From a Roman prison cell, the apostle Paul wrote his “epistle of joy,” the Philippian letter. In chapter two he exhorted those Christians to esteem others as better than themselves, looking out for the interests of others, rather than their own. Then he wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Je-sus.” (cf. Philippians. 2:3-5) Jesus came to this earth and went to the cross be-cause He was looking out for our interests. This was the only means of bring-ing about our redemption. Although salvation is free, it is not cheap. It re-quired the Creator Himself to become man and submit to an agonizing death on the cross. But this was the mind of Christ, “who being in the form of God… made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Him-self and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8) Yes, He was looking out for our interests.
The Christian life is preeminently to be characterized by unselfish love, and the standard of that love is nothing less than the love of Christ for us,”…that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) We must love as He loved. We must think as He thought. We must live as He lived. This may lead to suffering and hardship. But it is written, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (I Peter 2:21) This will lead to holiness. “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is writ-ten, Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15,16) This will lead to purity. “And every-one who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” (I John 3:3)
Having the mind of Christ will get the gospel to the lost of the world. That is why He came, and that is the commission He left. Having the mind of Christ means that His will becomes our will; His thoughts become our thoughts; His way becomes our way. In position, we do have the mind of Christ (cf. I Cor. 2:16), but in practice, we still come far short. Let’s all put forth a greater effort to have it and keep it.
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