May 04 2026

Monday May 04

The Submissive Mind

Philippians 2:1-4

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. Today we move on to the next chapter, Philippians 2. We would like to read the first four verses, and then we will be discussing the introduction to this chapter. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let each one of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Now, if you have been with us through chapter 1, you know that the Apostle Paul is writing from a Roman prison. Yet his letter is saturated with joy. The whole book teaches that if you want real joy, you must have the right mindset. You need a mindset that is fixed on Jesus Christ. Chapter 1 tells us you need a single mind: “For me to live is Christ.” Paul wrote that this mindset keeps our joy steady, no matter what our circumstances might be.

Now, as we come to chapter 2, Paul introduces the next great secret of Christian joy. It is the submissive mind—a mind that is submitted to the Lordship and the will of God. The church at Philippi was a wonderful congregation. They were generous, loving, and courageous in their faith. But they were not without problems. My friend, that reminds us there is no perfect church. If you ever find the perfect church, I have heard it said many times, that once you join it, it will not be perfect anymore.

You see, the church is not a congregation of people trying to display their spiritual trophies. It is a place where lost sinners, broken sinners, and broken people can find hope in Jesus Christ. And it is a place where saved sinners can learn to live for Christ and display His glory.

The church is a wonderful place. But the Apostle Paul had heard, while in prison, through Epaphroditus that two prominent women in the church, Euodia and Syntyche, were in conflict. Their disagreement had the potential to divide the whole church. At the same time, there were pressures from the outside. False teachers were pressing in, trying to disrupt the truth of the gospel.

Paul understood something very clearly about the church: disunity is one of Satan’s favorite weapons. It grieves the Lord, weakens the church, and damages its witness to the world. So Paul, before giving one of the greatest examples of humility and submission in verses 5–11—the example of the Lord Jesus Christ—he first lays a foundation in verses 1–4.

Now listen very carefully. In these first four verses we just read, he appeals to the highest spiritual motives. Because we are in Christ, because we have received the comfort of His love, the fellowship of His Spirit, and the tender mercies of God, we are called to live in unity. Paul is not calling for outward uniformity forced by rules. He is calling for inward spiritual unity that flows from hearts that are right with Christ and right with one another.

The key verse here is found in verse 3, where he writes, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” In chapter 1, it was Christ first. In chapter 2, it is others next. And Paul gives us four examples of humility and a submissive mind in this chapter: the Lord Jesus Christ in verses 5–11, the Apostle Paul himself in verses 12–18, Timothy in verses 19–24, and Epaphroditus in verses 25–30.

He gives us these examples to show what it truly means to have a submissive mind. But everything begins right here in verses 1–4. If we understand and apply these verses, the rest of the chapter will come alive. My friend, as we study this chapter together, may God help our hearts to be open to His holy Word. May our hearts be open to live in submission to His truth, and in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. What a difference it will make in our churches and in the world around us.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!