The Completely Different, Upside Down Way

Slowly consider Paul’s words from Philippians 2:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

   by taking the very nature of a servant,

   being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

   he humbled himself

   by becoming obedient to death—

       even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

   and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

   to the glory of God the Father.

The Jesus way is completely different and turns the normal approach upside down.

• Jesus is at the highest place, not because he held on to it, but because he did not grasp it.
• His name is above every name, not because he sought that, but because he humbled himself.
• Every knee will bow to him, not because he defeated everyone, but because he served everyone.
• Every tongue will confess he is Lord, not because he compelled that, but because he laid down his life.

And Philippians 2:5 literally says, “Have in you this mind that is also in Christ Jesus.” Are we ready to be as different as he is...in our relationships with everyone? I hope so, because God still opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.