Paul’s

letters to churches like the one at Philippi were probably first read

aloud at a worship gathering. So in Philippi one day, do you suppose

Euodia and Syntyche got embarrassed at this point, hearing their

names read in connection with a conflict?

For

some reason they had had a falling out, and everyone knew about it.

Perhaps these two had not spoken to each other in a while, and they

tended to avoid each other. Even if they were not talking, others

likely were talking about them—so it’s no surprise that Paul

himself had heard about it.

Most

congregations have a scenario or two in which some members nurse a

grudge against one another. Sadly, in some situations people conclude

that there’s no fixing it, so they resolve to put up with it. “I’m

not stepping into the middle of that one!” we might say, or, “I

wouldn’t touch that one with a ten-foot pole!”

But

Paul stepped in. We cannot be united in Christ and yet be at odds

with one another. Strained relationships may not be easy to repair.

But we are called to try.

As

Paul puts it, it’s not just about having the same mind but having

the same mind “in the Lord.” The Lord himself is involved with

our disagreements, and we need to resolve them for his sake.