Attitude - Attitude - Attitude

"In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: 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 human being, 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 that 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 TNIV

The emphasis in this very early Christian hymn, is on our attitude of thought. It is a very short rehearsal of the gospel and covers all of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful passage to memorize for many reasons.. I have chosen this rather free flowing translation to get the central thought highlighted for us.

It was the attitude of thought in our Lord that enabled Him to become all He has become. He had every "right" to all the elevated positions as the Son of God, to inherit all that is God's. However, His attitude of mind was not one of taking, but one of serving. The passage here, "equality with God something to be used to his own advantage," in the Greek the thought is of taking something by force. "Taking," because He had every right to do so. That is not the way the Kingdom of God works, and so the Lord, being saturated in the will and thought of His Father, knew the way He needed to think in order to accomplish what was true Kingdom leadership. He humbled Himself and became nothing. I want to write on that tomorrow, so will just mention it here.

Later in the passage we notice that after He had lived in the "under" position - totally, therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and, and, and....! We see the pattern of thought in following the Lord as a son of God as well as the pattern of thought that must be developed in us, if we are to be effective leaders.

He "took" nothing! He walked out His life in truth, joy and sorrow. He did not avoid living! He became what His mind thought - nothing. Remember when He said in John that He taught and did "nothing" that he did not receive and see from His Father? He was able to do that because He purposely set any agenda He might have had aside to listen and respond. That way He could stay "under" and accomplish what had been decided in the God-Head before the foundations of the earth were laid. Then, the Father Himself, exalted Him.  Our Lord did not take anything, only received what has been given to Him.

As we live our lives in this earth in Kingdom mode, it is essential that we understand this very principle. Because of the work of Christ, I am a son of God, but position in the Kingdom is His to give, not mine to take. Whatever we happen to "take" we will have to mis-treat others to take and then to protect. However, if we humble ourselves under Him and live as He teaches us (personally - through the Word), then when He chooses to place us in a "position," it is something we can receive and rest in Him that it has been given and therefore empowered.

May our hearts respond in "Yes, Lord." Then we are assured of His abundant anointing and empowerment.