“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
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 life in this often troubling world. It means you must study, pray; give thought to, how you 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, 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 be 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. Plus, we have the advantage of the Spirit within to guide, encourage, and strengthen us. 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; the best husband/wife.” These are all lofty goals, but they begin with a determination and follow up with daily practice.
You can have the mind of Christ within your thinking and living. Determine it; practice it; “walk in the Spirit!” You can do it! Let, “I can do” be your personal motto. “I can do all things through Christ Who is my strength.”
