December 28–A Mind Like Christ

It’s the Weekend after Christmas and when I gave gifts this past week, I heard lots of thank you’s. It’s easy to be thankful when someone cares about you and buys things for you. But what about when someone doesn’t do something nice for you? What about when they are rude or just mean to you? Did everything go perfectly for you this week? Of course not, but were you thankful even though things happened that shouldn’t have? Are you thankful when bad things happen? When things go from bad to worse? When your critics are watching every move to catch you when you slip up? Amazingly enough, Jesus was. Before He went to the cross, Jesus took the cup that represented His blood that would be poured out for many and He gave thanks.


“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,...And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name 

which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5, 8-10, NKJV‬‬


So if we are to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, the One whose Name is above all names, we should give thanks regardless of our circumstances. The key to that is not looking at God through our situation, but rather looking at our situation from God’s point. He is using what ever hardships or trials we are going through to mound us and make us for His use. He wants only the best for us and would never just willy-nilly put us in situations—He is ALWAYS intentional with ever detail. Every move, every circumstance, whether great, awful or somewhere in between, is for our good. He is a good, good Father, today, yesterday, and tomorrow—of that we can be assured. 


Dear Lord, thank you for the example of being faithful regardless of what our circumstances might be. The scope of your love for us is beyond measure. We trust you and lay our lives before you. Thank you for always being intentional and so very attentive to every detail of our lives. When we are tempted to complain, remind us that you were thankful in the midst of the cross. Help us to see your glory in the blackness of pain as well as in the brightness of wonderful. We give you all the glory for you alone are worthy. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 17, 2020

Happy Friday. It’s the end of another week and we have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us and sometimes that takes quite a bit of effort. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always anxious to embrace others and really listen to them or share with them (especially those who I don’t know well). Sometimes, I just look at them and think “Are you for real?” I don’t always agree with people over politics, sports or of course, religion. And let’s face it, we’d rather spend time with people we like and mostly agree.  And then I read my Bible. God hasn’t called us to sit in our little groups with only those we naturally gravitate towards, but to love people—all people, even those who aren’t necessarily loveable. In this passage, Paul writing to the people of Colosse remarks on how wonderful it is that they truly love others. That love must have really been something over and above the normal and he tells them that it is evident that it comes from the Holy Sp
Read more

January 15, 2020

Happy Wednesday to you. I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I went to Sams. I was out of things like trash bags, toilet paper, and chicken, so off I went. I like going to Sams because there is always lots to look at and the isles are nice and wide. Everytime I’m there, I am amazed at how much stuff and everything from diapers to TVs to mangos to beds. It just seems incredible that so many things in such quantities are all under one roof.  King David never saw a store with as much stuff aa Sams of course, but he did see countless miracles and understand that God has plans. He knew from creation and history that he was serving a God of miracles and he know that God loved him and his people and would take care of them. He was amazed and awe-struck by the fact that a God who had done such great and mighty things not only cared about his people but that He loved them with such a great love.  “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can co
Read more

January 9, 2020

It’s Thursday and I woke up to the blowing wind! Lots of it—I’m dreading Boomer waking up and having to go outside with him. That harsh, bitter wind seems cruel and almost evil. But I’ll wrap myself up with a fe layers and boots and brave it all.  Sometimes I think we try to do that with things we know aren’t right—things that are evil. We try to wrap ourselves up and just wade into it, but Paul tells us we should reject it—stay away from it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:20-24‬ NIV When he wrote this he’d been in Berea and the Christians there diligently searched the scriptures to make sure everything Paul said was in line. Paul here is encouraging the Thessalonians to
Read more