Let The Same Mind Be In You: Palm Sunday, 2019

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

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, (Philippians 2: 1 - 5)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus - And that mind?

That mind was the very mind of God.
That mind did nothing out of selfish conceit
or worry about what others would think
or despair over the state of humanity or the creation.

That mind did not step on others in order to get ahead
or force anyone to bow or believe
Or willingly inflict suffering or punishment or shame

That mind did not Lord it over others.
Did not say - My way or the highway.
Did not belittle or bully or bellyache

That mind that was in Christ was the very mind of God
The mind that brought the mountains into being
And the stars shining in their galaxies
And the mysteries of black holes and dark matter
And breathed life into the animals and the humans
And all that moves on the face of the earth
And who knows where else in the whole host of universes

That mind that was in Christ was the very mind of God
And fully intent on pouring out all the riches of heaven
All the gifts of grace
To sinners like you and like me.

To sinners like you and me who for the most part
Have no idea what is actually going on
Have no idea the immensity of the Creator
The gravity and the lightness and the fullness of His Being

Have no conception of the harm that we do
With our mindless actions,
And our mindless attempts at enforcing our own will
and our own way

Have no depth of awareness of the trouble we are
Actually in.
Spiritually.
The spiritual danger we are in.
The danger we put others in
The whales, the cormorants, the eagles, the tigers,
The earthworms.
Our brothers and sisters who have such little hope
For their futures

This mind that is in Christ is the very mind of God
fully intent on gifting us with greater riches

Of mercy and grace and companionship
and power to do good in the world
Power to wake up and see with new eyes
Power to lay down our own lives and live in
Far greater purpose and with richer imagination
Of all that is possible
Then we can ever imagine.

This mind that is in Christ
Is fully intent on the cross.
is fully intent on dying for us
so that we can live
Fully intent on giving everything
On our behalf
Taking on the burden and
The blame that we place on ourselves
And each other
And lifting it off our shoulders
And placing it on his own

Why?
For freedom.
For good.
For well-being.
For salvation.
For heaven on earth.
For new life.
For brotherhood and sisterhood.
For reconciliation.
For all creation.

Therefore, my friends, 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, and know - know - that it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Know that in Christ, as you get close to Him and trust him more and more, as you lay down your life to serve others as He leads you-you become a gift to the world. And your heart and your whole being will naturally bend and bow with gratitude and praise before Him who is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.