This verse, and the verses that directly follow it, are some of my favorites for the clear challenge they express to the believer. The Apostle Paul is telling God’s children, believers, “Let the mind that is in Christ—the very way that Jesus thought—also be the way you think. His mindset is to be our desire and what we seek to imitate.” So, what does it mean to have the mind of Christ? It means to think, act, and react as Jesus would. The thinking: “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) becomes a rule of thumb. It means making decisions that are Christ-like in nature that will determine how to live your daily live in this often troubling world. It means you must study, pray; give thought to, how we can actually have the mind of Christ.
Paul says, this is the mindset of Christ: He “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). Jesus made the decision while He was in eternity past, still in heaven. He decided to lay down His heavenly glory and come to earth as a man. He would enter the world as a humble servant, and He would seek to minister rather than be ministered to. When Paul states boldly, “I have the mind of Christ,” he is declaring, “I too have made myself of no reputation. Like Jesus, I have taken on the role of a servant.” And Paul insists that this can hold true for all believers: “We [all can] have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Notice verse 5 begins, “Let . . .” We might say, “Allow this to happen in you!” Take on the mind of Christ. Beloved, God would never tell us to do a thing that we could not do. (We also have the Spirit to guide, encourage, and strengthen). We have free will. We make big choices and determinations all the time. “I’m going to be the best artist; the best ball player; the fastest runner.” These are all lofty goals, but they begin with a determination and follow up with daily practice. Make the choice; be determined; what would Jesus do? Do that!