....mind

"Your attitude (or mind in the KJV) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5

Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for sin. But many portions of His life were for the express purpose of giving us an example by which to live. With all the power of the Universe at His command, He humbled Himself and demonstrated the mind and attitude of a servant; "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28).

The Son demonstrated a mind of obedience and lived to honor His Father in ALL He did, even though being obedient might result in discomfort or pain...or even death: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

As He obediently served, Jesus also demonstrated a mind void of all pride. With more abilities than we can possibly comprehend, Jesus still gave all the glory to His Father; "By Myself I can do nothing...for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me" (John 5:30). His entire life became an example of how we are to be an empty vessel through which God may work.

Moments before He died - after being beaten, whipped, spit upon and nailed to a cross - Jesus still demonstrated the mind of supreme love and forgiveness; "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

Though we know we have far to go, the mind of Christ becomes our example to follow. We must develop the mind of a humble servant, void of pride, who desires nothing more than for our Heavenly Father to work in and through our life. 

Let's live as His Child, loving and forgiving others as Christ first loved and forgave us. We, who have been transformed, ought to continue the process of transformation, and more fully develop the mind of Christ. 

- steve troxel