This Mind. Philippians 2:5. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Right thinking leads to right actions. Godly actions begin when our minds are renewed to think like our Lord Jesus did, with humility and self-sacrificing love for others. His life on Earth was marked by humble service to people and obedience to His Father. “I do always those things that please the Father.” Our submission to God should be continually like our Lord’s, as described in the following verses.
There is no suggestion in these verses that our Lord Jesus Christ laid aside His deity, but that this One who is eternal in His nature and His existence had the desire and infinite ability to make Himself in the likeness of a man. The Lord Jesus Christ never ceased being God when He became a real man. Paul was emphasizing that Christ's mind was not to cling to all that was His but to demonstrate God’s love to mankind and bring us to God through His own will. All He endured in this world, where His own people rejected Him and “He was despised and rejected of men,” did not deter Him from the work ahead.
God desires people who genuinely love Him to share eternal life with Him forever. The mind of Christ led Him through all forms of humiliation, all the way to “the death of the cross.” This is the kind of mind that God wants me to have. When insulted and reviled, we should not retaliate. If we are rejected and treated as outcasts, we are to find comfort and solace in God. When fellowship breaks among believers, we are to have a forgiving spirit. When criticism is directed at us, we should commit the outcome to God and continue with the work He has given us. Our minds should set no limits on what we are willing to endure when we possess the mind of Christ.
Love and unity go hand in hand under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That spirit and purpose in believers happen when we put others first. Selfish ambition divides and destroys what God desires in an assembly of His people gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. One mind in chapter 1 unites us in the faith of the Gospel. The submissive mind in chapter 2 demonstrates how this is achieved practically. The tender mercies and compassion toward each other keep us not only with a single mind toward the things of God, but a similar mind—the lowly mind—is not just something I choose to put on or take off; it directs my focus toward others. A humble mind can unify and uplift the saints. We need to stay alert against anything that causes division. The attitude and mind of Christ serve as an example for us.
For most of us, being a successful person means reaching a higher position in society, business, or the public eye. We don’t naturally see humility as valuable on the path to success in life. We might think there are times when it’s beneficial to take a lower seat temporarily, but we usually want to be recognized for achieving great feats or doing some good philanthropic work that makes people admire us.
The radically different mind of Christ serves as a beacon of bright light, far removed from natural man’s thinking and often overlooked by those who follow Him but don’t consider things from God’s perspective. Our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was exalted above all, was willing to think like a man who chose humility. His humility was genuine and sinless, allowing us to understand how He thought. His example as a humble, real man shows that we who know and love Him can also choose to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand.
Mind and attitude go hand in hand; what one does influences the other. When a person’s self-esteem is high, their attitude reflects it in their actions. If the attitude is proud, then the mind begins to believe it’s true. Together, they create the pattern of how I view myself and how others will perceive me. I need an example of how things should be, and this passage of scripture provides that. The man Christ Jesus is the only one who perfectly exemplifies this so I cannot mistake what humbling oneself truly means. His attitude and mind were united and worked toward the same goal – the death on the cross and salvation for sinners. There was never anything in His life here to cause blame or fault.
I want this mind and attitude to take hold of me. I pray there will be something Christ-like so others can see qualities in my life that would please my Lord and testify to His saving grace. I realize this can only happen if I think like Him. When I read the scriptures, I must pay close attention and apply the truth of God’s word to every part of my life.
The steps Christ took in His humility are given so that we will follow the same example. There was always love in Him, along with harmony and unity with the Father. He always existed with the Father and was always equal because He is God Himself. Even so, He became a real human being so that He might be the Savior of the world. He didn't just appear to be a man; He was truly a man. He became that way so He could identify with us as one of our own and voluntarily take the consequences of our sins upon Himself. He could and did empathize with our situation and stepped in to do what was necessary to reconcile us to God. Esteeming others better than ourselves is not natural for us. But when we have the mind of Christ, this becomes possible. He didn't set aside any part of His character or person to do this. He veiled His inherent glory so He could live among people like us.