A Word for Our Arbor Family
Philippians 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
In verse 5, Paul urges us to let this same mindset be in us that was in Christ Jesus. In this verse, he gives us a glimpse into the mindset that motivated Christ, the mindset that was able to carry Him through every evil and injustice thrown at Him, but that never caused Him to be moved. This mindset took Jesus all the way to the cross without arguing or complaining, looking to the joy set before Him. He didn’t try to get people to acknowledge Him as the Son of God, or demand respect, but rather He made himself of no reputation; not displaying His status with people. Jesus, in total humility, knows fully who He is in God and in God alone. He didn’t need anything from man, and that is the reason He could be so beneficial to man.
Therefore, God highly exalted Him - because He was able to walk out love perfectly, even though He had every right to be something else. Jesus doesn’t know anything other way, because He is the embodiment of love and love never fails.
What Jesus lived, He is calling us to. He has demonstrated what it is like to live as sons and daughters. We are to have the same mind as He had. Not a mind somewhat like His, but the exact same. This mind of humility, selflessness, making ourselves of no reputation, finding security in God and God alone. If we see ourselves in Him then we will see others in Him too, even if they don’t see themselves in Him yet. So, let’s make it our prayer and desire to find ourselves solely in Him, so that we, like Jesus, can demonstrate the love of the Father to a broken and hurting world.
In verse 5, Paul urges us to let this same mindset be in us that was in Christ Jesus. In this verse, he gives us a glimpse into the mindset that motivated Christ, the mindset that was able to carry Him through every evil and injustice thrown at Him, but that never caused Him to be moved. This mindset took Jesus all the way to the cross without arguing or complaining, looking to the joy set before Him. He didn’t try to get people to acknowledge Him as the Son of God, or demand respect, but rather He made himself of no reputation; not displaying His status with people. Jesus, in total humility, knows fully who He is in God and in God alone. He didn’t need anything from man, and that is the reason He could be so beneficial to man.
Therefore, God highly exalted Him - because He was able to walk out love perfectly, even though He had every right to be something else. Jesus doesn’t know anything other way, because He is the embodiment of love and love never fails.
What Jesus lived, He is calling us to. He has demonstrated what it is like to live as sons and daughters. We are to have the same mind as He had. Not a mind somewhat like His, but the exact same. This mind of humility, selflessness, making ourselves of no reputation, finding security in God and God alone. If we see ourselves in Him then we will see others in Him too, even if they don’t see themselves in Him yet. So, let’s make it our prayer and desire to find ourselves solely in Him, so that we, like Jesus, can demonstrate the love of the Father to a broken and hurting world.