Phlippians 3:15 says, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  The thus minded that Paul was calling the Christians to be, and that is true for us today as followers of Christ, was to be united in love for each other and God through their personal relationship with Christ.  We cannot follow false teachers nor be at war with each other as Christians and still be effective Christians.  Verse sixteen states, Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Paul told the believers at Philippi if they proclaimed to put their faith in Christ that this should determine how they walked, or lived, in the world.  It is easy enough for a person to say that he or she is a Christian, but it is the way that the person lives will really prove the truth of this statement.  This is not to say that a person cannot be a Christian and still sin at times, but that if a Christian does, that he or she will realize this and repent and turn to God again.  Verse seventeen declares, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Paul told the Christians at Philippi to use him as example.  At that time, he was in prison, not living in a mansion that he had decided that God wanted him to have.  If we are going to pattern our Christian life after someone, the first One to pattern it after would be Christ, but then Paul would be a much better example than most of those today who proclaim a prosperity gospel.  We are called to be servants of Christ and not to be rich people because God wants us to be happy.  Our happiness in the world should be because of our relationship with Christ if we are His followers, and not because we expect God to materially bless us.  Verse eighteen adds, (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  Paul then issues a warning that many of those who professed to be Christians were not really following Christ and said that this had caused him to be heartbroken, as it should us today as Christians.  Verse nineteen continues, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  Paul said that these people who professed to believe in Christ but had not truly put their faith in Him were doomed to destruction,  Paul said that their god was their belly, or the material things of this earth.  There are still many people who are that way today.  Verse twenty declares, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul told the believers at Philippi and us today that if we are followers of Christ then we should be talking to God for direction in life.  Paul may have said that they could us him for an example of how to live an obedient life, but then said that they should talk to God for direction in their lives.  We cannot be effective Christians if we simply pattern our life after another Christian, no matter how successful they may be.  We must individually ask God what He would have us to do.  Verse twenty-one adds, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  Paul said that once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord that God through the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit would change us into what we should be.  We cannot transform ourselves.  Only God can do that, and we must look to Him for guidance daily if we are to be effective followers of Christ.