Biases and Jesus

Yesterday I found myself in Philippians 4 for my Bible reading. Two small verses caught me. In verses 2 and 3, we find Paul pleading with two women in the fledgling church at Philippi, to “be of the same mind in the Lord.”

These two women had “contended for the Gospel” alongside Paul – laboring and struggling to make the Good News known. They loved Jesus. And yet, now they found themselves in a place where they could not see eye to eye.  At odds.  In conflict.

How easily we can find ourselves in a similar place. At least, I can. Especially when I have a strong opinion about something. Something I believe in, or believe is right.

I can step into a conversation or decision-making process unaware of the bias quietly shaping my perspective. When that happens, I may push for my own agenda or become so attached to a certain outcome that I stop truly listening to others…and Jesus.

This creates division between me and a brother or sister. I begin to dismiss their views, silently writing them off in my heart…discounting their perspective.
Recently, I read a suggestion that challenged me: “Pray for indifference.”

Not the apathy kind of indifference, but a posture of surrender—where I become indifferent to my own ego, position, comfort, or need to be right. Instead, my heart is fully set on what God wants. His will. His purposes. His agenda.

A question that helps me is:

“What must I surrender within myself for God’s will to be fully realized in and among us?”

Paul urges the same mindset when he calls the two women in his letter to resolve their conflict—not by one overpowering the other, but by each choosing to think with the mind of Christ. To agree because they are both in the Lord.

Agree.
Hold my hands open.
Loosen my grip on my agenda, and seek His instead.

It’s about surrender—offering up my opinions and submitting my idea of what is “right” to the One who truly is.

The only way I can do this is to stay close to Jesus.

Stay so close to Him, so yielded to Him, that I have the same attitude Jesus did.
“He humbled Himself.
He did not demand and cling to His rights as God.
He laid aside His mighty power and glory,
He became a servant…”

In Philippians 4:5, Paul urges the women to “let your graciousness be known to everyone.”

Oh, that is what I want to be true of me! Not insisting on my way, but yielding, gentle, kind…gracious. My “graciousness evident to all.”  May it be true of all of us.

Thank you, Amy!