Philippians 2:5-8 KJV
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Paul writes to the church in Philippi, charging them to let God do a work in them that will bring them in line with the nature of Christ. This is God's plan and purpose for my life: that Christ will be formed in me, so that His life can flow out of me. Too many times, we get the order wrong. We want to be known and celebrated by the world, but forget that it is first the inner work of God in me that will change lives, and not the outward gimmicks and public schemes that men may teach. It is the power of the inner man that drives the change that the outer man needs. This is the why the mind of Christ is critical to this process. Paul makes it clear that it is possible to have the mind of Christ, because God would not demand of me that which He has not first supplied grace for. If He commands it, He knows it is possible. If He commands it, I will thrive only when I pursue after it.
For the purpose of the verses above, the mind of Christ signifies humility, submission and surrender to the perfect will of God. It did not mean that it was convenient and comfortable for Jesus to do. Here was the Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, also called God the Son, who gave up his nature in order to take on the nature of the people He came to save. He is God the Son, yet became the son of man so he could help the sons of men take up their rightful place as the sons of God. The verses above say that he made himself of no reputation, emptying Himself of all that made Him indestructible, and submitted to the shameful death on a cross. He knew no sin, and did not commit a sin, yet He took up the sin of the whole world, paying the price that the whole world could not pay. Who else do you know that would pay such a high price for people you were not sure would even appreciate the sacrifice?
That was the price He paid, and the example He has laid down for all of us to emulate. He was not going to force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of our freewill, but He did it because that was the perfect will of God He was totally submitted to. For all who claim to be His children today, what kind of mind are we nurturing? Do we even know what God's perfect will for our lives is, and are we taking steps to ensure that our lives align with His will? Do we know the value of what we have received, and are we taking the right steps to extend the same grace we have been given to other people? Obedience is also the mind of Christ. Just imagine if Christ had not obeyed the will of His Father. Where would any of us be today? We have been given the perfect example of the life that pleases God, and we have been promised the supply that will make it work. As I depend on God on a daily basis, I get access to all that I need for life and Godliness. Grace is available; would you also take hold of it? God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment