May 15
Let this mind be in you
Philippians 2:5-11

 

  1. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
  2. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
  3. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
  4. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
  5. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
  6. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth:
  7. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Jesus had this mind, or this way of thinking, that although He was equal with God He didn’t have a problem with stripping Himself of the rights and privileges of God and came and humbled Himself and died the death of the cross.  Now He is highly exalted by the Father and has been given a name which is above every name! (And we’ve been given the authority to use His name! See Mark 16:17).

But the point here is that in the verses preceding these he was talking about not esteeming ourselves better than others.  We pointed out that that doesn’t mean you’re to think of yourself as lower than dirt.  But it means to think as Jesus did. Jesus was God.  He was the Word of God made flesh.  And He knew that but He didn’t have a problem with laying aside that glory to come here as a man, live as a man and die the humiliating death He did for us.  As we know who we are in Him, that we are also the sons / daughters of God and we become secure in our position in Him then we will more easily be able to humble ourselves when we need to.  It will be easier not to be prideful and seek glory for ourselves.  It means we will do as Jesus did and humble ourselves for the purposes of the Kingdom.

 

Confession:

I know I am a child of God.  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I am a joint heir with Him.  But I choose to have the same mind He did and humble myself for the purposes of advancing the Kingdom of God.

 

 

Obedience is a tree of life!