Have this Mind

"Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)

Why do I do what I do? What motivates me? What should motivate me?

Yesterday we were led to behold two pinnacles of truth. Christ, the everlasting God, high and lifted up, seated on a throne ruling over His creation with a mighty arm. And the exalted Christ To Whom every knee will bow and To Whom every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

In between these pinnacles we were led to the valley of humiliation through three stages of descent: Christ's humble attitude while still with the Father, the emptying of His glory (not His deity) by taking on the form of man, and His obedience to death, even to being cursed by God on the cross. Can you picture again with me how Tim demonstrated this descent into humiliation?

The Apostle Paul in this passage is giving us the motivation for living the Christian life. No Golden Rule religiosity here. No doing good to a neighbor with the expectation that they will do me good in return (if truth be told even with that kind of selfish motivation I fail). No, Christ is the example to follow. But I cannot follow that example unless Christ Jesus has given me the mind (will) to do so. It is only because Christ took my sin upon Himself and was cursed by God, that I am given the motivation and the ability to humbly serve others expecting nothing in return from them.

So, what am I going to do with this? What is one area of my life where I need to "have this mind"? By the grace of God, and relying on the exalted Christ and His Holy Spirit to help me, I am going to serve someone who is unlovely, or difficult to love. Christ did this. Can I do any less? If I claim the name "Christian" which means "Christ's one" then the answer is obvious.

"Is the servant greater than His master?" (John 15:20)

The stages of descent for me will include humility but I doubt it will lead to death. And thanks be to God that I have no curse to dread for that has already been experienced for me by another.