Factually your serving in the body of Christ calls for surrender and sacrifice. In actuality it is the compulsion of His love in us (2 Corinthians 5:13- 15 ).

Without Christ's example of self-humbling and obedience there could be no appeal to let the self-emptying mind of Christ be in each body member (Philippians 2:5-8 ). The description of the kind of body unity for which grace has prepared us, is presented in Philippians 2:1-2.

It is a unity that knows the warmth of:

	Consolation in Christ
	Constant love in Christ
	Continuing fellowship of the Spirit
	Considerate affection in Christ
	Calculated acts of mercy
	Commitment to Christlikeness
	Channelling the same love
	Coordinated in one mind

There are things that disrupt the unity of the body, which must be avoided by practising His lowliness of mind.

Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, ..."

The word 'eritheia' is translated "selfish ambitions" (Philippians 2:3 ). "Self-seeking" (Romans 2:8 ). "Factions" (2 Corinthians 12:20 NIV ). Body life needs to be protected from selfish contention for position and power. Body members need to be kept from selfishly seeking to be served, with no thought at all of serving others. Body life, subjected to "factions" (NIV), or "contentions" (NKJV), can become infected with jealousies, uncontrolled anger, insistence on selfish goals, assassination of the good name of others (Romans 12:20 ). Such groups have succumbed to fleshly life.

All these destructive things can be avoided by having Jesus central in your thinking, attitudes and conduct which is by living your whole life in the Holy Spirit. The positive evidence of humility of mind is modest thinking of ourselves, and readiness to recognise, by commending the gifting and excelling of another.

Philippians 2:3 "... but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

The grace of lowliness of mind will pervade body life with peace. In practice it is love putting the interests of others first.

Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. "

It is accepted that care will be taken to benefit personally through the blessings of body life, but the more excellent way to abundant blessing is to prioritise the good of the other members and do all you can to further their spiritual prosperity. Healthy body life requires that each body member responds to the appeal to let the self-emptying mind of Christ motivate and control us in our body relationships (Philippians 2:5 ). Living out His unselfishness and humility will bring exceeding joy to each one participating in the local expression of the Lord's body, of which they are a part.