THINK WELL OF YOURSELF, BUT DON'T BE TOO PRIDEFUL; THE MOST SUPERIOR MIND BEGAN WITH HUMILITY!

                                               RENEW MY MIND TO WHAT?

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5 KJV).

*

The bible says, “…let this mind be in you…” that was in Christ Jesus. This means the SAME mind, which includes the heart and thoughts that was “…in Christ…” In other words, the same attitudes related to the mind of Christ let them be also in you.

A Christlike mindset will enable you to line up your judgements, choices, desires, intentions, patterns, and practices with God’s good, perfect, and acceptable will.

Whatever lofty and exalted position Jesus held, in glory, before he took on finite, human flesh, he disregarded, and humbled himself instead. He willingly took on the form or practice of a servant. “… [Jesus]…took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…” Philippians 2:6-7 KJV).

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5 KJV).

This mindset of Christ was one energized and marked with the humility of one who serves. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he HUMBLED himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…” Philippians 2:6-8 KJV).

Jesus’ mindset is clearly seen through his acts of humility, especially during his days of total dependence upon God witnessed in his obedience, his suffering at the hands of man, and his death on the cross.

Jesus kept his mind on the purpose God sent him on earth to accomplish. “….the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Jesus, “… [God’s] Son, … learned … obedience BY the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).

Jesus first humbled himself by taking on human flesh. Second Jesus humbled himself by being dependently obedient while experiencing life in human flesh. “…Christ…suffered for us in the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3).

Further, Jesus had a learned mind, empowered by the Holy Spirit which enabled him to obediently stay in perfect compliance with God's will. “… learned he obedience …” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).

This kind of learned and enabled obedience is painful, stressful, and usually comes BY or as a result of difficult trials. Yet, Jesus humbly submitted to God’s will for his life in spite of the things he suffered. “… learned he obedience BY the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).

Humble submission to God’s will was personal to Jesus and reflected his mindset of devotion to God and to humanity. “…There is no greater love than to [humbly]… lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

Jesus “learned” as a result of “the things” he “suffered.” “… learned he obedience BY the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).  Every time Jesus followed God’s will through absolute submission, in his human flesh, he demonstrated a mindset of humility.

Jesus humbly gave up his divine privileges, was reduced to human flesh, willfully became like a servant, and “…emptied himself…” (Philippians 2:7 NASB). “Let this (humble) mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5 KJV).

Jesus’ relationship with God, during his human life on earth, was that of a humble and dependently obedient Son. “…He… [completely] … entrusted himself to him who judges justly…” (1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).

Jesus openly declared that he came to do God’s will and not his own. “…I seek not mine own will…but the will of the Father which hath sent me...” In addition, he said, “…the Son can do nothing of himself [and admitted,]…I can of mine own self do nothing…...” (John 5:19, 30 KJV).

Jesus was absolutely devoted to doing the will of God. They were an undivided team with an undivided purpose. “I and the father are one” (John 10:30 KJV). They were joined uniquely together. Jesus had put on human flesh, but was still “one” with God. Jesus, therefore, was both divine and human. “I and the father are one” (John 10:30 KJV).

This divine and human relationship is revealed in the following scripture: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…” Philippians 2:6-7 KJV).

Christ had all the glorious rights and power of his Father in heaven. He could take advantage of those rights and power any time he wanted to, but he didn’t. Instead, “[He humbly]… took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…” Philippians 2:6-7 KJV).

He also had the option of using human will and could choose against the will of God for his life. However, Jesus humbly said, “… I lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father…” (John 10:17-18 KJV).

Thus, Jesus disregarded human will and chose to remain humbly dependent upon God through his obedience.  “…..nevertheless, NOT MY WILL, but thine, be done…” (Luke 22:42 KJV).

He had the same human will as God has given to all mankind. Yet and still, “… learned he obedience BY the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).  Jesus did not have to choose death on the cross.

Yet his humble mind, his love for God, and love for YOU was greater than whatever else he might have wanted or desired over God’s will. “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

Like you, at any time, he could have exercised his own human will and lived a selfish and prideful life doing what he wanted to do. “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

Where would you be if Jesus had had a different mind? It is hard to grasp this kind of radical love and devotion. Jesus was radically devoted to God, to YOU, and made it clear that he did, “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NIV).  

He was TRULY a living sacrifice. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV).

Jesus demonstrated that humble, dependent obedience to God and love for you was worth whatever he had to suffer, so he stayed the course. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV).

Jesus’ kind of humble, dependent obedience is a sign of his mindset and reveals an intimately trusting and radically devoted love to God “….if ye LOVE me… keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Jesus loved God and proved it by doing his good, perfect, and acceptable will, even though it was painful. “…the faithful followers of the Lord … keep their promises even when it hurts…” (Psalm 15:4 NLT).

Jesus,"… humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross...” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). “…The faithful followers of the Lord … keep their promises even when it hurts…” (Psalm 15:4 NLT).

Humble, dependent obedience is often learned by the things you have to suffer through. Staying faithfully dependent upon and trusting in God through everything PROVES your mind is being renewed.

The PROOF of the renewing of your mind begins with humility. Jesus,"… HUMBLED HIMSELF, and BECAME obedient unto death...” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). “…If My people which are called by My name SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES …AND TURN FROM their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

“…but he who HUMBLES HIMSELF will be exalted…” (Luke 18:14 ASV).  “HUMBLE YOURSELVES in the sight of the Lord…” (James 4:10 KJV). “…HUMBLE YOURSELVES therefore under the mighty hand of God…” (1 Peter 5:6 KJV). “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5 KJV). “…I am gentle and HUMBLE IN HEART…” (Matthew 11:29 NIV).

TRANSFORM BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND is about having the right mindset. “...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…God …predestined [you] to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:29 NIV). Jesus said, “…I am gentle and HUMBLE IN HEART (MIND)…” (Matthew 11:29 NIV).

TRANSFORM BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND encourages you to look deeper into the mind of Christ (through the WORD of God) and then let that same mind be “IN” you.      

Jesus had a human experience and a human mind, but it was heavily influenced and impacted by an attitude of humility. Therefore, “…be clothed with HUMILITY…” (1 Peter 5:5 KJV). “….He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD…” (Micah 6:8 KJV).

TRANSFORM BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND begs the question: Renew your mind to what? Not just with knowledge, information, and stuff, but first and foremost with HUMILITY. “….WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD…” (Micah 6:8 KJV).

Godspeed,

Dr. Pensacola