Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” vs. 5
Philippians 2:5-8
The Philippians hadn’t gone through confirmation or participated in new member classes. Some of them were Jews, many were Gentiles, and they had no common traditions or doctrines. So it’s not strange that there was confusion in their community about their new life in Christ and what that meant for daily living. Paul wasn’t living with them any longer and he didn’t know if he’d ever visit their congregation again. So as he writes to them he establishes what might be called his first principle for Christian living. His words are plain and to the point, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” And what was it about the mind of Christ that they should emulate? “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.” In other words Jesus surrendered himself to the power of God, quietly submitting to the direction of God’s Spirit on a daily basis, and he never wavered in his obedience.
For Paul that was the only teaching that the Philippians needed. He had the confidence that the key to the new life in Christ was humility, a decision to look to the needs of others rather than to one’s own, and if people actually lived that way, the congregation would be just fine. Two thousand years later, that’s still how it is!
Thought for the Day: What are the external marks of a humble spirit?
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