#1101. Have the same mindset as Christ (17/7/24)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Following on from our last two devotionals, let’s reflect on this theme of serving God rather than ourselves. Today, let’s meditate on what it means to have the same mindset as Christ in our service.

To watch this devotional, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/7nwuL2PxSFk

‘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!’ (Philippians 2:5-8)

Philippians 2:5–8

Over the last couple of days, using Jesus’ rebuke to Peter in Matthew 16:21-23 as inspiration, we’ve been thinking about aligning our thinking and ambitions - our concerns - with the concerns of God. Today, I thought that we would focus on how we are to align our thinking with Jesus’ thinking in regard to our relationships.

Matthew 16:21–23

Recently, you may have been watching the European championship football or Wimbledon. As you watch, it becomes very clear that mindset is vital. Great teams and players become very average when their thinking is wrong. Likewise, the Christian’s mindset is vital.

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

We are told to ‘have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’. Firstly, let’s notice that this is a command. As a command, it must be possible for us, by God’s help, to obey. Let’s also notice that this is about having this mindset as a church community. We can only obey this command in community. It’s easy to think that we have the loving mind of Christ until we have to actually love people whom we disagree with and whom we find it difficult to like let alone love! What does it mean to have ‘the same mindset of Christ’ among us?

He made himself nothing

To think like Christ involves our being prepared to humbly serve others. As God, Jesus chose to ‘make himself nothing’ and serve us by dying on the cross for our salvation. Jesus served those who deserved nothing. The greatest one, with the greatest rights, served the least and those who had no rights before Him!

To have the same mindset as Christ involves humble service. This, of course, affects our relationship in the world, but this is about relationships in the church. Of all people, the church community should be kind, generous, patient and faithful because we have a Saviour who has set this example for us.

As we finish, let’s think reflect on a few questions:

God urges us, ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’. Do you have a close relationship to your local church community? If not, how can you seek to obey this command and obey Christ?

In your relationship, are we servants? Even if we are leaders, do we know that we are servants? Do we sacrificially serve our church community?

Jesus ‘did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage’. Do we strive to get to the top? Are we content to be unrecognised? Are we jealous when others seem to get more attention than us?

We are told that Jesus ‘humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!’ Are we prepared to give of ourselves - our time, talents and treasures - for the good of our church community?

As we’ve seen earlier this week, Jesus challenges Peter: ‘“you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”’ Jesus sets us the perfect example of having in mind the things of God! Let’s meditate on Him and pray that God will fill each of us with the mind of Christ.