The Mind of Christ
Philippians 2:1-11 (NRSV)
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross.
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Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus said, "I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."
- John 13:15 (NRSV)
TO be like Christ is what God wants for us. Jesus showed us how to be devoted to God, prayerful, sympathetic, and benevolent. He left us an example of how to be in a loving relationship with God and with others.
I am challenged every day to seek "the mind of Christ" in my relationship with my mother. She is elderly and somewhat cantankerous. Yet Christ calls me to be loving toward her, even though sometimes this is a difficult task. When I become a servant to my mother, I am expressing what Christ has done for me.
Just as Jesus did not live to please himself, for us, yielding to Christ can mean doing what is difficult. Having the mind of Christ means working as a partner with Christ, devoting myself to doing God's will - to love and care for my mother as I believe Jesus would.
Prayer: Lord, continue to reveal yourself to us that we may discover your will in our relationships. Help us to become servants to all, especially to those people we find difficult. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we serve out of love, we serve with Christ.
PRAYER FOCUS:
Those caring for aged parents
By Marty Larcom, Idaho
