Tuesday 14 September 2010
- Bible Book:
- Philippians
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave." (v.5-7)
Background
When we set ourselves a goal we are often advised to aim high,to set ourselves the highest standard. It's a good way of makingsure we do our very best. But suppose our aim is to encourage andenable others to be the best they can, against daunting odds,rather than to surpass our own previous best? Then, surely, is thetime for a different strategy, one that might seem, on the face ofit, to be perverse.
Paul is writing about a different view of people, one that sees theperson doing the washing up as no less important than thedistinguished guest. Maybe, if you happen to be the distinguishedguest, it means rolling up your own sleeves and joining in. Howeverdistinguished, you are nonetheless one of God's people and, likeJesus, you come as a servant.
Paul's account of Jesus' strategy in addressing the challenge of adysfunctional humanity seems to be to aim low, to get alongsidehumanity and share its worst miseries rather than glorying in hisown celebrity status. Jesus of Nazareth set his sights lower andlower, because only in that way could his message of the universallove of God carry any conviction in a divided and dysfunctionalworld. Only by identifyinghimself totally with humanity, with us,could he get to the heart of the human condition. Only as we absorbthat mindset and make it our own, can we become fully involved inthe mission of Jesus.
To Ponder
What barriers have others crossed in order tocommunicate God's love to us?
What apparently insuperable barriers are youprepared to cross in order to share God's love?