Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 2:3-5 (NKJV)
Though Jesus was sinless, He gave His life for you and me. Thinking less of himself, He chose us. We, too, are to have the same mind—the same unselfish attitude. His new life is a completed work in our born-again spirit, which became ours when we believed by faith in Him. But for his new life to make a difference in our attitudes and actions, it has to be real in our perception of who we are in Him. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to change that perception and the way we think.
When we are born again, we receive Jesus' finished work of Grace. We receive His righteousness and His mind. Within us resides the life-changing power of the Cross. But to perceive this life-change, we yield to His process of spiritual growth. By continually surrendering our lives to His Grace, we are transformed by His power until we understand what Grace accomplished. We are free but never realized it. We are loved but never like this. We live in peace instead of turmoil. Our needs change. Life is not about us.
As we choose to love without expectation, to share without recognition, to give without return, He reveals more of what He has unselfishly given—His righteousness and love, which have no limit. Unburdened by our needs, we are free to love unconditionally. We have no plan or need to be recognized. The self becomes less, so He, who lives in us, can be more.
Is it hard for you to love with His unconditional love? If you are new in Jesus, you have a spirit now filled with His new life and promise. But perhaps your new life is still about your old selfish life. Selfishness always brings turmoil and fear to your mind. When life is about you, there is no spiritual peace.
If you desire His spiritual peace more than your rights, you are ready to change your attitude. Choose to surrender to the Holy Spirit’s process of renewing your mind. Living the unselfish loving attitude of Christ then becomes His work and nothing to which you claim any right. By faith continually act upon what you determine is real, and His Grace will make it your reality.
His Grace sets you free to love unconditionally—to forgive easily—to share freely. You are unburdened by what a selfish mind says you need. You are at peace. You have received all you need, and that is Jesus. And just as freely as you received Him, you unconditionally, without thinking or analyzing, give His love so that others may receive Him, too.
©2020 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2020/02/the-mind-of-christ.html
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