Have the Mind of Christ Jesus

In the church at Philippi there were some who exalted themselves and took it upon themselves to instruct others because they had wealth and held office. Paul had opened his letter with praise, but faced with this division he rebuked them, urging them to take on the mind of Christ and turn back.

Because the church is made up of the members of Christ’s body, there is no higher or lower place within it. When human righteousness, the conviction that one is in the right, becomes the standard, quarrels follow; only when the Word is the standard can there be humble exhortation and obedience. God the Son taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to the point of death is the very pattern of that lowliness.

In the world, recognition goes to those who win and rise above others, but the church is an altogether different place. When people keep to their own place, count others better than themselves and humbly obey, God lifts them up. To lay aside human righteousness and have the mind of Christ Jesus is the way to a life without shame.