TLIC FAMILY. DAY 276. OCTOBER 3: HAVE THIS MIND.

THINK TOGETHER

Why is what we think about so important? How does it impact what we do?

READ TOGETHER

Yesterday we talked about how Jesus wants us to have the same mind (the same thoughts about God) as each other. And today Jesus (through the Apostle Paul) will tell us that he wants us to have the same mind or thoughts as himself. Jesus wants us to think like Jesus. Listen to how Paul says it here in the book of Philippians:

Philippians 2:5-8. ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus always thought about others first. He thought about the Father first. He thought about us first. Jesus thought about us so much that he set everything else aside in order to help us and rescue us from sin and death. Paul tells us that Jesus knew he was God and that he would always be loved by God the Father. That’s why he didn’t have to grasp on to his place in Heaven. He didn’t have to fight for his own way, or fight to keep what was rightfully his.

Do you ever feel like you have to “grasp” or hold on tight to what is rightfully yours? Do you try to get your own way?

Paul says that Jesus “emptied himself” for us. He gave up what was his for all of us. He didn’t give up being God – he was always God. But he gave up being able to have all that God had and being able to do all that God can do so that he could be a human being like us and save us as our substitute for sin. And now we can think this same way. How? Because, just like Jesus we know that God loves us no matter what. We know that we can give up things for others because one day, God will give us everything that is Jesus’.

Because of Jesus we can think like Jesus.

With Jesus we don’t have to be selfish anymore and we can put others first.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Have everyone think about one way that they can be less selfish or one way that they can share what is theirs.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you gave up heaven for me so that I could share heaven with you. Help me to always share with others, especially sharing your good news. Amen.