There are verses in the Bible that tell us what was at the very heart of Jesus' thinking. And believe me, we can't begin to think like He thought in the way He thought about His life and ministry without God's grace to do so.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:3-8; New American Standard Bible)
Need I say more than what the Apostle Paul has declared by the Spirit in these verses? But maybe a few thoughts will be helpful.
In order to serve us the One who existed as God in all eternity past decided to not express all that He was as God. In joining Himself to a human body like ours he "emptied Himself" by setting aside the complete and free exercise of all that He is as God. The One who owns everything looked out for our interests and our greatest need in doing this.
It has been said that grace is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just think about it! Jesus loved you so much--He looked out for your interests--by dying for you so that you could live with Him and enjoy Him and all who have believed in Him forever.
Do you struggle with being self-centered like I do? Cry out to Jesus to think more like He thinks so that you will look out for the interests of others, serving them in meaningful ways.
Ask God to give you the grace to think more like Jesus thinks.
No comments:
Post a Comment