Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Following on from our last two devotionals, let’s reflect on this theme of serving God rather than ourselves. Today, let’s meditate on what it means to have the same mindset as Christ in our service.
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‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:5-8)
Over the last couple of days, using Jesus’ rebuke to Peter in Matthew 16:21-23 as inspiration, we’ve been thinking about aligning our thinking and ambitions - our concerns - with the concerns of God. Today, I thought that we would focus on how we are to align our thinking with Jesus’ thinking in regard to our relationships.
Recently, you may have been watching the European championship football or Wimbledon. As you watch, it becomes very clear that mindset is vital. Great teams and players become very average when their thinking is wrong. Likewise, the Christian’s mindset is vital.
Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
We are told to ‘have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’. Firstly, let’s notice that this is a command. As a command, it must be possible for us, by God’s help, to obey. Let’s also notice that this is about having this mindset as a church community. We can only obey this command in community. It’s easy to think that we have the loving mind of Christ until we have to actually love people whom we disagree with and whom we find it difficult to like let alone love! What does it mean to have ‘the same mindset of Christ’ among us?
He made himself nothing
To think like Christ involves our being prepared to humbly serve others. As God, Jesus chose to ‘make himself nothing’ and serve us by dying on the cross for our salvation. Jesus served those who deserved nothing. The greatest one, with the greatest rights, served the least and those who had no rights before Him!
To have the same mindset as Christ involves humble service. This, of course, affects our relationships in the world, but this is about relationships in the church. Of all people, the church community should be kind, generous, patient and faithful because we have a Saviour who has set this example for us.
As we finish, let’s think reflect on a few questions:
God urges us, ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’. Do you have a close relationship to your local church community? If not, how can you seek to obey this command and obey Christ?
In your relationship, are we servants? Even if we are leaders, do we know that we are servants? Do we sacrificially serve our church community?
Jesus ‘did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage’. Do we strive to get to the top? Are we content to be unrecognised? Are we jealous when others seem to get more attention than us?
We are told that Jesus ‘humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!’ Are we prepared to give of ourselves - our time, talents and treasures - for the good of our church community?
As we’ve seen earlier this week, Jesus challenges Peter: ‘“you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”’ Jesus sets us the perfect example of having in mind the things of God! Let’s meditate on Him and pray that God will fill each of us with the mind of Christ.
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday was based upon Jesus’ rebuke aimed at Peter in Mark 8:31-33. Here we see the importance that Jesus’ places on our seeking to put God’s will - His ‘concerns’ - as paramount in our lives. God is not to be our servant. We don’t follow Him to make our lives better. Rather, a Christian has died to their old life; they have been purchased by Jesus; His will is to become our delight and our will. Jesus wants all of us to ‘have in mind the concerns of God, [not] merely human concerns.’
Please read Matthew 16:21-23
What would you say is the main point of this text?
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What is Satan seeking to do in this account and what does this teach us?
How is what Peter is doing following the pattern of Eve in Genesis 3:1-7?
How do you ensure that your zeal for God and His will is kept central in your life?
SIV - How will a correct application of this account lead us into a life on God’s mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that's come out of our time in God’s Word.
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