Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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.
Philippians 2:5-8
It is God’s will for us to be like-minded since we have received the same consolation in Christ. The pathway to like-mindedness is to pursue the mind of Christ that has been given to us in the Salvation He has provided. (1 Corinthians 2:15-16) After all I don’t want to be like another mere human (even the ones I love), I want to be like Jesus. The mind we need is the one that Christ demonstrated for us during His Incarnation. We are the body of Christ. We are meant to carry on the work He initiated during His life here on earth.
The person with mind is one that does not take advantage of position for selfish gain. It recognizes the resources available but does not disregard the will of God manifested by the current circumstances God has placed the person in. That person lives within the parameters that God has given them. David testifies that God is his inheritance, that He is in control of David’s portion in life, and that He has given David a good place to inherit. (Psalm 16:5-6) The same is true for us. Jesus, who was equal with God, lived within the boundaries of His human life. He found Himself as a regular guy and He went with it. He never forced His way on those around Him, though He had the power. He was obedient to the normal way of life.
When Jesus was twelve and His human parents took Him from the temple to be a carpenter He submitted to them. When His mother asked He turned the water into wine even though it wasn’t His time. When He was arrested He went with the guards even though His words caused them to fall to the ground. He could have called an army of angels but He remained arrested. He could have destroyed the world but He remained nailed to the cross. He was obedient to God’s will so that He even allowed Himself to be dealt the death of a criminal. 1 Peter 4:1 instructs us to arm ourselves with the same mind Christ expressed towards the suffering of this world.
What form do you find yourself in today? Are you a mother, father, husband, wife, child, employee, employer, or in a difficult position caused by those around you. Don’t fight it. Obey God, even if the cost is great. It is this willingness to humbly obey that open God’s final circumstances to us. It because of Jesus’ willing, humiliating obedience, that the Father exalted Him to the highest place. Jesus told us plainly that we shouldn’t position ourselves for glory by taking the best seat, but that we should take a place among the others so that when God wants to honor us there is room for us to move up. (Luke 14:7-11)
Submitting To Him In This Form,
Pastor Jason
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