It’s All in Your Mind

probably be deemed gracious voluntar-iness. Christ never demanded service. He was never concerned about Himself. He was always concerned about others. Not only did Christ humble Himself. He also, abu..tu,u, oludwt1 UJtlo- dtt.Jh." In other words, He subjected Himself to the law of God. Now that would not have been too bad except another phrase is added, "tJUn. llu tk.ath o/. due~,, This is not a glorious death. Christ could have decided to die with multitudes of praise and glory but He decided to be obedient to death on the cross. Someone has written the following about the mind of Christ. (I do not know the author.) "The mind ofChrist was fearless. He braved pubUc opinion." (Christ was not concerned about public opinion. That is fearlessness. He braved persecution, temptation, and death.) '7he mind ofChrist was seff-denyin9. Christ was always concerned more for others than for present advanta9es. He let 90 of present advanta9e for the good of others." (Here may be what we are saying about the mind of Christ. It would have been to His advantage to stay in Heaven, but He set aside the present advantage of being in the form of God in order that He might do something for others.) "'The self-denyin9 mind ofChrist fore9oes popularity for the sake ofprinciple." (Christ could have been popular. If we can get popularity out of our minds we can be dedicated Christians.) aThe self-denyin9 mind of Christ fore9oes personal claims, profits and pleasures for usefulness." (Christ's mind decided that personal claims and personal profits and personal pleasures were not as important as being useful.) '7he mind of Christ was always sympathetic." (His helpfulness was always united with tenderness.) '7he mind ofChrist was patient" (Here was Christ, born in the flesh and as a child of twelve, He sat in the synagogue and discussed God with the leaders and knew every answer. He could have been a precocious child, but He was not. For thircy years He suppressed His mind, His position, His purpose, His work, and His revelation. Possibly even before His thirtieth year He had thoughts of beginning His work, but His mind waited, controlled by the Holy Spirit. He was obedient to the Word of God.) "'The mind ofChrist was hopeful." (Isaiah 53:11 says, "Xt. JwJl J.U IJu lnuuliL ol hu u,uL and .JuJL k 1,am/ud ") "hi. tl,,,u mind"-the mind of Christ-this is the mind that decides that one love, one thinking, one aim, one purpose, are possible. It is not the spirit of contention, or the spirit of competition, or the spirit of pride. It is a right estimate of one's self, and a right concern for others. This mind does not cling to its position, but is willing to take another position and decides to do so, even the position of lowliness with no aspiration, no honor, but total obedience. This mind is fuarless, self-denying, laborious, sympathetic, patient, and hopeful. Do I hear someone saying, "Nobody ever lived that way"? Philippians 2:17-20 says, "Q/n,,, and fl, :;J. h ~ llJlOlt IJu m.uJ/1,u mu/. 8.UDi.tt o/. fJDU¥- ~ d P"J,, a.n.J Rj.oi£L mJ.lh (pJU aJl <fa,. IJu UUIU. ellLUL al.JD . Jo. (,µ- iog ,uu/_ njQU.t, u,iJh nu. tBul :;J. bttuJ. in tlu .J2Nd (feMu If,_ und gintollutu Jrod/tJ, unlo- r,µ,a, IJud ;J. aLw. nuitJ, ht>/, IJ1' M, ~ u,J,n,, :;J. luwm IJ,OlU llllh. (lo,. ;J. iu,u, 1UJ- m.a.n liJunundul,, mJu,.. will naJJual.lJJ, llJll. IN- tpJlU mm.,, 56 L [ r ,. ,.