Daily Devotional for Sunday, October 15

The Attitude of Christ

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” Philippians 2:5, 8.

The admonishment to not do things with strife and vainglory is found elsewhere in the Scripture, denoting the importance not to act in this way. Strife means division, often having cliques within the body where differences of opinions cause conflict. Vainglory means to do something for your benefit or pleasure. Instead of doing things for yourself you are to do things for the benefit of others.

To act in strife or vainglory is according to the flesh. This is the opposite of how Christ lived. Matthew 11:29, 30 is the one time Christ described His character. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The only way not to act in the flesh is to yoke up with Jesus. Do the things He did instead of wanting your way. Have the same mind-set He had. What kind of mind-set did Jesus have? One of humility, a mind-set that only sought to please the Father. God expects the same of you. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

You see from this passage Jesus was not interested with pleasing Himself, nor was He consumed with what men thought of Him. “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Do you think some things would be different in your life if you had a mind-set to always please the Father?

Karry Irizarry