Scripture

Philippians 2:3-5 (NRSV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Consider

Living for Christ means living as Christ would in our daily circumstances. We are each given a sphere of influence—friends, family, coworkers, neighbors—and our job is to make Christ visible by the way we act and speak and make decisions.

God has assigned us the privilege and responsibility to bring the incarnate Son face-to-face with people in ways that show them how loved and valuable they are to the Father. We do this best when we follow Jesus’ example and serve others at the cost of our own well-being and comfort.

Paul describes this model of servanthood in the passage quoted above. He goes on to describe in the next few verses what that model looked like in Jesus:

…who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross (vv. 6-8).

Although our hands and feet may perform good deeds, Paul insists we are not the body of Christ unless the mind of Christ is in us, motivating us to serve others. People will admire us for our good deeds, but it is the divine spirit of love and humility living in us that will turn them toward God.

When we give up our own good for the good of another, we step out of our rightful position as surely as Christ stepped out of his heavenly position and became human for our sakes. We may not physically die for another as Jesus did, but God may very well ask us to put to death our rights and comforts for the sake of another. Perhaps we give up our right to expect an apology or compensation for a wrong we’ve suffered, or we pass up an opportunity to get ahead at someone else’s expense. We may give up a legal or social entitlement, or we polish someone else’s reputation instead of our own.

All this we can do with love and joy when Christ’s mind lives in us.

Pray

FATHER, I confess that too often my kindness and charity are prompted by selfish needs rather than my love for others—I want to be accepted; I want to think well of myself; I want to merit your praise by stacking up good deeds you will admire. Please empty me of all that does not resemble Jesus and fill me instead with his humility and desire to bring good to others for their own sakes alone. Remind me that it was the love behind Jesus’ death on the cross, and not the death itself, that won my devotion and convinced me of your grace.

Reflect

1 Chronicles 28:9; Romans 12:2

Ponder

Name a good deed you recently performed that was entirely motivated by love for another.