The first eleven verses of Philippians 2 never cease to grab me . . . they always cause me to slow down and consider the high calling of humility on the life of a believer . . . and the high example set by the Savior. Because of what I have come to experience as a sinner saved by grace . . . because I have known “encouragement in Christ” . . . “comfort from love” . . . “participation in the Spirit” . . . “affection and sympathy” . . . in light of such unmerited favor from heaven itself, I am to respond in kind (2:1-2).

I am to do nothing . . . nil . . . nada . . . nyet . . . no thing from a place of selfish ambition or ego. In humility . . . in lowliness of mind . . . from a deep sense of my own littleness, I am to put others before myself. While I have a number of things to take care for my own well being, they are not to be to the exclusion of considering the needs of others (2:3-4). Kind of a high bar . . . if there’s any one thing that reminds me that I am a work in progress it’s considering how prone I am to be fueled by self-image and self-consideration.

And then there’s the example . . . Christ Jesus . . .

. . . Who, though He was in the form of God, 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. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  
                                                                                   (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV)

Oh, what selflessness! Oh, what sacrifice! Oh, what a Savior!

How could I ever emulate such humility?

So here’s my “aha” from this morning’s reading. In other bible translations I’m familiar with, I’m exhorted that my “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (NIV) . . . that I am to “let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus” (NKJV). But the ESV is a little different in it’s translation . . . and with that difference comes a huge implication . . .

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus . . .   
                                                                                      (Philippians 2:5a ESV)

Do you see the difference? It’s not that I have to start to power my way to thinking like Christ . . . instead I need to start yielding to the mind of Christ which I already possess in Him. The mind of humility . . . the mind that released all claim to heavenly glory . . . the mind that willing accepted the role of bond servant . . . that mind is mine in Christ Jesus. To the Corinthians, Paul writes that “we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:16) . . . and that mind is the mind of selfless submission and service to others.

Thus, mine is to declare along with John the baptizer, “He must increase, I must decrease.” In yielding more to Him, I will think more like Him. In pursuing more of Him, I will act more like Him. In considering afresh the reality and implications of His cross, it will become more natural to lay down my will for the sake of others. As is so true with the things of the gospel, it is not about my ability but about His power . . . not about my manufactured humility, but about being conformed to His image by His grace through the sanctifying work of the Spirit (Rom. 8:29).

But we have the mind of Christ . . . oh, that it may show . . . in humility . . . in service . . . in a life-directing desire to bring glory to Him who alone is worthy.

Amen?