One Mind In Christ.

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Being likeminded.

Having the same love.

Being of one accord.

Being of one mind.

The world we live in today seems to promote the exact opposite of these things. Being different is lauded as good. Having our own minds, our own opinions are encouraged. Being decisive is the mind set we've applauded. We are now reaping the reward of such encouraging-- a world of super offended.

Even as I write this I know if I were some important writer with millions of readers that I would have just offended the majority of them. Telling people that Christ wants us to be likeminded, having the same love, be of one accord, of one mind, would set people to screaming CULT, FANATIC, LUNATIC, SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST! And many more things as well to deride the very idea that we should not be individuals with minds of our own, thoughts of our own, beliefs of our own, with our own opinion mattering equally to everyone else' opinion even if it is totally different to another's.

We are SO caught up in SELF we can no longer see GOD, but rather we see a false God we've imagined into existence to suit our need.

Satan has taught us to put self before all things as our right of existing.  Satan has used the abuses of religion to corrupt all religion. Satan has succeeded in making it so that there is very little faith on earth, and a lot of corrupted faith.

Luk_18:8  … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

We can't even imagine why Jesus would say this because we say we have faith and know many- millions even that have faith. Yet Jesus knew then what we refuse to truly see now- that false faith will abound.

Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Isn't this the state of our world today?

Many shall be offended.

Many shall betray one another.

Many shall hate one another.

Many false prophets will rise.

Many will be deceived.

Iniquity abounds.

Love of many is cold.

This is truth.  Many are deceived and that deception causes them to have a false faith, yet soothing words are what they want, things easy on the ears and easy on lives filled with deception. 

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

ALL but the very elect will be deceived.  There will not be millions and millions and millions that have faith to salvation, there just won't. We are too self-absorbed for that not to be true.  Self rules in so many areas of our lives.

1Th 5:1  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

1Th 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 

Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 

Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 

Jas 5:4  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 

Jas 5:5  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 

Jas 5:6  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 

Patience in Suffering

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

Jas 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. 

By the grace and will of our LORD and SAVIOR may we study this more tomorrow!

All through the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever!