STRIVE TO HAVE THE SAME MIND AS CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 31, 2023.

SUBJECT: STRIVE TO HAVE THE SAME MIND AS CHRIST!

Memory verse: "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ.” (Philippians 2 vs 5.)

READ: Philippians 2 vs 3 - 8: 

2:3: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself.

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

2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

2:6: who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 

2:7: but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

2:8: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

INTIMATION:

The spirit of Christian humility is the spirit of Christ in laying aside rights to serve the interest of others. Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. As believers, we should have a Christ-like attitude, one that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve others. We should develop His attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realizing their sinfulness, and understanding their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. 

If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived. Jesus was willing to lay aside or empty Himself of His being and essence as God in order to incarnate in the flesh of man. He made a supreme sacrifice in incarnation in order to accomplish the plan of redemption for the salvation of man. In contrast to lordship, He took on slave-hood. In contrast to existence in spirit, He took on the physical. In order to become the slave of humanity, He had to take on the form of humanity. In order to make the divine sacrifice for the sins of humanity, He had to incarnate into the form of those for whom He would die. 

Jesus is equal to God in essence, being, eternality, and work. Since He is God, then He could not have existed in any other state of being than what God is. However, in order to accomplish the redemption of mankind, He did not consider His being God as something that could not be forsaken for the benefit of His creation. Jesus did not consider His existence as God something to be grasped in view of the state of condemnation in which all humanity dwell. 

Jesus had every right to demand service or to forcefully lord over the flock. However, He commanded our submission by what He did for us in solving our sin problem. We thus follow Him in thanksgiving for what He did on the cross and continues to do as our Advocate (First John 2 vs 1). While on earth, He did not command the following of His disciples through authority. They followed because of His love for them. The sign of a member of the body of Christ is one who is functioning as Jesus in order to make himself the servant of others. The function is based on loving one’s neighbor as himself, and loving others as Christ loved us.

Therefore, humility is not self-degradation, it is realistic assessment and commitment to serve. Like Jesus, we should have a servant’s attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Considering others’ interests as more important than our own links us with Christ, who was a true example of humility. True humility is seeing ourselves as we really are from God's perspective, and acting accordingly. Humility will not allow you to be influenced by praise, honor, and popularity. It helps you not to allow popularity to twist your perception of your own importance. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of humility and servanthood that I may have the same mind as Christ, and serving You and others out of love and obedience to You in all things, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!