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United With Christ

             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 compIt lete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)

United: 1) Made one, …3) being in agreement  (UNITED Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)

According to this passage, we are united with Christ and share in the Spirit. Is there any reason to reject the idea that "united" and "common sharing" are different in any substantial way? One might say that common sharing is the means of being united.  Of course, my automatic reaction to this idea is to pull out the examination table and evaluate whether  I am functionally united with Christ. And I suspect I’m equally concerned in either direction. I want to be united with Christ. I know that it is a good thing but at the same time, I’m adamantly opposed to tossing my mind in the garbage and turning into a Stepford Wife or ceasing to exist.

And there’s nothing in Scripture that says we must. Yes, we must die to self, but in doing so, we become more the person we were created to be. It’s easiest to ignore the whole thing, but that’s the worst answer. To get to the best answer (being united), we need to practice what doesn’t come naturally. That means inviting Jesus to be involved, or opening ourselves up to being united and observing what happens, especially looking for the positives. Meditating on this question will probably produce encouragement.

                I don’t think I have the answer, but I think it might open us up to experiencing His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It would also involve His correction and instruction, which leads to experiencing more of the fruit. Keep in mind, though, that unity with Christ doesn’t involve His changing to suit us. 

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