I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind
in the Lord (Philippians 4:2).
If Euodias and Syntyche could have walked alone, there would have been
no collision - no strife. But they were called to walk together, and here was the demand
for self-surrender. We are living members of a living body, each one having to do with
other members, with whom we are connected by a bond which no power of earth or hell can
sever. And be it ever remembered, that Christians are not members of a club, of a sect, or
of an association; they are members of a body, each connected with all, and all connected,
by the fact of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, with the risen and glorified Head in
heaven.
There is no place in all the universe where SELF will be so pulled to
pieces, as in the assembly of God. And is it not well? Is it not a powerful proof of the
divine ground on which that assembly is gathered? Are we not (should we not be) glad to
have our hateful self thus pulled to pieces? Shall we run away from those who do it for
us? Are we not glad and do we not often pray to get rid of self? And shall we quarrel with
those who are God’s instruments in answering our prayers? True, they may do the work
roughly and clumsily; but no matter for that. Whoever helps me to crush and sink self does
me a kind turn, however awkwardly he may do it. One thing is certain, no man can ever rob
us of that which, after all, is the only thing worth having, namely, Christ. This is a
precious consolation. Let self go; we shall have the more of Christ. Euodias might lay the
blame on Syntyche, and Syntyche on Euodias; the apostle does not raise the question of
which was right or of which was wrong, but he beseeches both to be "of the same mind
in the Lord."
Here lies the divine secret. It is self-surrender. But this must be a
real thing. There is no use in talking about sinking self, while at the same time, self is
fed and patted on the back. We sometimes pray with marvelous fervor to be enabled to
trample self in the dust, and the very next moment, if any one seems to cross our path,
self is like a porcupine with all its quills up. This will never do. God will have us
real, and surely we can say, with all our weakness and folly, we want to be real, real in
everything; and therefore real when we pray for the power of self-surrender. But, most
assuredly, there is no place where there is more urgent demand for this lovely grace than
in the bosom of the assembly of God.