We could reflect on Jesus all day, every day, for the rest of our lives, and never exhaustively comprehend His majesty.
He gave up heaven and became a humble man—not a powerful man, not a comfortable man, not a humanly-exalted man—because of His great love for both the Father and for us.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
~ Philippians 2:3-8 ESV
How do I develop the mind of Christ?
I must humble myself. Daily
I must empty myself. Daily
I must count others more significant than myself. Daily.
I must become obedient to the point of death. Daily.
Ultimately, I can’t have the mind of Christ unless I look at his example, compare it with myself and change to follow His pattern.
Often, when I’m angry or short-tempered, it’s because someone has made me feel “lesser” in some way. If I have the mind of Christ, I don’t need to worry about feeling lesser because God considers me special enough to adopt as His child through Christ. With God as my Father, I should be secure enough in my value so as not to fuss over slights and disappointments. God provides the total emotional security we need to develop a Christ-like attitude.
And yet, the slights still hurt. We don’t ever like to feel lesser. Our world has always prized glory and honor. But this world is not our home—this is the desert! Praise, honor, and value in this life fades away in a moment. Our home is waiting for us in heaven where we will have the greatest joy when we hear, “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”
When someone hurts you, confide in Jesus and learn to forgive like Jesus. When you are tempted to put yourself first, remember Jesus who put others first. When you want to be filled, Empty yourself first and allow God to fill you up.
Elihu's Corner 
excellent words with a gracious plate full of thought—one of my main prayers each morning–“forgive me of my sins…those known and unknown…sins of arrogance, selfishness and pride….
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I love your comment, Julie! When I was younger, we had an elderly man who taught a weekly home study and he frequently said, “I pray for forgiveness from sins of commission and omission” which is precisely what you are referring to. I have tried to practice that in my own prayers, because there are many sins I don’t recognize in myself. As I grow older, I am growing more aware of sins of pride, selfishness, and arrogance that I didn’t recognize before.
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Agreed Elihu—I really have become very aware…such that it’s almost troubling.
Flaws that were once youthful reckless abandon are now certainly selfihsness and arrogance!
And I know I can be that way every day…somedays I can catch it and back myself down and other days I fear I just go merrily on…hence the prayers as you so of commision and omission—those known and those totally unnoticed but clearly there !
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Paul wrote that we should not conform to the world but be transformed into the image of Christ. The grammar is important–the passive voice–we cannot make ourselves be like Jesus, but he changes us to be like him. J.
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Such nice words to read this morning Elihu, thank you. Too often I go to other people and things with my empty plate, waiting for them to fill it up instead of Jesus.
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I know what you mean! I’m slowly learning that I always need to go to Him first. It took losing the ability to confide in my closest friends and family during a difficult season to recognize how completely He fills those who run to Him.
On the flip-side, I think we can (and should) be the hands and feet of Jesus for others. We cannot fill them the way He does, but we can lead them to the One Who fills completely by demonstrating Christ-like love. God bless you, Tricia!
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It does appear to take difficult circumstances to get closer to and rely on God, doesn’t it.
God bless you too Elihu!
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One of your most important posts for the born again Christian… You can boil it down to your last sentence…” When you want to be filled, Empty yourself first and allow God to fill you up.”
Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), and being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20) are key to living a Christ centered, Spirit filled life !! I am preaching to the choir here, but maybe one of your readers will read this…
I am going through a 4 part series of sermons by John MacArthur that are EXCELLENT, on “The Fruit of the Spirit”, and part 3 really hit home for me… Patience is so important to the Christians walk of faith…
Here is the link for this Part 3… https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/48-38
I urge you and all of your readers to watch all 4 sermons…
I would also like to share a post on walking in and by the full power of the Holy Spirit, at this link… https://bible.org/seriespage/5-spirit-work-spirit-filled-life
Spend some time here, and be blessed !!
bruce
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Wow! Thank you for sharing all these great resources, Bruce! I appreciate your thoughtful insight, especially for the benefit of all my readers. May the Lord bless and strengthen you.
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Thanks for sharing this, Elihu! Great word.
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