If indeed I think I've tried...

If indeed I strive to be Christlike?-- if I link my lot with Paul in Philippians 2 and say “if there is any consolation in Christ and any comfort of love”, if I desire any companionship or “fellowship of the Spirit”, if I live in and practice and receive “any affection and mercy”-- then I have to pay attention to, live by, practice using in an energetic daily way, the ingredients of which this is made(better to try leaving the flour out of a cake):

--being likeminded

--having the same love

--being of one accord, of one mind

--doing nothing through selfish ambition or conceit

--in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than me

--in looking out for others’ interest in addition to and above my own

Puritan Richard Sibbes puts it most soberingly: “We are weak but we are His; we are deformed but yet bear His image…Christ finds matter of love from that which is His own in us…considering this gracious nature in Christ, let us think with ourselves thus: When he is so kind to us, shall we be cruel against Him in his name, in his truth, in His children?...unless you will disclaim all consolation in Christ labor to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  What a joyful spectacle this is to Satan and His faction, to see those that are separated from the world fall into pieces among themselves.  Our discord is the enemy’s melody.”

““For thirty years I have tried to see the face of Christ in those with whom I differed,” [said Bishop Whipple, “Apostle of the Indians” in Minnesota].  When this spirit actuates us we shall be preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an easy-going tolerance, from passionate vindictiveness and everything that would mar or injure our testimony for Him who came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”  --Griffith Thomas

I don’t need to look far before I discover in myself words that have been spoken, thoughts that have been uttered in silence, which war against this principle.  Alas, it is not just a principle but persons.  Curious that I find it easy enough to set aside this reality and walk on, not realizing the violence I have done to “consolation.… comfort… fellowship…affection…mercy”. 

Isle of Iona, Scotland