Friday, April 3, 2020

BEING LIKE JESUS


Let this mind be in you, which was also
in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross
Philippians 2:5-8


A couple of weeks ago, our son visited us with his family. His oldest son and I were looking at some pictures. I had a recent one of his cousin he hasn't seen in awhile. He asked me if that was Aunt Beverly. I told him that it was his cousin not his aunt. He said, “She looks just like her mom.” I told him that they have heard that before. All of us have known people who look just like someone else. There are ladies I have admired through the years who I've told, “I want to be just like you when I grow up.” I didn't know at the moment how to really compliment them. I saw Jesus in them like they didn't see in themselves.

Foundational to the book of Philippians is the above section of verses that are basic to who Jesus was/is and what that should mean to us. Paul's challenge to us is found right at the beginning of verse five. His first six words don't seem to be a suggestion but a strong challenge that to us might seem impossible. He says for you and me to have the mind of Christ. That sounds next to impossible, but Scripture never gives us a command we can't attain to. Needless to say, it won't happen if we haven't had our own personal salvation relationship with Jesus. There may be others who feel they can skip that step, but without an introduction to Jesus, growing in Him just isn't going to happen.

In the context of Paul's precious package here, he gives us a couple of areas where we can be spiritually successful. While in the likeness of man, Jesus never sought to climb any ladders leading to popularity/reputation. In fact, in the Gospels, we find Him saying at times to others to not tell of some of His miracles. This attitude and mindset brought out in Jesus his servant hood. Jesus, the Son of God actually washed the feet of His disciples after their last meal together before He would go to the cross. That may not seem to be a big deal to us but in those days, culturally for all folks, even slaves weren't required to wash the feet of dinner guests in their owners home. When a guest, every consideration was extended except that you washed your own feet. A basin of water and towel was provided for you. People wore sandals and feet were a real mess. For Jesus to wash feet was a very significant gesture.

Paul also speaks of Jesus' humility. Even Jesus humbled Himself to His Father. He knew the Father's desire for His Son's life and Jesus humbly yielded to the Father's authority, even to the point of going to the cross. He didn't go there because He was guilty of anything. He went because you and I have been guilty of many things for which a perfect sacrifice was required.

So Paul tells us to LET the mind of Christ permeate our own minds. It means our not seeking to have some great reputation/popularity for ourselves. To have His mind, we are to be servants. This requires our thinking first, of others and doing for them when they have need. Then we see the humility of Jesus. These three things culminated in His obedience, even to death on a cross. We need those three things as well, as we are often called to die for something in our lives or circumstances.

We'll never attain to those four things perfectly until Heaven. For the time being, Paul said: LET this mind be in you. Let means for us to allow something to happen, to put forth effort to reach out to. We often don't set any spiritual goals because we just don't think about it. Here in this passage, we have four things to pray about that the Holy Spirit will do the work in us. I can't be any of these things without His empowerment.

Our world is crying for Christians who are earnest in living all out for Jesus. Nothing would make our Heavenly Father happier. LET us be seekers to the higher things of Jesus. May we want to look like Jesus and to be more like Him.

Dear Father, help us to love You more than we ever have. If we don't love You well, we'll feel no urge to serve You well. Help us through Your Holy Spirit to have a desire to be more like Your Son, Jesus...and we pray in that precious name...Amen

No comments:

Post a Comment