The Gift Poured Out April 8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
 
Instead of using His, “God Nature,” to His advantage, Jesus chose to make Himself nothing. Jesus chose to take on the nature of a servant and come to earth in the form of the humans that He created. Jesus chose to, “Make Himself nothing,” so that the Father’s glory would be revealed, but also so that we could come back into a close relationship with the Father.
 
Relationship! That’s the lens everything comes through here. Jesus showed us how to let go of our prideful nature, by letting go of His God Nature. He demonstrated how to take on the nature of a servant by serving and loving the people in His life while He walked on this earth so that we would know how to love and serve the people who come into our lives. Jesus set the example of being obedient to the Father, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
 
It’s only through our relationship with God that we are enabled to follow the examples of Jesus in these verses and put on the humble, servant, and obedient mindset of Jesus Christ within our relationships. Again, God is commanding us to do something we cannot do on our own, so that we can’t boast. It’s only through His Spirit at work in us, filling us up, that we can truly let go of our pride and clothe ourselves with humility toward the people in our lives. But when we do, our relationships become deeper, more fulfilling, and protected. God’s way of living always brings us to a place where we are living an abundantly blessed life. I’ve turned the following verses into a prayer that I pray daily, asking God to help me live with the mindset of Christ in my relationships.
 
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5b, 6) Let’s pray today, being inspired by God’s Word.
 

Today’s Verses

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Oh God, help me humble myself under Your might hand so that I can be clothed with the humility of Christ as I interact with the people in my life. Enable me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to let go of my prideful nature. Replace my prideful heart with Christ’s humble heart. Help me live through the lens of humbly serving those around me with Christ’s love. Make me aware of the traps that Satan sets to pull me back into my prideful way of living. Help me obediently lay down my pride, move past the snare, and continue loving people with a humble heart. Thank You!