Philippians 2:5 - Having the Mind of Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 (KJV) Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:5 (NCV) In your lives you must
think and act like Christ Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up
his rights in order to obey God and serve
people. Like Christ, we should have a servant's
attitude, serving out of love for God and for
others... Remember, you can choose your attitude. You
can approach life expecting to be served, or you
can look for opportunities to serve others.
[Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
We Christians are not to be conformed to
this world in the way we think. The world by its
advertisements, its conversation, and its philosophy is
engaged in a gigantic brainwashing. Not always
consciously but sometimes unconsciously, the Christian
is beset by secular and worldly propaganda,
calling us to live for ourselves and to put things
and selfish pleasures ahead of God. The world's
sewage system threatens to contaminate the stream
of Christian thought.
However, above the din we can hear the
voice of Scripture: "Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:2).
Time yourself the next time you read the
Bible and pray. Compare it to the amount of time
you spend watching television or surfing the
Internet. Is God getting His share of your time and
attention?
Is the world shaping your mind - or is
Christ?
The mind of the believer is a
battleground. Every thought must either honor Christ or be
taken captive until it does (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Who's winning the war in your mind? [Hope for Each
Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
There are many whose hearts are aching
under a load of care because they seek to reach
the world's standard. They have chosen its
service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its
customs. Thus their character is marred, and their
life made a weariness. In order to gratify
ambition and worldly desires, they wound the
conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional
burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing
out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to
lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them
to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light." He bids them seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
His promise is that all things needful to them
for this life shall be added. Worry is blind,
and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees
the end from the beginning. In every difficulty
He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our
heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for
us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept
the one principle of making the service and
honor of God supreme will find perplexities
vanish, and a plain path before their feet.
We are to enter the school of Christ, to
learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption
is that process by which the soul is trained
for heaven. This training means a knowledge of
Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits,
and practices that have been gained in the
school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be
delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to
God....
It is the love of self that brings
unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind
will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that
led Him to humble Himself that we might be
saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest
place. We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus,
and learn of Him. We shall understand that the
value of our work does not consist in making a
show and noise in the world, and in being active
and zealous in our own strength. The value of
our work is in proportion to the impartation of
the Holy Spirit. DA330
ILLUSTRATION
If ever there was a hymn that served well
as a prayer, it's "May the Mind of Christ My
Savior." In the dead of night when I cannot sleep,
when anxious thoughts erode my peace of mind and
keep me awake, I recall the words to this hymn.
When I feel far from God and unable to pray, I
borrow each stanza of this hymn and make it my
prayer. Before I know it, my heart is at rest.
May the mind of Christ my Savior live
in me from day to day
By his power and love controlling,
all I do and say.
May the word of God dwell richly in
my heart from hour to hour;
And may all who see I triumph, only
in its power.
May the peace of God my Father rule
my life in every thing;
That I may be calm to comfort sick
and sorrowing.
May his beauty rest upon me, as I
seek the lost to win;
And may they forget the channel,
seeing only him.
May the love of Jesus fill me, as the
waters fill the sea;
Him extolling, self abasing - this is
victory.
May I run the race before me, strong
and brave to face the foe;
Looking only unto Jesus as I onward
go.
The next time you cannot find words to
wrap around your circumstances, flip open the
hymnal. One of the blessings of memorizing scripture
songs, praise choruses, or beautiful old hymns is
that each stanza provides a ready resource of
rich and fruitful fodder for prayer. For your
prayer time today, choose a favorite hymn you know
by heart... borrow the words and turn them into
your personal praise, confession and intercession
to the Father.
May the mind of you, my Savior, live in
me from day to day... by your power and love
controlling, all I do and say. [Joni Eareckson Tada Daily
Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Philippians 2:5 - Having the Mind of Jesus.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211201-0843.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210722-1130.html
Philippians 2:5 - Having the Mind of Jesus
Requires Holy Spirit Power.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180618-2132.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2003/20030106-0646.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
