"Let This Mind Be In You"

Lucifer, a created being honored by God to be the lightbearer (the meaning of his original name) fell from his calling because he sought an equality with his Creator that could never be.

"I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:14-15).

Conversely, the Creator Himself, the second Person of the Trinity, willingly relinquished the appearance of His deity in order to save humanity from the effects of believing Satan's lie that "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5).

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7).

In God's universe, created beings must be what they were made to be, and do what they were made to do. Grasping for more than our intended purpose, as determined by God, is the very essence of sin, and the harbinger of great destruction. "It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves" declared the Psalmist (Psalm 100:3). Our Heavenly Father determines our particular reason for being, and peace is found only as we seek and accept the truth of His purposes for us. As with the Lord Jesus, the quest cannot be motivated by the lust for reputation, and it will involve the humility of servanthood before God and men. "Let this mind be in you" commanded the Apostle Paul, the very mind of the Christ who for our sakes walked the path of the most abject humility and servitude.

"Father, who did You make me to be, and what have you called me to do for Your glory?" The attitude that motivates such prayer must pervade our convictions and consciousness. The answer will not be audibly provided for us, or written in the clouds by a skywriter. It will be given, however, in ways that illuminate our path and give assurance that we are responding to the will of God for our lives. "This is the way; walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21). Of course, there will be missteps along the way, and we pray also for our Lords correction and redirection. Nevertheless, we have much confidence in His leading as we trust the Lord Jesus and submit ourselves to the glory and will of God (Proverbs 3:5-6). We also recognize that we must not grasp for that which is not meant to be ours. Long ago, the devil originated sin by doing so. Long ago, Adam perpetuated sin by doing so. Long ago, the Lord Jesus died for sin by not doing so. If we have believed, the latter path awaits us also, and today we have the opportunity and responsibility to "let this mind be in you" - "Father, what did You make me to be, and what have You called me to do?"

"Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory... Not my will, but thine be done."

(Psalm 115:1; Luke 22:42)

"No More a Servant"

(Thanks to my dear brother and friend Jay for inspiration on this one)


"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:6-7).

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1).

The Apostle Paul tells the Galatians that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ birthed them into family relationship with God, as opposed to mere servitude to a master. Nevertheless he refers to himself as "a servant of Jesus Christ."

The Lordship of Jesus must be understood in the context of our being "dear children" rather than mere slaves to a master (Ephesians 5:1). "Ye serve the Lord Christ" declared Paul, and thus the perception of ourselves as servants is a Biblically valid understanding (Colossians 3:24). However, sonship must be first in our minds as believers if submission to God is to be known and experienced according to the loving relationship for which the Lord Jesus suffered and died. Under the law, slaves. Under grace and truth, "no more a servant," but sons and daughters. The distinction is vital.

The obedience of the Christian is the obedience of love rather than the mere fulfillment of duty. Our Heavenly Father has no interest whatsoever in a heartless submission that belies the heart-filled reality of the Lord Jesus dwelling in us by His Spirit. Long ago, Israel was severely chastened because "because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things" (Deuteronomy 28:47). How much more must the born again believer, spiritually birthed by the Holy Spirit into being "a habitation of God," serve as a glad, grateful, and affectionate member of "the whole family in heaven and earth" rather than the cold and sterile discipline of a slave? (Ephesians 2:22; 3:15).

This truth, received and nurtured within our hearts and minds, will change our lives. We serve from sonship. We serve from being loved as beloved children who love in joyful response. We serve because there is genuine desire in us for the will of God, wrought in us by the Spirit of His Son dwelling in us. We serve in a devotion and sincerity that can only proceed from the shared interest of family involvement and relationship. And we serve with the understanding that "doing the will of God from the heart" is the only obedience in which our Heavenly Father has any interest (Ephesians 6:6). The Lord Jesus has made such genuine devotion possible, and the more we realize how near He has drawn us to His Father and to our Father, the more we will join Paul in the glad service of being dear sons and daughters.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

"No More a Servant"

(Thanks to my dear brother and friend Jay for inspiration on this one)

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:6-7).

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1).

The Apostle Paul tells the Galatians that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ birthed them into family relationship with God, as opposed to mere servitude to a master. Nevertheless he refers to himself as "a servant of Jesus Christ."

The Lordship of Jesus must be understood in the context of our being "dear children" rather than mere slaves to a master (Ephesians 5:1). "Ye serve the Lord Christ" declared Paul, and thus the perception of ourselves as servants is a Biblically valid understanding (Colossians 3:24). However, sonship must be first in our minds as believers if submission to God is to be known and experienced according to the loving relationship for which the Lord Jesus suffered and died. Under the law, slaves. Under grace and truth, "no more a servant," but sons and daughters. The distinction is vital.

The obedience of the Christian is the obedience of love rather than the mere fulfillment of duty. Our Heavenly Father has no interest whatsoever in a heartless submission that belies the heart-filled reality of the Lord Jesus dwelling in us by His Spirit. Long ago, Israel was severely chastened because "because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things" (Deuteronomy 28:47). How much more must the born again believer, spiritually birthed by the Holy Spirit into being "a habitation of God," serve as a glad, grateful, and affectionate member of "the whole family in heaven and earth" rather than the cold and sterile discipline of a slave? (Ephesians 2:22; 3:15).

This truth, received and nurtured within our hearts and minds, will change our lives. We serve from sonship. We serve from being loved as beloved children who love in joyful response. We serve because there is genuine desire in us for the will of God, wrought in us by the Spirit of His Son dwelling in us. We serve in a devotion and sincerity that can only proceed from the shared interest of family involvement and relationship. And we serve with the understanding that "doing the will of God from the heart" is the only obedience in which our Heavenly Father has any interest (Ephesians 6:6). The Lord Jesus has made such genuine devotion possible, and the more we realize how near He has drawn us to His Father and to our Father, the more we will join Paul in the glad service of being dear sons and daughters.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

(John 1:12-13)