Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord – part 4

Author : Keith Sharp
Devotional study of Philippians

The Mind Of Christ

“You deserve it.” “Do something for yourself.” So the TV commercials advise. The “Baby Boomers” are sometimes called the “Me” generation, a selfish generation interested primarily in pleasing themselves.

I have consistently found that people who are constantly miserable are self-centered people. They only talk about themselves, which reveals they only think about themselves. A few years ago an article by a secular, unbelieving journalist in U.S. News and World Report correctly analyzed America as a selfish nation with a very high rate of suicides and mental disorders.

Paul admonished the Christians in Philippi, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) We are to think the way Jesus did and have the same attitudes He had. In this lesson we will find that the mind of Christ is the mind of humility. And this is the key to having peace and joy even when we’re unpopular and despised. How can we have peace and joy regardless of what others think of us?

Christ, Our Supreme ExampleNo other person as lofty in nature as Christ ever walked as a man upon this earth. Prior to dwelling upon earth, Jesus was existing “in the form of God” and “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” (Philippians 2:6)

Yet when He walked upon earth none was ever more severely denounced. The Jews called Jesus “Beelzebub,” primarily meaning “lord of filth, ” a name they used for Satan. (Matthew 10:25) The Son of God was called the devil!

In the face of this slander, Jesus demonstrated the mind of humility. This was not an “inferiority complex.” Jesus knew Who He was and what His nature was (John 13:3). But He did not selfishly cling to the privileges and powers of godhood. Rather, He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6) The phrase “made Himself of no reputation” is translated “emptied Himself” in the New American Standard and “made himself nothing” by the New International Version. Rather than holding on to the form of and equality with God, He took the “form of a bondservant” and “the likeness of men.”

But His humility went even further. “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) To procure the salvation of lost sinners and obey His Father, He willingly died. In fact, He willingly went to the cross, the most shameful death of all. He Who was God in human flesh accepted the most humiliating death He could experience.

This is the ultimate, living example of humility. To willingly obey God regardless of the cost and to serve others no matter how demeaning the service with no regard for self is real humility. It is the mind of Christ. It is the key to joy and peace when even our friends and brethren slander or ignore us.

Service to OthersWe express the mind of humility in the same way Christ Jesus did. When we promote peace and unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ, looking out for the good of others, not our own selfish interests, we are demonstrating the mind of Christ, the mind of humility (Philippians 2:1-4). We must be as Paul, to whom the prospect of a violent death as the result of seeking to instill faith in others brought joy (Philippians 2:17-18). We should imitate Timothy, who sincerely was interested in the welfare of his brothers and sisters (Philippians 2:19-24). We should follow Epaproditus, who gladly served Paul though he was so sick he almost died and was sorrowful only at the heartache his suffering would cause for his brothers and sisters in Christ (Philippians 2:25-30).

Obedience to GodBut we as Christ Jesus also show our humility by willing obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:12-13). We must do this without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14). Both of these sins of the tongue are the result of selfishness rather than humility. Complaining demonstrates a lack of gratitude toward God, and arguing shows a lack of love for others. By humble obedience we become “lights in the world,” showing Christ to others in word and life (Philippians 2:15-16).

ExaltationBecause Jesus so humbled Himself:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

If we will likewise humble ourselves to obey and serve, God will exalt us with His Son.

ConclusionThe most joyful people in the world are those who have the mind of Christ, the mind of humility. They put obedience to Christ above all else, service to others second, and themselves last (Jesus, Others,You = JOY). They do not have time to worry about or feel sorry for themselves, for their minds are too occupied with obedience to God and service to others. Do we have the mind of Christ?