Good morning. Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ONENESS - that is the key word describing all of that. It could also be construed as sameness; but that is not the same thing as oneness. A married couple can look the same and act the same, and yet not be one. The same can be true of a church. Everyone looks and acts the same; but down underneath they are not one. The least little thing can split them apart. Sameness is outward, oneness is inward. You can look and act the same outwardly, but inwardly resent it. Perhaps the next verse can shed a little light on the subject. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others. Wow! That says it all. They are acting in their own interests, not in the interests of others. When you put the other person(s) first, you become one. You do what is best for the other person(s), not necessarily for yourself. In fact, you could even be "hurt" by your actions. If every couple/church would do that, they would become a mighty unit used by God. Father thank You that the reader regards others as more important than himself/herself. He/she is a unifier and not a divider. Answer his/her prayer request.

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