Christ is our role model. How often we hear this. How does it make you feel? Hopeless? Hopefully not! Paul discusses this in Philippians chapter two. He says in verse 5, "Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ". What mind is Paul referring to? He goes on to explain in verses 6-11. Paul tells us that even though Jesus was God in human form He came to us as a humble servant. Jesus was totally obedient and humble to the will of His Father, even unto death on a cross. His will was God's will - perfectly. In turn God highly exalted Him above all creation to the point where ALL will confess that He is Lord. Because Jesus humbled himself, He will be elevated to the highest position possible - above all creation.
Let This Mind Be In You
Our goal as Christians is to be so obedient and humble that the Holy Spirit will work in and through us to do His perfect will. Our mind will be more and more like the mind of Christ. How will God use you? We each have jobs to perform, tasks to do, good works to accomplish and it will only be when we humble ourselves before God and allow His Spirit to rule our lives that this can be done. Philippians 2: 12-13 explains this,
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Show Love
As followers of Christ we are to live out our life of faith in practice, by showing love to God and others in obedience to the Holy Spirit who lives within us. It is quite literally God who works in us to perform these good things. We do this with fear and trembling. Does this mean that we live in anxiety and dread over what God may do to us? No not at all. When we fear the Lord, we are in awe of His power, in awe of His saving grace, and we "rejoice with trembling" as Psalm 2:11 states.
Creator and Redeemer
So often in church we approach God as if He were just a normal occurrence. Same old, same old. We forget that we approach the throne of God, creator of the universe, the author and finisher of our faith. We forget to really think about who we worship, about who we say we adore.
Instructed In Righteousness
Second Timothy 3: 16-17 gives us guidance on how to be instructed in righteousness.
It is the inspired word of God that will help us to do the good works that God expects us to do. God works in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit to will and to do His work. Our natural will is to do evil, but the Holy Spirit creates in us a will, a "want to" if you will, to do the will of God. But not just that, the Holy Spirit also gives us the power to do it. Sometimes we desire to do the will of God but we feel like we simply cannot do it. If we allow Him the Holy Spirit will empower us for the work of God.
In Zechariah 4: 16(b) we are reminded that it is "‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts." It isn't our abilities, it isn't our strength, it is the Lords! Moses was used by God in a mighty way and the Bible tells us in Numbers 12:3 that he was the humblest man on earth.
If we want to be used by God, if we want to know and do His will, then just as Jesus and Moses we have to humble ourselves before our mighty God . We need to put on the mind of Christ because if we do then we will humbly obey Him.
Enjoy "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent"
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