RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-04-23	Let This Mind Be In You Which Was Also In Christ Jesus (Ph.2:5)
		Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Paul writes his letter to the Philippians to encourage them to rejoice even in difficult circumstances. Paul is the one in prison, yet he tells them to rejoice because God was still working. Paul could praise the Philippians for several reasons, but they did have some disunity (Ph.4:2). He wants them to make his joy complete by “having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (v.2) By having unity, they would be showing their maturity. How do they do that? Paul explains. They should not do anything out of selfishness or pride. Instead, their thinking should be in humility considering others as more important than themselves (v.3). They should not simply be concerned about their own interests, but to look after the interests of others (v.4). After giving these exhortations he gives them the supreme example to consider (v.5). Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. The idea is to have the same mindset or thinking Christ had. Specifically, Jesus as God was willing to give up His glory (v.6) and humble Himself to become a man, and die on a cross for others (Ph.2:7-8). Jesus gave Himself up as an expression of love and was willing to lower Himself to express that love. Jesus is the supreme example of love and humility (Jn.15:13). Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. Paul is challenging his readers to be willing to lower themselves for the benefit of others. That is how they could be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, and intent on one purpose (v.2). They should be willing to make their own interests and purposes subservient for the good of the other person. Humility is a basic and necessary aspect of the Christian life, and we have the perfect model of how to be humble in Jesus Christ. Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. God sees when people respond to Him and to each other with humility. Peter adds that we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and at the right time He will exalt us (1Pe.5:6). Any anxieties we might have about the implications of humility we can cast upon Him because He cares for us (1Pe.5:7). Paul challenged Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony (Ph.4:2), and that same challenge is applicable for us today. When we treat others with humility, we are valuing each other as God values us. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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