Created to be a Masterpiece

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.

 —Philippians 2:1-2

What does it mean to make Christ's joy complete? Being complete is being fulfilled. He wants to experience fulfillment in my life. He wants to joy in me. How can I bring Him fulfillment? How can I give Him joy? If the intimacy of my relationship with the Lord encourages me—if His love brings comfort—if I have unselfishly shared—if I have offered tenderness and compassion—if I have His love for my brothers and sisters, I bring Him joy by being unified with them in spirit and mind.

We are all so different. We come from different backgrounds. We are different ages. We have different likes and interests, ideas, and preferences. But it absolutely possible to be united without being unanimous on every issue. Being like-minded doesn't mean having the same opinion, but it does mean having the same attitude. We need a team-attitude. A team works together to accomplish the same goal. We work together to accomplish the Great Commission. Having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose brings unity. Even if we aren't always the same in our opinions, being one in Christ means we seek His will instead of our own. It means that we lay down any agenda, and seek to come together in His purpose.

I have a friend who creates mosaics. She uses different materials to create a work of art—colored glass, stones, and other things. These materials are of all different sizes, colors, shapes, and of different substances. From all these unique materials with different consistencies, she creates a masterpiece. Just as she creates a beautiful unified work of art, Jesus Christ can take our unique differences and create something beautiful.

Unity is found in Jesus. As long as we regard Him as our anchor and our reason for living—as long as we realize that our treatment of each other is the way that we treat Christ—as long as we put Him and His love first before any of our own ideas or opinions, we can discover this unity of spirit that brings us together in love. The love of my unselfish Savior calls for my surrender and obedience. When I live with a servant’s heart, I bring Him complete joy. Unity begins in you and in me.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher