Aug 2

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:…” Philippians 2:5

The imitation of Christ is suggested to us all as believers by the apostle Paul, as he writes to the church at Philippi. The mind set of those who profess to be followers of Christ should surely reflect the mind of Christ. It is quite impossible to be Christ-like, a Christian in practice, if we are not a Christian in belief and thought. Much of what we will perform begins in the mind and heart and it is therefore very appropriate for us to discover what the mind of Jesus is and then think like Him. While He walked among us, the Lord made clear the intent and motivation of His actions and showed to us all the manner and way of true Christian life. There is much that could be said at this point in regards to the mind of Christ, but perhaps a few points will suffice here. The Lord was genuinely complete in every way and could have rightly flaunted His perfection and purity, His power and superiority, but He did not. With this in focus, let us note then that the mind which was in Christ Jesus was a mind of humility. Jesus showed us an example of humility in everything He did and in the way He related to others. This should form the pattern of our life’s motivation. We should not do anything to be ‘seen’ of others, to receive the praise and accolades of those around us or to be noted and recognised. The heart of the believer should be driven by the passion of true love and service unto God and not strive for credit or recognition. When appreciation or honour comes from others out of genuine hearts, it must be deflected immediately and without hesitation, to Him to whom it truly belongs, the Lord Jesus. The mind of Jesus was also a mind of subjection to the Father. Jesus, as God in the flesh, the Son, never usurped the will and pleasure of the Father in Heaven. His desire and conduct was wrapped up in bringing about all that the Father’s will and purpose demanded. His obedience was complete and His compliance absolute and service. To have such mind, we too must be willing to fall in alignment with all that God commands of us and directs us to do. Nothing should be too ‘hard’ for us to obey God in, or too extreme to include in our lives, if He so directs in His Word and by His Spirit. This kind of mind is consecrated to the Lord, dedicated to His purposes and intent in fulfilling His will in every detail. Along with humility and subjection, we find the mind of Christ to be a mind of service. The needs of others were the first and foremost interests of our Lord. The striving, argumentative and adversarial mentalities, to which we sometimes subscribe, are not Christ-like. They do not minister to the needs of others, but all too often only cater to our own feelings and wants. This is not to say we cannot stand for righteousness, refute error or reprove wrong, but it does mean that we can do those things in the manner, attitude and spirit of love and service that Jesus showed. He came to serve and minister to others. He, who was King of Kings, willingly became the Chief Servant and gave to us who did not deserve. Such altruism is at the core of the mind of Christ, and should be the mainframe and motivation of ours also. Our human nature makes the taking and nurturing of our own interests first and normative. The new nature we inherit from Jesus, turns that around, and places others ahead of ourselves. Developing that mind of Christ in us is a choice we must continue to make throughout our Christian walk. It will not happen by chance or accident, nor by mere religious observance. It can only come as we yield more of ourselves, our hearts and passions, to comply and align with the purpose for which we were created and saved – to be more like Jesus!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

June 5

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded…” Philippians 2:2

Paul had seen a great deal of personal trial, difficulty and affliction in serving the Lord. He bore many burdens and suffered many persecutions, tortures and loss. He had to deal with the many dissentions, arguments and false doctrines arising among some of the churches. All this added pain and sorrow to an already difficult ministry unto God. Here however was a great opportunity for joy! The apostle’s joy was structured and fulfilled by the Christlike manner, godly conduct and scriptural faith of those who had grown in his care and as a result of his ministry. His joy was to see brethren working together in unison, harmony and love. Those having the same mind of godliness and making efforts to maintain unity and love in the church, were a cause of joy to this great man of God. This is true of any minister who has a true pastor’s heart. He rejoices in God, when God’s people function without schism and discord, are free from contentions and strife, and in true humility of heart, love and serve God and uphold one another! This is cause for great joy! It surpasses all thrills that a servant of God may experience in any other aspect of life! It is God’s will that His church be one-minded in faith, purpose and practice. When a minister can verify that this is taking place in the body of believers, he can rejoice because God’s will is being fulfilled, and no greater joy exists for the servant of God! It is the task of the true believer to find his place in God and fill it to the best of his ability. Along with the specific call or ministry to which we may be directed, there are the common goals in the church, to which we are all called as the Lord’s disciples. These include the necessity to love one another, to serve God from a pure heart, to maintain a bond of peace and unity of spirit, to bear one another’s burdens and to pray without ceasing. There is plenty of room in the family of God, plenty to do and be involved in, and much purpose to fulfil. Let us determine by our actions and conduct, to make our leaders truly joyful in their service to God, and most of all let us remember that our lives are open before Him, who knows and sees all things, and rewards accordingly!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

May 22

“…but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3

A desirable and commendable quality of heart and its natural outflow are described here. Translated elsewhere as humility and humbleness, lowliness of mind is true modesty and genuine unpretentiousness. Much false humility has been given rise, by those who would apply this concept out of it intended context. It is natural to find some ability, skill, talent or knowledge in one man which is greater than that found in another. To this of course, humility should immediately defer. The context of the humility spoken of here however, is that which is required when considering the effects of God’s grace in another person’s life. This lowliness of mind causes one to see and highlight the importance, growth or experience of his brethren, in preference to his own. This is not to say that we must believe everybody ‘better’ than ourselves in every sense, or pretend we cannot see the faults in others. Quite to the contrary, true humility is capable of seeing self in a true light. It is able to step in the position God sees fit to give or call one to, without losing sight of personal dependence on Him. True humility can acknowledge progress or achievement without once attributing any aspect of it to mere self. It has as its outflow, the ability to look beyond the flaws in another’s life or character, remembering all too well  the vileness and insignificance which describes and defines us all, outside of Christ. This humility principle flies in the face of all pride and ambition, associated with spiritual pursuit or progress. It remembers that each of us owe all we are, have and do, to Jesus Christ. It knows and proclaims unashamedly that without Him, we have no achievement, no success or accomplishment to present as our own. This is why such humility can always find some detail, some experience, and some personal aspect of God’s grace fulfilled in our brother, as ‘better’, more worthwhile and exemplary than our own, and is willing to gladly state so! It glorifies Jesus, in others, and therefore it is ‘better’ and greater than us in our natural state! It highlights what God does in someone else’s life, and that is always a greater work than we could ever do for ourselves! This is God’s recipe for total annihilation of pride! Should all believers genuinely be clothed in such pure humility, foolish and destructive pride would not be known among Christians, and the praises of God would be sung, as believers testify of the wonderful works God has done and they can see in the life of their brethren!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Mar 5

“…and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Paul had just encouraged the saints at Philippi, to observe the godly patterns established in his life and to imitate them. The concept of following (Paul) a leader, as he follows Christ, is both acceptable and desirable in scripture. Naturally it is up to us to align the individual’s life with God’s Word and deem it a correct paradigm to follow, or a poor example to be shunned. Note that the emphasis is not in following the ‘man’ himself, but Christ’s patterns of life and teaching, in that man. The apostle intimates, that following in a godly manner will bring the peace of God into the life of the believer. This expression ‘the peace of God’ is repeated often in the New Testament, both as a condition to be desired and pursued, and as a blessing directed at fellow believers. Among believing Jews the word ‘Shalom’ is used in salutation, this is taken around the world to mean ‘peace’. It is used as a greeting also among many Christians, who in their own language convey once again, the idea, concept and desire for God’s peace. Apart from the main meaning of peace, for which it is known, according to Strong's Concordance (7965), Shalom means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord”. It is associated with another word which carries the meaning of being ‘fully paid’! Each of those definitions embellish and describe the kind of ‘peace’ God intends us to have, and makes available for us, when we follow His principles. God brings peace to us and is thus titled, among many other things, the ‘God of peace’. This is the true peace, which is beyond all human understanding, and which has been the subject of many hymns, prayers and sermons. It comes as a result of being ‘at peace’ with God, meaning not fighting against Him by our sin or worldly behaviour, but fulfilling His will and complying with His word. Being in conflict with ourselves or others is unpleasant, but warring against God is futility and extreme absurdity. Heavenly peace can only be received from God, and only when we place ourselves in alignment with Him. This condition is most beneficial to our hearts, minds and souls. This is the reason why ‘seeking to make peace with God’, and then ‘having the God of peace in our lives’, are exhortations often heard and frequently presented in Scripture and the exposition of it. In all His dealings with mankind, God has indicated and shown that He desires the best things for each of us. Experience has taught humanity, over some six thousand years, that one of the best things to have and hold, is the very condition we all seek at heart – peace. The world tried to achieve this by all other means except yielding to God, and fails. True, lasting and fulfilling peace can only come from the God of peace, and benefits us when we finally yield to His ways and principles, and apply them in our lives. What a blessing to know and have the peace of God! How precious and health-giving is this quality and condition of life! It should become a priority in our lives to obtain and maintain this glorious, soul healing peace, defend it from all which would damage and lessen it, and like Paul, share it with the people and situations around us, by godly example and loving instruction. 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion