Have the Attitude of Christ!

A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn't lose it--I gave it." In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully.
-Source Unknown

While talking about the similarities of a father and son, we have heard statements like these: “Like father like son," or, “He’s a chip off the old block”

To say this is to declare: that the son is a copy, a reproduction, or a replica of the father. Thus, they like the same things, they have the same values, and have the same appearance. In other words, they were very similar.

Let's look at Corinthians 11:1. Here we are informed of the need to imitate Christ. In other words, we need to be a chip off the Corner Stone; we need to be a replica of Jesus. But why? It's because Jesus is our perfect example (1 Peter 2:21-22).“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” Who among us can make that claim!

Now go to Philippians 2:5-11. Paul tells us here that we are to have the mind, or attitude of Christ. He tells us in this context what it takes to have the mind of Christ.

First, we must understand that to have the mind of Christ is to have a mind of sacrifice (Philippians 2:6-7).

Our Lord sacrificed the blessings of heaven for us. Jesus “counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped” or “robbery to be equal with God” (KJV) because He was God, He is “in the form of God,” i.e. Jesus is identical with God. Jesus gave up all the comforts of heaven to be a servant on the earth (Hebrews 4:15). This He did not have to do!!!

Jesus sacrificed His own life for us. He left the perfection of to go to the pain of the cross (John 10:17-18). The agony of the cross Jesus suffered for us included:

1) Trial

2) Scourging

3) Cross

Once again, as was previously mentioned above, to have the mind of Christ we MUST also have a mind of sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). To accomplish this, we must be willing to sacrifice:

1) Worldly pleasures

2) Family

3) Friends

4) Social status

Secondly, to have the mind of Christ is to have a mind of humility (Philippians 2:8a). Here, we read how Jesus being God took on the form of man. He didn't expect us to come up to His level. He came down to us. Of great significance here is the word “humbled.” It comes from "etapeinwsen" which means to make low, to bring to the ground. “Humiliation” would be our closest English word, if you will.

Jesus was humiliated, dishonored and disgraced in taking on the form of a man. Our Lord suffered this humiliation on a daily basis. Think about this for a moment or two. Have you ever been humiliated? Have you ever been humiliated everyday of your life? (James 4:10; Luke 14:11)

We must be willing to sometimes accept humiliation for Christ (Acts 5:41). And yes, it will be difficult to do. But remember, it will all be worth it in the long run (Romans 8:18).

Thirdly, to have the mind of Christ is to have the mind of obedience (Philippians 2:8b). Jesus had a mind of obedience. Look at what Jesus said in John 4:34. Obedience is what He hungered and thirsted for. It was His very reason for being (John 6:38). Jesus was always concerned about doing the Father’s will. He was not concerned about what He wanted, but what the Father wanted.

Jesus glorified the Father through His obedience. Jesus did not leave His Father’s work undone (John 17:4). Jesus would not let even death keep Him from obeying His Father (John 19:30). What will it take to keep us from being obedient? We MUST have a mind of obedience (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Jesus became perfect in obedience. We must be obedient if we want to be saved (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Punishment awaits the disobedience. I ask you, could there be a greater reason than this to have a mind of obedience (1 John 3:22)? There are rewards for obedience1 (John 3:22), rewards in this life, and most importantly in the life to come!

Notice what the end result was of Jesus having a mind of sacrifice, a mind of humility, and a mind of obedience (Philippians 2:9-11). The Father exalted Jesus. And in the end everyone will know that Jesus is the Christ, and will give Him glory. The sad thing is, for many it will be too late

Remember this! To have the mind of Christ is to have a mind of:

1. Sacrifice

2. Humility

3. Obedience

Finally, I ask you this dear readers, "Do YOU have the Attitude of Christ?"

Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven;
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil;
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

May God bless you,

Monique