Not my will, but thine be done

We must aim to have the mind of Christ. Is there any other way to really live? The answer is obviously “No”; the only way to live is to recognise the real “us” and as a result focus our minds on eternal ways of thinking and living.

(April 8)

The real “us” is our minds! Oh yes, we have bodies of all shapes and sizes! But in a sense that does not count; the real ‘you’ and the real ‘me’ is what goes on inside our heads! Now this is the point that Paul is making in writing to the Philippians. If groups of believers who meet together to serve the Lord Jesus, have “the same mind” (Philippians 2:2), it is very important.

Note what he then goes on to write! He states that Jesus Christ set the example of the kind of mind we should have! How did he do that? What kind of mind is that? We read that he

“did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death … therefore God has highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:6-9).

Jesus set the example of the kind of mind God is looking to see. This is the kind of person we should aim to be.

Jesus praying to the One and only One God, giving himself in His hands saying that not his will but the Will of God may be done. – Bruley chapelle du Rosaire Gethsémani – Céramiques du XIXe siècle

Some people are confused by the thought that Jesus is the example of this! Why? Because they have been taught that Jesus is a part of God. This is a misunderstanding; he became part of God because of his obedience to God’s will. Remember how he prayed,

“not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

Now in tomorrow’s (April 9) Philippians reading, we will see how we can become, in a sense, part of God. Paul writes of true believers, that their

“citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body …” (Philippians 3:20)

and so become

“priests of God and of Christ and Christ and they will reign with him …” (Revelation 20:6).

We must aim to “have this mind”. Is there any other way to really live? The answer is obviously “No” the only way to live is to recognise the real “us” and as a result focus our minds on eternal ways of thinking and living.

– The Christadelphian

Continues with: Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing

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