Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. —Philippians 2:5-7
It is important to remember that this amazing passage on the identity of Christ (Philippians 2:6-11) is stemming from a command directed at us in Philippians 2:5 — “have this mind among yourselves.” We should hear this command, gaze at the humility of Christ, and then ask what his example of humility means for us.
Just Christian Politeness?
It seems that too often Philippians 2 is made into the “Christian politeness” passage. We come away from this text with the mindset “okay, now be nice to one another.” But I think we should see that the example of Christ’s humility pushes us beyond being merely cordial to the people we live around.
This passage about the humility of Christ is not merely about us taking the trash out and helping old ladies cross the street. It includes those things, but goes way beyond those things.
Dreaming Big
This kind of humility from this God is what pushes us and calls us to start orphanages in Sudan, to translate the Scriptures into languages that don’t have the Bible, to have moms invest in a career of raising four children at home, to adopt children who need a family. Christ’s humility drives us to both washing dishes and pouring out our lives for the good of this world and the glory of God.
It doesn’t just mean, “be nice.” This is a humility that calls us to dream big things about the gospel overcoming this world and God’s name being hallowed.