Redeemed & Esteemed

“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!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11

You my Lord Jesus thought of me above all and were obedient unto death, and I am to have the same mindset as You? I am to love like you loved me? You gave everything, you endured the unimaginable and you paid a price I cannot even bear to imagine…

Have the same mindset as Christ? What does this mean? How can I be as one who willingly came to save the world and took the full wrath due for every sin of every one of us? How can I know this love and so selflessly be able to give it away?

How can I become one who has a servant heart, who puts everyone, even those who treat me unjustly before myself? How do I give up all sense of entitlement and humble myself completely?

The truth is I can’t. But Christ in me is able.

“God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name”, and I will exalt you my Lord. It is when I put you above all, and hold your name above every name that I can lay myself down and your loving attitude flows. It is when my knee is bowed and my tongue is acknowledging that You Jesus, are Lord, that all that I am becomes all that you want me to be.

Here I am Lord, longing to humble myself in a way that I can’t; desiring to be what only you can make me. Here it is Lord, a knee bowed, and a life surrendered. Here is a voice Lord, lifting Your name above every name. Here is your servant Lord, with a longing in this heart that I cannot contain, a longing for something I can do nothing to obtain.

Here I am Lord, still, knowing you are God. Take your place above all in this life of mine, and grant me Lord, this desire in my heart. The desire to be just like You.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4