On My Mind...
I took Landon to the baseball game Saturday. As we sat there in the stands, with the sun shining, a gentle breeze, my mind went back to my childhood. I pictured our neighborhood gang gathering behind Saint Catherine’s Church for another epic pick-up game. We all had a favorite player, and we watched them carefully every Saturday on the game of the week (boy, that dates me!). We had them down pat. We walked to the plate just like they did. We stood like them. We would mimic their routine…the problem was, none of us could play like them! But we wanted to be like them. There is something within our nature that makes us want to be like those we admire and respect. That’s why little boys want to be like their dads, a frightening reality. More then once I’ve cringed as I saw myself reflected in my children’s reactions to things. This desire, to imitate or reflect those we love, is at the heart of the Bible’s call for us to exhibit Christlikeness.
We, as the people of God, are to reflect the mind, the heart and the character of Christ. The apostle Paul expresses it this way to the church at Philippi, Have, this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Most scholars believe Philippians 2:5-11 is an early hymn of the Church extolling the greatness of Christ. Paul urges us to have the “mind of Christ.” Have the heart and attitude of Christ, which is a heart of love, submission, sacrifice and humility. That’s a tall order. That takes me back to my ball-playing days. I might be able to mimic Willie Stargell, but I can’t hit! I can mimic Christ but it’s a faint image. Yet, that is the goal, the aim of the Christian life. By the presence of the Spirit within, we reflect, though imperfectly, the life of Christ. With repeated obedience and submission, we become conformed to the image and likeness of our Savior. A work in progress until we are taken home to glory.
I hope to see you Sunday as we continue our walk through the Gospel of John. This week we will be in John 13:18-35 and consider a call to Christlikeness. I look forward to gathering with you for worship this coming Lord’s Day!
Rod
We, as the people of God, are to reflect the mind, the heart and the character of Christ. The apostle Paul expresses it this way to the church at Philippi, Have, this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Most scholars believe Philippians 2:5-11 is an early hymn of the Church extolling the greatness of Christ. Paul urges us to have the “mind of Christ.” Have the heart and attitude of Christ, which is a heart of love, submission, sacrifice and humility. That’s a tall order. That takes me back to my ball-playing days. I might be able to mimic Willie Stargell, but I can’t hit! I can mimic Christ but it’s a faint image. Yet, that is the goal, the aim of the Christian life. By the presence of the Spirit within, we reflect, though imperfectly, the life of Christ. With repeated obedience and submission, we become conformed to the image and likeness of our Savior. A work in progress until we are taken home to glory.
I hope to see you Sunday as we continue our walk through the Gospel of John. This week we will be in John 13:18-35 and consider a call to Christlikeness. I look forward to gathering with you for worship this coming Lord’s Day!
Rod