Paul the apostle encouraged
the church located in Philippi concerning their activities toward one
another. They were instructed to “esteem others better than
themselves” and look not upon their “own things” but
to “look upon the things of others”. In chapter two and
verse five Paul begins to tell us how this is possible where he
wrote:
Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
The verse begins, “Let
this mind be in you,...” The
word “Let” means
“to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, or to strive
for”. The implication is to “allow”, and Paul instructed the
Philippians to “allow” “this mind” to be in them. The
Greek reads “phroneō touto phroneō”,
and by the repetition of word “phroneō”
we can imagine the emphasis that Paul is placing upon this idea.
The
verse goes on to say, “...which was also in Christ
Jesus:” The “mind” the church members were to have
was the same “mind” “which was also in Christ Jesus”.
Jesus was the “Christ” which means “anointed one”, and
the way he thought about things was the way the Philippians were to
think about them. Paul knew the church members would not be used to
having this sort of “mind” or way of thinking, and they
were to “let” the different “mind” of “Christ
Jesus” be within them.
Paul
adds more to this idea of allowing Christ's mind to be in us, however
for now let us take the time to consider the way we think. Is our
“mind” like Jesus'? Do we think about others in the same
manner as He did? Do we truly have a “seeking or striving for”
others according to the previous instructions of Paul? Perhaps we can
measure some growth in our thoughts about others, or perhaps
selfishness pervades our every thought. Whichever the case, we have
been challenged today by Paul's words, and if we will simply “let”
or “allow” the mind of Christ to be in us, we will begin to see
others through the filter of His mind. May the Lord help us to think
as He does.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians what Christ's mind was like, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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