Days of Praise

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February 6, 2026
I Will Carry You
“Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” (Isaiah 46:3–4)

When we are young, concern for the future may be the furthest thing from our thoughts, but as we age we become more cognizant of our diminishing strength and declining health. While these changes become our new reality and may occupy our thoughts and discourage us, they come as no surprise to the God who made us and sustains us.

In Psalm 71, the author begins by proclaiming God as his “rock,” “hope,” and “refuge:” “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth” (v. 5). However, along with these declarations of trust, he then lifts prayers to the Lord expressing many of the same aging concerns we experience today: “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth” (v. 9); “now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not” (v. 18).

These cares are nothing to be ashamed of but are just the kind of concerns that God wants us to lift up to Him: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7); “cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22). If you find similar worries crowding your mind, hold fast to God’s assurance of His faithfulness to His beloved children (37:28). All the way from the womb to the tomb, He will carry you! DWR

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February 11, 2026 The Living and the Written Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) The holy Scriptures and the person of our Lord Jesus Christ are so inseparably bound together that whatever calls into question the integrity and authority of one correspondingly casts aspersions on the other. Let us not be guilty of saying that the written Word and the incarnate Word are in all aspects the same, but the Bible does clearly reveal Christ as “the Word . . . made flesh, [who] dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “And his name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). In carefully worded arguments, Christ time and again called attention to the fact that the teachings of the Old Testament Scriptures were actually teaching about Him. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. . . . For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:39, 46–47). “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Therefore, those who diligently search the Scriptures find in them sufficient testimony to Christ, and where there is faith in the witness of Scripture, there will be faith in Christ and His words. But if men reject the testimony of Scripture, they will not even be convinced by His miraculous resurrection from the dead. Christ claimed that all of Scripture pointed to Him. On the road to Emmaus, He taught that all three popular divisions of the Old Testament traced one progressive Messianic revelation. To understand the New Testament, we must know the Old, for both tell the same story, each amplifying the other. They are forever inseparable. JDM

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February 23, 2026
Explain, Expound, Expect
“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.” (Acts 28:23)

In this final scene of Paul’s spiritually intense life, he convinced the Jewish leaders in Rome to visit him while he was under unjust house arrest. How did he handle them? Three actions set an example for those who wish to live for Jesus.

First, he explained Jesus from the Scriptures. Perhaps Paul pointed to Isaiah 53, even as the Lord Himself did, saying, “For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, and he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end” (Luke 22:37). Paul may have explained why Jesus is indeed that “seed” promised to arise from “the woman” who would deal the devil a death blow (Genesis 3:15). Are we ready to explain how Jesus fulfilled specific Scriptures?

Not satisfied with mere academics, Paul expounded on what the Lord Jesus had done in his life when he “testified the kingdom of God.” For example, Paul told King Agrippa, “I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 26:14). Are we likewise prepared to tell just how Jesus has woven us into His kingdom?

Last, Paul offered expectations. Do we communicate what we expect hearers to do with this good news? “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). After he explained, expounded, and expected, “some believed” (Acts 28:24). May every Christian follow Paul’s three-step approach of evangelism modeled in our text. BDT

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March 5, 2026
I Have Overcome

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus clearly said, “I have overcome”—not “I will overcome.” The Greek word that is translated “I have overcome” (nenikeka) occurs only once in the New Testament and denotes a past action. The victory is complete; the conquest is in the past and continues into the present and future.

But when Jesus said “I have overcome” in John 16, He had yet to endure the cross and rise from the dead. He could make such a statement before dying and rising because He and His redemptive work could not be stopped. “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11).

That which God declares shall be accomplished! “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” saith the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come” (Revelation 1:8). Before creation, Jesus was. Likewise, before redemption was accomplished in time, our Redeemer had already overcome. Only Christ Jesus can claim, “I have overcome,” because He is the beginning and the end.

We cannot fully understand His unsearchable work. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). But He has clearly revealed Himself as our Creator, Redeemer, and overcoming King.

These verses profoundly comfort the believer. The victory is won—we possess eternal life now! What could prevent Jesus from dying on the cross and rising from the dead? Nothing. Who can derail the Lamb’s plan of salvation? No one. Christ’s accomplishment is forever, and it will stand for all time! MJS

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March 15, 2026
God’s Tear Bottle
“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Psalm 56:8)

This is a remarkable insight into the tender heart of our heavenly Father. He has a tear bottle—perhaps a tear bottle for each of His wandering children.

Ancient tear bottles (or wineskins) have actually been excavated by archaeologists in Israel. These vessels were used to catch and preserve the owner’s tears during times of grief or extreme pressure. This psalm was actually written by David when he was being pursued by Saul on one side and surrounded by Philistines in the city of Goliath on the other. David apparently not only had his own tear bottle but also believed that God somehow was also storing up David’s personal tears in His own heavenly bottle of tears.

There is a touching story in the earthly ministry of Jesus that provides another example: “Behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears . . . and anointed them with the ointment” (Luke 7:37-38).

The ointment was obviously not the same as the tears but followed the washing by tears. Some scholars think these tears came from her bottle, which was emptied on His feet and used to wash them. Others think that those tear bottles that have been found actually contained the collected tears of mourners at a burial site.

In any case, God does know all our wanderings, sorrows and tears and stores them up somewhere. Perhaps it is also a metaphor for His “book of remembrance,” which is being “written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16). HMM

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March 16, 2026
What the Creator Requires
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?” (Deuteronomy 10:12)

In the final weeks before his death, Moses gathered the people of Israel together for a final look back at God’s miraculous provision for the nation and a restatement of the law. He repeated the Ten Commandments and reminded them of their supernatural origin (chapter 5). He charged them to remember the law and to pass it on to their children, for God Himself had entrusted it to them (chapter 6). He insisted that they utterly destroy the enemies of God in the land, for their holy and special status as the people of God would be in jeopardy if they didn’t (chapter 7). The longest section of the speech consisted of a command to remember their unique history: how God had supernaturally intervened for them on so many occasions (8:1–10:11).

Finally, Moses brought them to a time of commitment, charging them in our text to fear, obey, love, and serve the “LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Even the commandments were for their good (v. 13); they were not merely petty or malicious. In fact, throughout the lengthy lecture, Moses had several times adjured the people to love their Lord with their entire being (see 6:5; 7:9; 10:20; 11:1, 13, 22).

And why not? “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is” (10:14). The God who placed His sovereign mark on Israel (v. 15) deserved their total devotion, obedience, and service.

Does not the Creator God, who has done so much more for us than He had done even for Israel, deserve our total devotion, obedience, and service? JDM

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March 17, 2026
No Fear in the Days of Evil
“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?” (Psalm 49:5)

This enigmatic question should be a real concern to elderly unbelievers—or of unbelievers of any age, for that matter. The “days of evil” seem specifically to refer to old age, as in Ecclesiastes 12:1, which exhorted young people to “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”

Those who have not “remembered their Creator” while young may one day come to realize that the iniquities that had been accumulating against their record day by day through a long lifetime had actually involved the venom of that old serpent, which God long ago had warned would bruise the heels of Eve’s children (see Genesis 3:15). Their sins, which will eventually become so numerous as to “compass them about,” might even destroy them both now and eternally. After all, the devil will have “the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14) until that day when the true seed of the woman, the Lord Jesus Christ (even though His own “heel” has been viciously “bruised” by Satan when the sins of the whole world were placed upon Him), will “crush the head” of that wicked one forever.

But because of Christ’s great victory over Satan—when He both died for our sins and then defeated death by His resurrection—we need no longer fear death, even when the evil days draw nigh.

Though it is far better to accept His gift of salvation from sin and death while we are young, it is never too late as long as we live. So, “wherefore should I fear in the days of evil?” “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and . . . perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:16, 18). HMM

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March 29, 2026
In Need of the Colt of an Ass
“And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them.” (Matthew 21:3)

In His humanity, the Lord Jesus no doubt had the same physical needs shared by all humans: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Interestingly enough, however, it appears He only expressed one need in a recorded, verbal conversation. He needed a little donkey colt to ride on as He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before His bitterly cruel death.

For over three years He walked all over Galilee and Judaea—even Samaria. Why would He suddenly need to ride now? Matthew tells us why: “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:4-5). Amazingly, this event had been prophesied four centuries earlier (Zechariah 9:9), and the time had finally come for Jesus to see that the prophecy was fulfilled. As He entered the city, the people rejoiced and took “branches of palm trees [hence the name Palm Sunday] . . . and cried, Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). However, just a few days later these same crowds turned on Him and cried out, “Crucify him” (Luke 23:21).

We often celebrate Palm Sunday as the final blasts of a bitter winter are beginning to give way to a beautiful and fruitful spring. So this terrible Passion Week, beginning so meekly and proceeding so cruelly, would shortly be overcome by the glorious resurrection of Jesus and everlasting life. HMM

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April 1, 2026
Signs Divide, Signs Reveal
“Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.” (John 11:53)

The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead. Why? They knew Lazarus’ resurrection was a well-established fact. And the profound miracle took place in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, with crowds watching.

Rather than recognizing this sign that Jesus was the Messiah and inspiring belief in Him, these leaders viewed the miracle as a threat to their authority. They feared Jesus’ popularity could lead to the loss of their positions and social standing. But more than that, their hearts were not open to the Word of God standing right in front of them in human flesh (John 1:14). Their hearts were hard and remained so. This made them blind to the very Messiah they were awaiting!

We also see this in the Old Testament. When Moses demanded that Pharaoh free the Israelites, Pharaoh continued to harden his heart. Even after he saw miracle after miracle, and even as the 10 plagues directly challenged the Egyptian gods, Pharaoh refused to concede (Exodus 9:12, 10:27).

Rather than forcing their hearts to believe, God allowed the Jewish leaders and Pharaoh to willfully harden their own hearts against the great miracles they witnessed.

But to the softened heart, Jesus’ identity was undeniable, being clearly revealed by the seven signs described in the gospel of John. The seventh sign was the raising of Lazarus. It foreshadowed the greatest miracle of all: Jesus’ defeat of death and sin on the cross and His resurrection Easter morning! “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25).

Jesus performed these signs to reveal to the Israelites the power of Yahweh, the great I Am. And the signs revealed who Jesus was—the Son of God in their midst! May our hearts be ready to recognize and praise Him for what He has done. MJS

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April 2, 2026
The Father of Spirits

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)

Human parents transmit physical characteristics to their offspring, but our spiritual attributes come from God, for He is “the Father of spirits.” Paul recognized that all men are “the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29) and that each man is still “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7).
 

Thus, our spirit/soul nature, as distinct from our body of physical/mental flesh, has come from God, who created it and united it with our body, evidently at the moment of physical conception in the womb. It is obvious that the image of God could not be transmitted genetically via the genetic code and DNA molecules, for these are simply complex chemicals programmed to transmit only the physical and mental attributes of ancestors to their children. Nevertheless, the spirit/soul attributes of each person also seem to be associated inseparably with the body from conception onward, continuing so until separated again at death, when the spirit goes “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), leaving the body behind.

 

In the meantime, however, by the union of flesh and spirit, man inherits Adam’s fallen nature as well as his mortal body, for “the body is dead because of sin” (Romans 8:10). Both are in need of salvation. Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:14). Therefore, we, like Paul, can pray that our “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). HMM

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April 16, 2026

Happy Suffering

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14).

Few Christians in the modern world, especially in our own country, have actually suffered physical persecution or martyrdom for the cause of Christ. Nevertheless, the Scriptures emphasize that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” of some kind, particularly in “the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1,12). We need, therefore, not to seek persecution but to at least understand it and react appropriately when it comes. As the world descends deeper into humanism and occultism, we may even face physical persecution as many Christians in communist, Muslim, and pagan lands already have.

Peter, who once himself was so fearful that he denied Christ, warns us not to fall into the same reaction. “Be not afraid, or troubled,” he says. Instead, “be happy!” This is seemingly strange but genuinely good advice. “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:13-14).

Christ Himself said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). The apostle Paul, who also suffered great persecution and eventual martyrdom, cautioned that we should be “in nothing terrified by your adversaries . . . . For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:28-29). HMM

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April 20, 2026
God is Holy
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

The awesome vision of the throne that God gave Isaiah included a short description of the seraphims. They stood above the throne announcing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). They are cited again in Revelation 4:8 as constantly saying, “Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Apparently, the holiness of God is all-consuming.

Both the Hebrew and Greek words for “holy” used in Scripture are strong descriptions of separateness, a dedicated detachment from all else. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy” (Revelation 15:4). “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

It is this absolute and unique transcendence that sets the Creator of the universe above and beyond all others: “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9). Although there are “gods many, and lords many” (1 Corinthians 8:5), and the “desperately wicked” heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9) twists the “glory of the uncorruptible God” (Romans 1:23) into every vile image possible, “Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Since God is holy, you and I can trust Him without reservation or doubt. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Since God is holy, we can be totally confident that our souls are secure in God, “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). HMM III

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May 2, 2026
Son of the Living God
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

This ringing affirmation of faith came from Peter as spokesman but undoubtedly was shared by all the disciples, since Jesus had asked the question “Whom say ye that I am?” of them all. Actually, many had probably been disciples of John the Baptist, who had directed them to Jesus, and so had heard John’s testimony concerning Christ’s identity. John had said that Jesus was indeed “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18).

Yet, as they followed Him, they heard Him speak of Himself far more often as “the Son of man.” Over 30 times in the gospel of Matthew alone He identified Himself as Son of man, not once as the Son of God. Nevertheless, He accepted Peter’s statement as absolutely true, saying that the Father had so revealed it.

In fact, it is essential that one must believe it to be saved. Jesus did say, “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Yet, He seems to want us to know Him especially as the Son of man, perhaps so that we will never forget that He, though God, is also man just like us. And as man, He was “in all points [tested] like as we are, yet without sin” so He can “be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and we now can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

John was enabled to see Christ once again long after His return to heaven. Although He was now in His resurrection body, John still saw Him as “one like unto the Son of man” (Revelation 1:13). Although He is indeed the Son of the living God, He is also our “man in the glory”! HMM

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June 2, 2026
The Sting of Death, the Power of the Cross
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

When we receive word that a loved one has died—even when it’s expected—we gasp. The news punches our heart; our soul aches. Death often possesses a painful finality.

Sin and death are directly related—sin brought about death’s reign with all its dread and darkness. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And both sin and death came about as a result of Adam’s fall. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12).

But if sin and death stand together, they’re also defeated together; the cross of Christ conquers both! “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “The sting of death is sin . . . . But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57).

We praise God that through Christ, death has no more power over believers. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

For the one who believes in Jesus, death is simply a doorway to the eternal life that has been promised us (John 3:16)—let us face it with courageous joy! “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Christ is risen and nothing can separate us from Him! MJS

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June 4, 2026
Four Reasons Jesus Owns the World
“[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:2)

Hebrews exalts the Lord Jesus’ ownership of all things, including us. Scripture gives at least four reasons for this. First, the Son is the heir of all things (our text). That is, all things are destined to belong to Him. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” (John 3:35).

Second, Jesus created all things in conjunction with His Father and the Holy Spirit, as Genesis 1:26 shows. And the New Testament makes Christ’s creative activity crystal clear, saying, “In the beginning was the Word . . . . All things were made by him,” and “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (John 1:1, 3; Colossians 1:16).

Third, “[Jesus,] being the brightness of [God’s] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, the Lord Jesus also has full rights over all creation because He sustains it continually. If His powerful word ceased to uphold it, all things would vanish.

Finally, Christ redeemed all of creation by His self-sacrifice, as though He did not already deserve it by right of inheritance, creation, and sustaining power. Moreover, His purging of our sins on the cross, and thus His right to all things by virtue of His sacrifice, was so perfectly completed that the Lord “sat down” (Hebrews 1:3).

He has done everything. The Lord Jesus has the right of inheritance, of creation, of sustenance, and of redemption over all things. Since He owns us four times over, what worship ought we to give Him? BDT

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June 7, 2026

Like-Minded

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)

This emphatic command, along with the parallel terms, helps us understand the concept of thinking the same thing. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

Such thinking also includes “having the same love.” There are two aspects of this love. First, the term itself (agape) demands that all of Christ’s disciples “love one another: for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). This is often repeated to born-again believers so that our love for each other is so obvious that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Godly love then produces “being of one accord.” This phrase is the translation of the Greek word sumpsuchos, which is a compound of the preposition most often translated “with” and the word for “soul.” Thus, the agape that we are to share results in a connection “with-soul” that binds the “like-mindedness” in agreement with the mind and spirit of the Creator God.

We are finally commanded to be of “one mind”—slightly different from the “likeminded” opening charge of Philippians 2:2. The initial words are auto phronete—“I think.” The last use is phronountes—“same (way of) thinking.”

The entire context of the opening verses of Philippians 2 is to think like Jesus Christ thinks. “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “Set your affection [phroneo] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This kind of thinking must have God’s love and soul embedded in the very core of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. HMM III