Of One Mind

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: General | Jul 1967

"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2.2).

One of the secrets of spiritual power among God's people is oneness of mind. Men of God down the ages have known this and have longed and prayed for it. In Psalm 133.1, David wrote,

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity."

At one period, David had the joy of seeing the people of Israel of one mind and heart in serving God, and we read of them, that they "did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness" (1 Chronicles 29.22).

Again, when the remnant returned from Babylon, and when they were gathered with one heart to seek the LORD, and to obey Him, we read, "And there was very great gladness" (Nehemiah 8.17). But such times were rare in Israel and, for the most part, their history makes sad reading.

In the New Testament the blessing that comes from unity of heart, is the same as in the Old Testament. We see how the Master longed for it among His disciples, for He said,

"This is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you" (John 15.12).

He knew the weakness and failure of each of His disciples, and when need arose He reproved them, but He loved them, and this they all knew. They never forgot the lesson of the feet-washing, and the Master's words,

"If I then, the Lord and the Master (Teacher), have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13.14).

We also, teachers included, need to remember the lesson of the feet-washing. When we do lowly tasks for one another, it helps us to esteem each other more. But when we slight our brethren in our hearts, it hardens our hearts, and later on our secret thoughts come out in the unguarded, and sometimes ungracious words. We are, what we think in our hearts (Proverbs 23.7).

Love is a thing of the heart, and if we do not love one another from the heart, as Peter says (1 Peter 1.22), then we do not really love one another at all. "Let love be without hypocrisy", wrote Paul (Romans 12.9). It is possible for us to be together, and yet not in unity. This is the way to fruitless service. True unity is a thing of the heart.

Though we have, each of us, failure and imperfection, yet we ought to accept each other from the heart. This is quite evidently the Master's will for us. When we do so, then we are on the way to reviving and joy. The weak and the erring must be encouraged and corrected, but they must be received to our hearts. We wrong our own souls, when we fail to love one another from the heart.

Oneness of heart leads on to more joyful service, and to more effective prayer. Division in heart grieves the Holy Spirit, in whom we have been sealed. We read of the early church in Jerusalem, that,

"The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul:... And with great power gave the apostles their witness... and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4.32-33).

Those were difficult but happy days, as the disciples prayed together, and the place was shaken wherein they were gathered.

The people of God today can have the same grace and power as the church in Jerusalem had in that early day, if they are prepared to pay the same price. We should put away all that comes between us, and accept one another from the heart. The effect of oneness of heart is so beneficial, that we should seek it earnestly and guard it zealously. "Above all things" says Peter, "being fervent in your love among yourselves, for love covereth a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4.8).

II we realize in our hearts that we have unwisely, or unkindly criticized our fellow-saints, even the least of them, then let us humbly confess the matter before the Lord. If it has been done in public, and the thing is known, then let us humbly confess the matter publicly. It has often been the beginning of reviving, and the cause of many turning to Christ, when believers have begun to confess their offences one to another, and to pray one for another (James 5.16). How sad if our much labour is fruitless because we have grieved the Holy Spirit in our thoughts one of another! Let us see that we are right in this thing.

It is especially the work of the elders to foster this unity of heart among the saints. They must be living epistles in their own lives. They must esteem each other. When Peter writes about this to his fellow-elders,

"Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another" (1 Peter 5.5),

he surely had in mind that evening when the Master girded Himself with the towel to wash the disciples' feet. No one had more need to learn that lesson that Peter himself! But he learned it, and he was a living epistle to his fellow-elders, and to all the saints. And so the elders must manifest this spirit among themselves first, and then among the saints. They must look for the grace of God in others, and encourage them, knowing that, if the Lord tarry, others must rise up to do the work of God. Wise elders will gladly welcome others in the service of God.

May the Lord enlarge our hearts to esteem each other better than ourselves, and to make it our aim to be of one mind, of one accord. Then the Lord will command the blessing.

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Jul 1967
General