HAVE THIS MIND
I’ve often said that
there’s one passage of Scripture that if I consistently applied it to my life
then everything about how I live would change.
I’ve frequently
written that I also think the same passage is a primary reason many people find
it difficult to follow Jesus, because this passage is so convicting and calls
for such radical sacrifice.
I’ve regularly
thought that this same passage summarizes my prayer for the ultimate result of
my parenting—that my children would choose to live out this one passage.
What’s the passage?
So if there is any encouragement in
Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection
and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which
is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form
of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
IMAGINE THE
INSTEAD OFS
Imagine if the life
and death of Christ—his self-sacrificial giving—were the model we followed
every day in every relationship . . .
·
How
would we relate differently to others if instead of seeking (demanding) that
they encourage us, comfort us, and love us, instead we lived to
encourage, comfort, and love others because we already have
Christ’s encouragement, comfort, and love?
·
How
would we relate differently in our homes—with our spouses, parents, and
children—if instead of insisting that family members
thought like us, we sought to understand, empathize with, and be one with our
family members?
·
How
would we relate differently at work and in church if instead of seeking our own
agenda, we did nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
considered others better than ourselves?
·
How
would we relate differently with our friends and with our “enemies” if instead of looking out for
“number one,” we each looked not first to our own interests, but to the
interests of others?
·
How
would our attitudes toward others change if we maintained the mind of Christ
and did not demand equality, but made ourselves nothing, serving others,
sacrificing for others, and humbling ourselves before and for others—even to
the point of laying down our life for another?
THE FLESHLY
OBJECTION
Our flesh objects,
“That’s not fair. I’ll only give like that if the other person is willing to
give the same amount!”
I’m eternally
grateful that Christ did not think like that. If he had, then I’d still be dead
in my sins, because he would not have chosen to die for my sins.
IT’S NOT ABOUT
ME
I’m preaching to
myself here. This passage is eating me for lunch. That is, it’s convicting me
deeply about how self-focused I’ve been instead of being Christ-centered, Christ-like,
Christ-empowered, and others-focused.
Through Christ’s
power, I want to live like Christ for Christ’s glory.
Through Christ’s
power, I want to put others first, just as Christ sacrificed himself for us.
MY STATEMENT
OF FAITH AND PRACTICE
Churches and
parachurch groups create a statement of faith and practice that summarizes what
they belief about Christianity and how Christians can reflect Christ as they
live the Christian life.
In Philippians 2:5–11, I find my statement of faith: an
incredible summary of what I believe about Christ’s birth, life, death, burial,
resurrection, ascension, and eternal glory.
In Philippians 2:1–5, I find my statement of practice—a
radical summary of how I believe I should live the Christian life through
Christ, like Christ, and for Christ as I serve others.
YOUR TURN
…. from the blog of Bob Kellemen
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