The Secret To Having A Mind Like Jesus

The Secret to Having a Mind Like Jesus

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:4-5

In the days of the Bible, most people expected the Messiah to arrive with great and heavenly fanfare. They believed He would destroy the oppressive enemies and free His people. A violent military deliverance was a common prayer at the time.

Of course, this was not God's plan. Jesus arrived in the world in a humble and peaceful way. He chose a far more difficult manner of conquering the world - one heart at a time through active love. He was not out to rule the people, but to redeem their hearts.

To create this movement and mindset, He served. Look at the action verbs associated with Jesus in the New Testament:

• Preached
• Called
• Healed
• Delivered
• Taught
• Loved
• Forgave
• Reached out his hand
• Went to a home
• Touched her hand
• Spoke in authority
• Calmed the storm
• Cast out
• Had dinner with sinners
• Addressed the crowd
• Touched their eyes
• Went through the towns and villages
• Had compassion
• Sent out the 12
• Gave authority
• Taught in the synagogue
• Multiplied food
• Walked on water
• Prayed for children
• Healed blindness
• Drove out the money changers
• Challenged the Pharisees
• Crucified
• Resurrected

Jesus’ life was marked by constant, active, tireless service to people and by continually giving glory to God.

This is the Great Example He is showing each of us today. You can find no greater purpose and have no greater goal than to Imitate Christ your whole life through.

Warning: An active life of service without faith in God can lead to burn-out and bitterness toward those we serve.

Another Warning: A life of faith that has no active service is, according to the Bible, dead works.

That is why it is crucial that you balance your life as Jesus Himself modeled it for you; giving your good work to people for God's glory and giving your heart completely to God.

Today's Prayer

Father God, You are Loving and True. Thank You for coming here to heal our hearts and not to gain political power, fame, or anything that the world deems great. May my faith be active and my life produce glory for You always. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Your Soul Runs Deep

Your Soul Runs Deep

 

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
Psalm 42:7

 

The era in which we live is unprecedented. Never before in human history have we faced this unique set of circumstances and challenges. This is the reality in which we live.

 

But, as followers of Jesus, we must face a different reality. Shallow, ignorant thinking does not catch our imagination or move us. For us, Jesus speaks directly to the hero in our soul. And this gives each of us a purpose that runs very deep.

 

For such a time as this, we call upon the Lord for unusual strength. He alone makes us courageous when we are under mounting pressures.

 

There are some breeds of fish that thrive two thousand feet below the surface of the ocean, enduring a pressure of a thousand pounds per square inch. How do they survive? They are made for that kind of pressure. In fact, when they are brought to shallow waters, they die.

 

Likewise, we are not made for shallow waters. Jesus needs us to go deep and search for those lost in the dark depths.

 

If you doubt that you can handle this kind of pressure, remember Jesus, who endured the Cross. He went there to take the pressure of sin off your life. He went there so you would never have to.

 

In these trying days we can draw added strength from the deep wellspring of eternal life in Jesus Christ, and fight all the more courageously through every obstacle.

 

Today's Prayer

Father God, you are my strength and my Salvation. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will fill my soul to their very depths, that no outer force will ever defeat the great path upon which You have placed me. Grant me the strength to live and the courage to dare deeper each day. In Jesus' name. Amen.