Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 KJV
The Context:
Paul had started his letter to the church in Philippi talking about the benefits and demands of a life that is connected to Christ. He spoke about the sufferings that anyone who will submit to Christ must undergo. He spoke about his own personal conviction, that as long as he was alive, he was all for Christ, also assured that even in death, there was eternal gain. You don't come to this conclusion by accident; it is a result of personal experience of Christ. Anyone who has met with Christ understands what his/her proper pursuits and priorities should be. It is not about the things this world celebrates, but about what God considers important.
And Paul here again emphasises this important connection with Christ, as the perfect example of how my life should look like and who I am to pattern my life after. God didn't call me into a selfish and self-centred existence, where all that matters is what I can get, but He called me into a union with Him that will impact all of life as well as eternity. It is not all about the earth and human applause, but also about heaven's approval. The question then is: have I found out the reason why I have been brought into union with Christ? Have I discovered my purpose in all that I see and experience daily? Am I caught in the Dail grind of life that I have forgotten that it does not end down here? Today's extract is a reminder of what is truly important.
The Message:
Paul encourages all who read these words to allow God work first in them before they can be of any use out there. He talks about the Mind of Christ, and to really appreciate what this mind is, it will be nice to read the entire chapter,. The Mind of Christ here is seen as one which considered position, power, privilege and possession as nothing. Here was the glorious Son of God, the One by whom all things in heaven and on earth are created. He left all that glory in heaven and came to earth like one of us, so He could experience what we had and he could pay the price for sin which we could not. In his glorious form, no one could touch him but in his eternal plan, there was a need to make a way for man to be restored to God. That plan had been in place since the foundation of the world were laid. Think of it: God knew men would reject Him, but He came all the same. He knew that some would reject him even to death, but so that all men would have equal access to the mercy and grace that seals salvation and eternal life, He came all the same. If that does not blow your mind, I don't know what else can.
This was the kind of mind that Christ had: love for all, even in the face of rejection and rebellion; arms open wide, even in the face of constant disobedience; mercy and grace in abundant measure, even in the face of increasing wickedness. Even when God knew the mind of Judas Iscariot, he still allowed him to work for three and a half years, even sending him out to preach the gospel, and with signs and wonders following. Can the same be said of me in my relations and interactions with people?
The Response:
How easy it is to point out other people's failings and ignore mine. How easy is it to demand a course of action from another person yet not hold myself to the same standard? Christ has laid down the perfect example of a mind totally sold out to the eternal good of other people and if I am truly living in Him, I don't have to be cajoled into doing the same. It should flow out of me as a matter of course. If I audit my personal life right now, what would the verdict be? Can it be said of me that I have the mind of Christ?
Do I hold grudges, even when the other people has said sorry or am I the type to wait for the other person to say sorry because I am older? Am I the type to carry juicy stories about other people, even if they are true? Am I the type to be privately jealous of another person's life, thinking it should have been me? Do I struggle to rejoice with those who rejoice? Am I all about the public image of a good person while in private, I am like a whitewashed sepulchre, full of dead men's bones? The answer is private and personal, but the manifestation will speak into eternity.
Even if men lie to you, trying to convince you that you are the best version of mankind, you owe it to God and your eternity to be sure where you stand. None of the people trying to run your life on your behalf will stand with you in the coming judgement. I will stand alone, just as you also would. Judgement will be based on what I did with the Christ that was offered as my channel of redemption and salvation. He has done His part; the rest is left to me. His time of favour is here.
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