Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

The Bible tells us of many people who are examples to us, some to be emulated and some to be avoided, but the ultimate example to be emulated is that of Jesus Christ. Because of a book that promoted the idea as a major plot feature, we sometimes go through fads of What Would Jesus Do, WWJD, on bracelets and coffee mugs and t-shirts and the like, but this verse brings it down to the bare bones of thinking, of attitude. Jesus was obedient to His Father all the way to His thought patterns! None of us can claim to have never had sinful thoughts, but we aren’t to dump on ourselves because of them – and we certainly aren’t to dwell on them, either. As D. L. Moody once said to a seminary student who complained of the impossibility of purity of thought, “You can’t keep birds from flying over your head, but you can certainly keep them from building a nest in your hair.” What we dwell on influences our future thoughts, and eventually our actions. That’s a major factor in pornography being so destructive. We tend to excuse it, thinking it’s strictly personal, but it quickly poisons not only our thoughts but also our attitudes and actions toward others. It certainly isn’t compatible with the mind of Christ, as Paul talks about here! Jesus was definitely a realist, because He knew how weak and depraved we are, but He was also an optimist, because He knew the power of His Spirit to inhabit and transform even such as we are. Part of having the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) is seeing people with His eyes, not overlooking their faults and weaknesses but also seeing their potential in Christ. By ourselves we can indeed do nothing, (John 15:5) but in Him we can do anything He calls on us to do. (Philippians 4:13)

This is something I am reminded of frequently, and which I reference frequently to others. Jesus is my example, but I have no hope of being like Him except for His grace, and His Spirit within me. By that grace and Spirit, I have every hope in the world! Many who look at me now think of me as a “holy man,” but they don’t know all that Christ has redeemed me from. I need to be conscious and intentional in embracing, as the Japanese puts it, the mind of Christ. I don’t need a WWJD bracelet to do that, but rather, a consistent awareness of my weakness and His strength. If I will do that, He will accomplish His will in and through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I need never to forget it! Thank You for all You enabled me to do yesterday, and for Cathy’s help in remembering some of it. I ask for Your guidance and anointing today in my every action and interaction, that I may be Your agent in all that You desire of me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!