Philippians 2: Emptiness and the Mind of Jesus

Verse 5: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Verse 6: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Verse 7: but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Verse 8: And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

◇ Jesus told his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. It seems that following Jesus is only possible when one denies oneself.

God called Abraham to leave his homeland, relatives, and father's house and go to the land that he would show him. It seems that one must leave the things that protect and rely on them in order to receive the land that God will give. God's land is given when God becomes the complete protector and guide.

Paul tells the saints to have the mind of Christ Jesus. The mind of Jesus Christ is humility. Though equal to God, he emptied himself and humbly obeyed God's will.

Jesus' humble act of self-emptying saved all humanity. It fulfilled God's great plan of salvation. It transformed us, who were slaves to sin, into children of God.

There is a reason why God told Abraham to leave his homeland, relatives, and father's house. There is a reason why Jesus told his disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross. It is because when we empty ourselves and look solely to God, relying and obeying him, we can become children of God and God's people.

What must I leave behind, like Abraham, that I rely on?

What must I empty, like Jesus?

♧ God, help me to respect and love myself, but also to empty myself! Help me not to rely on myself, but to rely on and obey you!