, there is absolutely no unity. Second, because of the sense of superiority. I'm good, but I can't become one. Third, because they are self-centered, they cannot become one. If you don't care about the situation or circumstances of the other party and only take care of your own interests and put forth your own opinions, you will never become one. We can become one when we let go of pride, superiority, and self-centered thoughts. Jesus gave up everything and made us one with God.
There was only the will of God in the world. However, Lucifer rebelled because he did not want all things to be united in the will of God and continue in a world of perfect order and harmony. From then to this day, Satan has always been working to break the unity. Jesus died on the cross to unite the world divided by Satan. The heart of Jesus is one. The sacrament meeting we attended today is a ceremony that confirms that we are all one family in which we share the flesh and blood of Christ.
Therefore, if we are saints who have the heart of Christ, we must strive for unity. In order to unite families, to unite the church, to unite labor and management, to unite Yeonghonam, to unite North and South Korea, we must pray and strive.
2. Second, Jesus personally practiced unity.
1) First, Jesus emptied himself.
Read verse 7 of the text. “But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and became in the likeness of men.”
An empty heart is the heart of Jesus. The word 'empty' is 'kenoo', which means 'empty' or 'make nothing'. The word ‘empty’ is a very important term in Christology, and it means that Jesus, who is like God, gave up everything on his own. Jesus gave up all his rights, his knowledge, his experiences, his abilities, and his opinions.
When a sailing vessel is on the verge of being wrecked due to a storm, an experienced captain begins to dump the cargo at sea. To reduce the weight of the ship and increase its speed by throwing the cargo into the sea. At this point, the captain must quickly decide what to throw into the sea. first the heaviest