Do You Have the Mind of Christ?

October 06, 2023

By Brooke Holt

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

People rarely write letters these days as we tend to communicate through email and text messages. Emails and text messages take less time to write and arrive much faster. However, receiving a letter in the mail offers something uniquely meaningful to the recipient. When someone has taken the time to handwrite a letter, it conveys care, love, and a willingness to invest.

As Paul penned his letter to the church of Philippi, he sought to convey his love, commitment, and care for them. He also sought to share fundamental truths about Jesus Christ. Jesus was and is God; he has been part of the triune God for eternity. Even though he was and is God and has divine power, authority, and glory, Jesus humbled himself to become a man. Instead of asserting himself, Jesus modelled humility throughout his life even to the point of dying a criminal’s death.

Jesus, the Son of God dwelling among his people, did not demand to be understood, acknowledged, or worshipped. Is that true for you; is that true for me? If we are to be Christ-followers (Christians), Paul says we are to have the mind of Christ. As conveyed in this passage, the mind of Christ is one of humility, a humility willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel: status, money, friendships, acceptance, even life itself.

We have a high and holy calling. As the Son of God, Jesus was dependent upon his Father and the Spirit to empower him to live a perfect life and to embody humility. As you probably know, a life of humility does not come naturally to our human flesh, and it is rarely celebrated in our world today. We like power and prestige and to be recognized, celebrated, and acknowledged. While this shows the way of the world, it is not the way of Jesus.

Instead, you are to have the mind of Christ, a mind willing to surrender the world’s values that you might embrace what Christ values.

Reflection:

Do you have the mind of Christ? As written, you have a high and holy calling that God’s Spirit works within you. Spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to teach you to embrace the humility of Christ and then practice that humility throughout the day. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resources:

Awaken the awe and the wonder of Advent! “The King Is Coming” is a 4-week Advent devotional especially written with a child’s heart in mind. It takes families through the salvation story by focusing on who God is, the gift of Jesus, and the importance of celebrating and sharing that miraculous gift! Bring your family together this Advent season for a journey exploring God’s big love for you.