In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:5-7
The Mindset of Christ Jesus
Daily Devotion – October 5, 2023
Devotion based on Philippians 2:5-7
See series: Devotions
Today’s Bible passage gives you a peak into the mind of Jesus and empowers you to live like he did by telling you who he is and exactly how he lived.
Jesus is in very nature, God. But even though he is God, he did not use his divinity for his own advantage. Jesus had infinite power, but he used that power in miracles that helped others and not himself. He blessed children, washed feet, served meals, taught thousands, and became a servant of all.
That is the mindset God wants us to have—one that is very different from how we normally operate. Humility does not come naturally. We don’t want to humble ourselves. Our sinful nature will always try to convince us we deserve to be served.
That’s why it’s so important to see the mindset of Christ Jesus. If anyone deserved to be served, it was the Son of God. Jesus, however, did not get what he deserved. He got what we deserved because of our sin. He was the suffering Servant who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).
By our standards, he was not treated fairly, but by God’s standards, he was. Climb into Jesus’ mind and see his life and death the way he sees it. The plan was always that the One who had no sin would die for the sins of the many. Jesus knew that his life and death in service to us would give him what he really wanted: you, with him, forever, in heaven.
That is your Savior—the Son of God by whose death you have life. By his grace, you are now set free to serve others as he has already served you.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me a mindset like you and grant me joy in service to others. Amen.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
