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. (Philippians 2: 5-7 – NKJV)
Let this mind be in you. The mind of Christ is what should be in me. What characterizes the mind of Christ? Humility.
This verse also brings to mind a passage from a couple of days ago that I read as I was following along in the M’Cheyne reading plan. It was a passage from the book of Ephesians that seemed to jump off the page and grab me by the throat. The words read, “Walk worthy of the of the calling with which you were called.” It went on further to describe that this walk resembled this…”with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2). This is the mind of Christ that Paul writes should be in my mind.
I must be honest and say that one of the biggest problems I face in my Christian walk is humility. It is a struggle for me to be meek. I could appear humble on the surface to others, sure. But the truth is that I desire more to stand on my own two feet and live life the way I want to live. I do not like to turn the other cheek. I do not like to be offended. I get upset when I am ignored or my feelings are hurt. I get angry when others seek to do harm to me.
Jesus, in humiliation, displays perfectly the mind I am called to have. He left heaven’s glory and came down to this earth, all the way down to where I am, in my sin. He made Himself of no reputation and He who was limitless, lived with the limitations of man. There was never a single moment when He was not God, yet He drank the awful cup of my sin and paid the penalty that I should have paid. It is beyond my comprehension to truly grasp what my Savior did for me that day on Calvary, but I know for certain, that He did it out of love. It was His unfailing and perfect love that caused Him to humble Himself and become obedient unto death, for me.
O Lord, your word never ceases to put a great big lump in my throat, especially when I read the passages of the great and awesome love that you have for me, demonstrated by the humility that you displayed by coming to this earth and dying for me. You who knew no sin became sin for me so that I might have a second chance and live the remainder of my days on this earth, learning and growing into fellowship with you.
You paid the price. I am forgiven. You have given me the greatest gift that I could ever have imagined or received and it is with tears of overwhelming joy and a grateful heart that I offer this vessel and this life as a love offering for you.
I could never repay you for what you have done for me but instead, I ask that you take this existence and form and mold my heart, my mind, and my life into one that pleases you. Whatever it takes, whatever it is that you need to do in me to give me a mind like yours, whatever it takes to teach me humility, I pray that you do it. I desire my love for you to supercede everything else that I cling to in this world and I know that it is only in you that this transformation could take place.
Magnify yourself in me, I pray.
I love you!
John (johnd7264)
This post originally published March 28, 2010.
Sixty-six books in a year 