Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Let this mind be in you means believers are commanded to have Christ's humble, selfless, servant mind, shown in likemindedness and same love, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests as well as one's own. That mind is defined by His pattern, who though in the form of God and equal with God made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in human likeness, humbled Himself in obedience unto death on the cross, wherefore God highly exalted Him with a name above every name. It is a meek, lowly, pure Spirit free of selfishness and self-glorification, shown in self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' good and in love that gives itself to seek and save the perishing. It is received by every person through conversion and transformation by the Holy Spirit, by surrender of the will and dying to self, and by constantly beholding Christ and studying His life until changed into His image. Having it cures self-seeking and control of others and brings unity, mercy, forbearance and pure speech, and it leads to obeying and working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works to will and do, in blameless life as lights in the world and in self-denying missionary service to the needy, tempted, sick and unentered places.
Verse Words and Context
The command is to have inwardly the same way of thinking that was in Christ Jesus, which is humility, meekness and selflessness expressed in unity and love rather than status-seeking. That likemindedness means being of one accord and of one mind, having the same love flowing from consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, and tender mercy and compassion. It is proved by doing nothing through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than self and looking not only to one's own interests but also to the interests of others. To meet the mind of the Spirit of God in all things is to seek and fulfill this same mind in every movement submitted to self-examination.
That mind is defined by Christ's pattern in the verses that follow: though being in the form of God and equal with God by right, He claimed none of these things for Himself and did not grasp at equality. He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men and found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the ignominious death of the cross. Wherefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. His self-emptying humility and obedience are thus the standard for the believer's attitude toward others.
The exhortation sets a high standard that must not be passed over indifferently but must be guarded strictly, individually and collectively, by all who claim to believe. It belongs to loving as brethren, being pitiful and courteous, showing universal humility and benevolence with self-denial and self-sacrifice in good works, with words sanctified by the Spirit and in accordance with gospel principles, so that the humble-minded, precious in God's sight, shine as blameless lights holding forth the word of life. It is clear instruction of great importance for the present time, especially for leading brethren, to be earnestly heeded, fulfilled and thankfully obeyed, leaving no excuse for walking contrary to God's will. It is to be studied together with the whole second and third chapters of Philippians without disregarding their lessons, and that chapter is needed for the education of all workers and should be brought before the people. It is part of God's complete provision in Scripture to show how to obtain the crown of life and enter the joy of the Lord, calling the sinner to hear mercy and repent, and it belongs to being doers of His words, pure, loyal and true, prepared in the short time remaining before accounts are settled.
Having that mind leads to obedience and to working out one's own salvation with fear and trembling, while God works within both to will and to do of His good pleasure in humble dependence. It requires walking as He walked and working as He worked in constant self-denial and daily reaching out to do others good, being renewed in the spirit of the mind day by day and reaching to the righteousness of Christ through the fullness of grace provided by His merits. It forbids dull, sleepy, indifferent service as unsafe, and requires wrestling in earnest prayer to resist temptation and using bestowed grace to gain a vigorous Christianity. It is expressed in willing obedience and unity, in doing all things without murmurings and disputings, being blameless and harmless as sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world and advancing the gospel into new unentered places.
Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation
Though in the highest place in heaven, in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven in the form of God and equal with God, Christ laid aside glory, riches, honor and supremacy. He voluntarily subjected Himself to the humbling conditions of human life, assumed the responsibilities of a servant, took human nature to save the lost, and humbled Himself in obedience unto death, even the most ignominious, revolting, agonizing death of the cross. That self-denying condescension in behalf of sinners means looking not only to one's own things but also to the things of others, and considering it banishes selfishness and produces gratitude and love with the deep sense of not being one's own, so that such a Master is not to be served from grudging, selfish motives. For humanity's sake He gave up ease, became poor, accepted suffering and humiliation, worked without outward pomp for others, cared for His disciples, shared their poverty, denied Himself for their good, bore their burdens, and gave His life as the price of redemption, even pardoning the dying thief while dying Himself though He was source of all riches and heir of all things. Having this mind is therefore refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity, not retaliating or threatening when insulted or made to suffer but entrusting self to the righteous Judge, dwelling on and speaking of His love and perfection rather than finding fault, and seeking to restore and help people in service to Him.
He humbled Himself lower and lower until there were no lower depths to reach, agonizing and dying the shameful death of the cross for guilty, condemned humanity. This was to make atonement to lift humanity from moral defilement and also to set a pattern for every disciple, minister and layperson alike. Looking to Calvary therefore rebukes self-important ideas, pride of talent and intellect, striving for supremacy, craving for human praise, exaltation, deference and respect, independence, selfish ambition, haughtiness, self-exaltation, selfishness, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, hatred and defilement. Instead followers master self, cleanse the soul temple, open the heart for Jesus to come in, lift the cross and follow Him, hide the life with Christ in God, bear reproach and abuse without retaliation or revenge, and become partakers of the divine nature to escape corruption through lust, humbly adoring Jesus and never exalting self. Pride cannot exist in hearts hid with Christ, and those who do not learn His meekness and lowliness for benefiting others will find no place in the kingdom of God and risk His having died in vain for them.
His humility was not a low estimate of His character, abilities or worth, but coming down to fallen humanity to lift people to a higher life. Though sinless He joined His divinity to fallen human nature, honoring what humanity can become through God's provision and participation in the divine nature. He adapted Himself to the fallen condition, lived among the poor and overlooked, shared human experience, became poor, humbled Himself and obeyed even to death on the cross, giving an example of service, self-denial and missionary work without display. His kingdom is therefore not ruled by striving for the highest position, and true disciples meet people where they are to help raise them up rather than competing for status, rank or outward appearance. Pride must be subdued and the heart made tender by His Spirit so His character can be formed within, for heaven honors not wealth, status, authority or titles but those who follow Christ and make their duties honorable through character and grace.
The verse reveals the mystery of godliness, God made flesh: He who was truly God and in the form of God did not count equality with God as robbery but emptied Himself, took the form of a servant made in the likeness of men. He is the divine Creator by whom all things were made and hold together and in whom all fullness dwells, revealing God's benevolence, mercy, long forbearance and example of perfect obedience. Because of that humiliation God highly exalted Him above all with supreme authority, so that every being in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. This truth holds new views and hidden treasures found by diligent searching, taxing the intellect, giving strength to mental ability, and what can be learned from it is never exhausted; having His mind is humility, obedient self-sacrifice and conformity to God's will after His perfect pattern, cheerfully obeying the Father as heaven enshrined in humanity. Those who fashion life and family by that pattern, count salvation bought at such cost too great to treat lightly, work it out daily without haphazard work, humble self under God's hand rather than seek self-exaltation, and sit meekly at His feet will be exalted by God in due time to stand beside Him with the crown of immortal glory.
Incarnation Veiling Divinity
Christ laid aside royal glory, robe, crown, riches and kingly dignity and took the form of a servant in human likeness. He veiled His divinity with humanity but did not surrender it, retaining it while becoming human. He veiled His glory because sinful people could not bear to behold it unveiled. He came as a divine-human Savior to stand at the head of fallen humanity, that humanity might touch humanity and divinity lay hold upon divinity. He shared the fallen race's experience from childhood to manhood and lived in perfect obedience even to death on the cross. That willingness to enter a disheartening field and endure indignity from those He came to save shows the mind believers are to arm themselves with in seeking the lost sheep to bring the wanderer from sin to the heavenly fold.
That condescension was to raise degraded humanity so that people might become partakers of the divine nature. Though He occupied the highest position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as Majesty in the form of God and equal with God, He voluntarily subjected Himself to the humbling conditions of human life and assumed the responsibilities of a servant in obedience unto the most ignominious, revolting and agonizing death of the cross. His incarnation and sacrifice reveal humanity's great value to God and the price paid to redeem people. Reverently contemplating these truths softens, purifies and ennobles the heart and gives the mind new strength and vigor. Considering that amazing sacrifice banishes selfishness from the heart and produces gratitude and love with the deep sense of not being one's own, so that such a Master must not be served from grudging, selfish motives. United to Him by faith, believing and receiving Him, believers become part of Him, reflect God's image, reveal His glory and cooperate with Him in redemption and suffering until His character is fully represented in His chosen people.
In humbling Himself He made atonement for the fallen race, giving Himself to save guilty people who could not save themselves. Though source of all riches and heir of all things, He gave up all He possessed for sinners, and even while dying on the cross He pardoned the dying thief. His meek and holy bearing of human sin opened the plan of salvation so that whoever believes may have everlasting life, and as beholders love Him they are changed into His image. Holiness is the fruit of that sacrifice and is promised because He died, and He longs to bestow it to make believers sharers in His own nature and to save those who by sin have separated themselves from God. They are called to choose His service, give themselves wholly into His control, learn meekness and lowliness, and learn how to do God's will. Because of that humiliation God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, so that every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The mind to be in believers must be studied day by day from inspired words as the lesson book for traveling heavenward, for as representative of the human race He became Redeemer and Restorer in contrast to Satan the destroyer. His great humiliation is to fill the mind by contemplating His divine character and His majesty and glory as the Highest and how He laid these aside and clothed His divinity with humanity, a self-denial and self-sacrifice that was the marvel of angels. This cures merely hearing the voice of man in preaching and going home with souls empty and unnourished and sitting in judgment on the sermon as a human effort. It calls instead for listening to the voice of God and bringing truth into the life so it has lasting effect. Remembering the depth of His humiliation teaches believers to be subject to one another, to love others and value souls for whom He died, and to deny self in efforts to save the perishing.
Nature of Christlike Mind
The mind to be in believers is the Spirit of Christ, which is meek and lowly, pure and undefiled, wholly free from selfishness, self-pleasing, self-conceit, self-glorification and pride. It shows itself in meekness, lowliness, humility, simplicity, gentleness, patience, teachableness, courtesy, devotion and consecration to God, in quiet unassuming manners, in gentle peaceful courteous conduct free from hasty words, rude actions, combativeness, firm self-assertion and self-esteem. Having this Spirit proves belonging to Christ, as branches of the living Vine bear the parent stalk's fruit, producing unity and peace instead of difference and strife, and it means walking in the same spirit and steps as Jesus, who humbled Himself for humanity that believers might be exalted as sons and daughters of God and find rest of soul. Young and aged alike are to show it, the aged growing mellow in disposition, for divine grace can sanctify character and soften stern traits. It makes labor acceptable to God and useful to His cause, finds a place in the hearts of His people, clothes with genuine not assumed dignity, brings His blessing and care, and seeks to excel not by belittling others' labors but in good works, following Him who though Majesty of heaven became a servant, did not avoid weariness, and traveled on foot teaching by the wayside. It appears in constant works of mercy and shedding light on others' pathway without calling attention to personal virtue, self-denial, self-sacrifice or benevolence, seeking neither gain nor honor, performing even wonderful healings as quietly as possible and walking lowly. This lowliness stands in direct contrast to religion of display — praying publicly, doing charity for effect, trumpeting good deeds, claiming to be without sin — and those who measure piety by display reject it as worthless and reject Christ because of it. One may be correct on many points of truth yet lack this mind, and until converted and self dies he cannot bless any church, but sees faults in others, questions those who disagree, excuses those who agree, uses truth to quarrel and boast, and turns souls away so that his light is called darkness; when he sees himself as he is, corrects defects of character, dies to self and becomes teachable, he can let his light shine in good works that lead others to glorify the Father in heaven.
That mind is self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' good. He left the royal courts of heaven, stepped down from His throne, laid aside kingly crown, royal robe, glory and supremacy, clothed divinity with humanity, submitted to poverty and a death of shame to save a sinful race, becoming poor that through His poverty people might be made rich. He did this not that people might lead a life of worldly pleasure and extravagance but that they might follow His example of self-denial for others, to seek and save the perishing and exemplify disinterested benevolence. His incarnation was an act of self-sacrifice and His life one of continual self-denial, manifesting the highest glory of God's love in the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son who is the express image of His person. Having this mind is both privilege and duty, and without self-denial and cross-bearing no one can be His disciple. That same mind must be in His workers, binding about their wants, living on the self-denial plan, giving all talents to God to be improved according to God's way and not their own ideas, working together with God in soul-saving with power and efficiency for the largest returns, never refusing to deny self for His sake, with the lesson learned in experience and not set aside for personal ideas and plans.
It is love that gives itself. Christ took human nature, joining divine power with human weakness, and humbled Himself to lift humanity and share His blessings, honor and glory with believers. He who fills all heaven with splendor and is worshiped by the heavenly host came to earth as man that people might be exalted to share His glory, and having the same mind means sacrificing self so others may be lifted up. He found joy in toil and suffering for others, and His followers find true happiness by following His example and living to do good to others. Christians reflect His image by denying self and sacrificing for one another, for without surrendering self they cannot love as He loved. He took human nature to display God's glory through human happiness and gave His life for that purpose, and believers share in what He is and has, becoming heirs of God and joint-heirs with Him, called to cooperate in His saving work and make sacrifices to relieve those in need.
Without this mind those claiming to be Christians are not Christians in character but misrepresent Christ and the truth, remain unconverted despite reputation, and cannot work with Him to draw people to Him. Mere profession deceives the soul, destroys truth by an unbelieving unsanctified life, and leaves its holder in hypocrisy, a constant denial of Christ rather than a confessing of Him, a cause of stumbling to others, keeping a selfish disobedient worldly spirit, doing half-and-half work and serving Mammon while the name is on the church books, unprepared to close earthly history and without God and without hope like the common sinner. Claiming to have advanced in Christian life is contradicted when conversation, influence and conduct do not reflect that mind. Having it molds character after the divine likeness and puts love and tenderness in the soul. It belongs to being doers of Christ's words, pure loyal and true to the highest interests, serving God with undivided affections, enthroning God in the heart while dethroning and expelling Satan, constantly looking to Christ and contemplating His character, loving the holy principles of God's law from the heart so that "I am a Christian" is the language of the heart, and thus being prepared in the short time remaining before accounts are settled for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Christ Himself, though divine and equal with God, humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, became human and obeyed even to death on the cross, and is now confessed as Lord to the glory of God the Father, and His humility and self-giving love are the pattern for believers and the essential subject of preaching and contemplation. He was wholly free of selfishness and did not live to please or glorify Himself, but lived to glorify God and save fallen humanity, giving up ease, honor, riches and supremacy, becoming poor, accepting suffering and humiliation and enduring death to save, so His life is the perfect pattern to study and imitate. Other Christians' failures should turn believers toward the Savior and strengthen resolve to become like Him, not lead them to copy those failures or dwell on them, for studying Christ rather than copying failings enables believers to resist temptations that would make them act inconsistently with His character. Following His example means dwelling on and speaking of His love and perfection rather than finding fault with others, and seeking to restore and help people. Having His mind is looking at His life, studying His character and copying His pattern, for what He was in perfect humanity believers must be, forming characters for eternity, and as co-workers with Christ this includes sharing with Him in His suffering, with the light of truth shining in this important period leaving no excuse for a low standard. It is living as Jesus lived not to please Himself, walking as He walked and working as He worked, and it must be carefully and prayerfully considered and put into active practice, confronting love of self-indulgence with the requirement to follow Him, and when obeyed it produces great reformation with righteousness and truth restored.
Receiving Mind by Faith
Philippians 2:5 is God's invitation for every person to receive the mind of Christ by conversion and transformation, acknowledging no standard but the perfection of God's mind and will and requiring conformity to His will. Everyone who receives Christ as personal Saviour is privileged to possess all His righteous attributes, with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, the inward person renewed day by day even while the outward perishes, and the whole being including even the thoughts brought into captivity to Christ. This learning of humility, self-denial, service and obedience rather than strife, vanity or self-interest comes through the Holy Spirit, since human goodness and righteousness do not arise from human effort alone. No one is to submerge his mind in the mind of a fellow mortal or imitate any merely human model, even one nearly perfect, for defective human beings cannot impart perfection, but each is to look to the divine Example with individual faith and individual experience. Christ graciously adapted His life for universal imitation, uniting wealth and poverty, majesty and abasement, unlimited power with meekness and lowliness to be reflected in every soul who receives Him, so that through His merits and power fallen humanity can be lifted from depravity, purified, made holy in its sphere as the Father is holy, reflect the image of Jesus, and become a living witness of what men and women may become through grace.
Receiving that mind requires thorough repentance, conversion and change of character, for a dedicated place of worship cannot substitute for cleansed hearts and God does not acknowledge people as His children without hearty repentance, confession of wrongs toward brethren and sisters, and shame before God for an unrighteous course. Pride and self-sufficiency must be put aside and crucified, personal ideas and policies given up, self emptied and self dying, and the will brought into full agreement and harmony with God's will. When people present themselves emptied of self, God supplies the place with the Holy Spirit and gives them of His fullness, for self cannot be retained and be filled with God, and this surrender ending the struggle of flesh against Spirit makes the person free indeed so he cannot be brought into servile bondage to sin. This abiding in Christ uproots self and belongs to overcoming and being among the worthy overcomers, requiring constant vigilant watch over mind and heart, no longer thinking own thoughts or doing own actions. When Christ dwells in the heart, love, tenderness and compassion replace evil speaking, bitterness and strife, producing reverence, order, unity and a humble loving spirit that puts others before self.
That mind comes by keeping the divine picture of Christ constantly lifted up before the people and studied in His life, lessons and perfection of character, contemplating the Redeemer until changed into His image. The Christ to be beheld reflects no shadows, is clothed in the attributes and glories of Deity, is in the likeness of the infinite God, and meekly and holily bore human sins to open the plan of salvation so that whoever believes may have everlasting life. The more the eye looks upon Him, the more creature merit sinks into insignificance and the more sinful and abhorrent sin appears, while beholding draws admiration, attraction, charm and desire to be like Jesus until assimilation to His image and having His mind. To receive Jesus as He is — full of compassion, amiable, courteous, divinely polite, full of goodness and mercy and forgiveness of sins — and to behold Him transforms into His image in gratitude and heavenly love, producing ever-increasing confidence, hope, patience and courage, living connection with God, humble grateful confidence as an abiding principle, and contemplation of His character who first loved us that sweeps unbelieving fears away before living trusting faith. To have that mind is to walk with God like Enoch, with the mind full of thoughts of Jesus as best Friend, growing into likeness with identity hid with Christ in God as a partaker of the divine nature escaped from corruption through lust.
It is gained and kept by earnest wrestling prayer with God to resist temptation, by watching every action so nothing harms Christian experience, by beholding the true standard of character and seeking self-mastery by constant prayer and faith. It requires reading the Scriptures attentively to get their full meaning and doing what is written, not being discouraged by failure but asking forgiveness and trying again, so that by using the grace bestowed a vigorous Christianity is gained and dull, sleepy, indifferent service is left behind. In this way the peace and joy and fragrance of Christ are brought into daily thoughts and practical life, making a new creature whose heart, purpose and will are bound up with Christ to do good and only good. The humble, meek, lowly mind ever cherishing the simplicity of Christ with self hid in Christ, which gives fitness for God's great work, is to be sought from God in prayer day and night with constant prayer, preparing believers to expect and endure the same cruel treatment He received as partakers of His sufferings without surprise when offenses come. Everyone must labor with earnestness and dependence on God to keep the mind in the right channel so the mind of Jesus becomes their own, opening the heart to the light of the Sun of Righteousness so it enters and shines through the whole heart.
Having the mind that was in Christ is not forced by God but must be individually decided by falling on the Rock and being broken, by opening the proud heart to the Spirit of God, by having intellectual ability sanctified to the service of God, and by being under the transforming power of God with the mind renewed by the Holy Spirit. It comes by drinking in the Spirit of God, which gives understanding of the character of sacrificial mission and work God gives to do and knowledge of Christ as the Burden-bearer who carries workers in that appointed work. It means living by faith, resting on God's promises and receiving the fullness of Christ, whose promised presence sustains this life of faith. It means daily seeking to have the mind of Christ in order to do His will in word and work, thus fulfilling the purpose of the eternal God and cooperating with Him in every measure He desires to carry out as His helping hand while living in this world.
Conversion changes character as a person enters personal relationship with Christ and receives His mind, turning from hereditary and cultivated tendencies and from the former mind to come under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit. It requires educating oneself to believe all of God's Word as wonderfully and gloriously fulfilled, so personal doubts vanish before true discernment and the doubts of others are dispelled through assurance of faith. For ministers and all workers it requires a deep work of the Holy Spirit and sanctification through the truth, giving up all selfishness to secure eternal life and bring the Spirit into life practice, showing the principles that governed His life in true humility of soul, meekness and lowliness instead of the sinner's character, and partaking of the self-denial and self-sacrifice that marked the Saviour's life as partakers of the divine nature. Mind and body powers are then held in subjection to Christ as a precious trust to be used in His service so souls are impressed by the truths taught. The verse requires taking Christ's mind by leaving self out and living by faith rather than relying on what can be seen.
Unity Humility Toward Others
Having the same mind cures the rising of self that tries to make other minds travel in the same lines with one's own opinions and ideas. It forbids carrying out one's own ideas and plans without interruption, forbids holding one's own course, words and reasoning as right without need of modification, and requires submitting every movement to strict self-examination and comparing every principle of action with the principles of God's Word. It requires counseling and working together in unity because in unity there is strength, rejecting selfishness and higher regard for one's own plans, opinions and work, refusing to act independently, and serving in oneness as Christ is one with the Father. That mind must be trained to think Christ's thoughts and enlightened to understand God's will and way rather than personal will, so that followers learn Christ's methods of work, let Christ shape their thinking, subdue self and walk humbly, especially those in responsibility lest they lower the spiritual standard.
It puts away the desire to control others, with strong traits that lead to such control subdued by grace so workers serve freely and in harmony with brethren. It gives up jealousy, cruel purposes, harshness and the urge to rule over others, and instead sets a righteous example through loving, tender care, with that change beginning at home in how a husband treats his wife and a parent treats children, where authority over God's people is exercised as faithful, tender shepherding and not domination. Where this mind and love rule, selfishness, suspicion, self-importance and arbitrary authority give way to peace and a changed spiritual atmosphere. Bringing heart and mind into conformity to it is the opposite of a spirit of rulership that restricts religious liberty and retards conversion, requiring following given light and not bracing against reproof, since resisting light makes conformity harder and continuing in rulership unfits one to deal with sacred spiritual interests.
It is shown in likemindedness, same love, one accord and one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, in lowliness esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests as well as one's own. It appears in bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing and forgiving as Christ forgave, putting on charity as the bond of perfectness, letting God's peace rule in the heart, being thankful, and letting Christ's word dwell richly in wisdom with teaching, admonishing and singing with grace in the heart. Received as heavenly truth into a wholly yielded heart cultivating heavenly affections, it deepens love, gives joyful communion with God and intense interest in others, and makes one tender, courteous, sympathetic, kind, forbearing and forgiving, never coarse, rough, hard-hearted, revengeful or bitter, free to express tenderness, sympathy and praise instead of cold reproof, affectionate in family and faithful in friendship with neither evil speaking nor evil thinking, making the earthly home a type of the heavenly home. It makes one better in every relationship and duty, incompatible with unkindness, churlish or overbearing disposition, murmuring, complaining and fretful passion, and it works together with God for peace by praying for the Spirit's molding influence, governing lips by kindness, refusing sour discourtesy, and staying true to profession, with angels hovering round.
It turns from strife and bitterness to put others before self with love, tenderness and compassion replacing evil speaking and bitterness, which requires thorough repentance, conversion and change of character with confession of wrongs toward brethren and shame before God, since no dedicated house can substitute for cleansed hearts and order in the church. With this grace abiding, believers practice His lessons, value His mercy and love, and become peacemakers dealing with faults directly and privately rather than spreading discord. It meets disagreement calmly with self-control, kindness and courtesy, ruling out harsh speech, treating self as infallible, looking down on those who differ, and answering them as enemies with ridicule or jokes. It obeys every word of God and does justice to all, treating fellow workers with respect and kindness, bringing every word and thought into captivity, allowing no selfish, guileful, harsh or unbecoming speech, enduring wrong patiently without retaliation even under unjust and unreasonable trust, as Christ did no sin, spoke no guile, reviled not when reviled and threatened not when suffering. Learned under His yoke by denying self, lifting the cross, giving up wrong habits, disciplining self and parting with evil thinking and evil speaking, it makes words sweet and pure so they no longer wound souls, dishonor Christ with unhappy differences, or give the enemy place through divisive speech that keeps the church weak.
It represents Jesus in every circumstance by loving those who err with concern rather than neglect or contempt, remaining true to principle without revenge or retaliation, sacrificing hurt feelings and subduing self for their sake, contrary to self-love, self-righteousness and self-complacency. In correcting wrongdoing it patiently maintains a high standard, rebukes sin firmly and gives it no approval while keeping hope alive for the wrongdoer. Even when harmed, it treats erring brethren with love, mercy, tenderness and humility rather than coldness, caring for their souls, and when one has done wrong it corrects carefully, firmly and decisively in the Spirit of Jesus without selfish or improper feeling or word, while the wrongdoer owes humble confession to those oppressed. It promotes unity, confidence and love, heals old wounds, refrains from accusation, suspicion and harsh speech, and becomes an advocate for the erring as Christ is the living Intercessor.
It means thinking as Christ thinks, looking not to selfish interest but to others' interests and needs, taking Christ alone as example rather than erring men even when ministers. It forbids using brethren for personal profit through trafficking, trading and gathering unearned means, taking support from those who deprive themselves of comforts and necessaries, receiving from the less comfortable without sympathy, compassion or inquiry whether they can afford to help, and excusing such conduct because others do the same. Obedience requires a transformed life free from covetousness and avarice, content with what one has, refusing to seek one's own wealth, ready to help rather than be helped, representing Christ as laborers together with God who help the tempted, weed harsh condemning words from conversation, refuse to sow doubt, learn His methods, believe the Word and live in full assurance without doubting brethren. It rejects a demanding spirit over property and business shares that destroys the soul over not receiving its share, trusting the Lord who knows the trouble to set things in order, recognizing that a demanding heart misuses any share and wrongs self and others.
It brings humble views of self and desire for true goodness rather than greatness, leading believers to work for the church's purity and well-being and to give up personal interests and desires rather than cause division. As His glory and excellence are seen more clearly, one is brought low, freed from pride and self-exaltation, willing to regard even the lowest place in His service as honorable, dying to self, resisting praise and trust in human talent, and cherishing humble childlike faith relying on God as strength. Turning from self-importance and worldly success to humility rules out flattery, promotion-seeking, trust in finite ability and idolizing of talent, since measuring by merely human standards overestimates self and brings spiritual blindness and weakness. Viewing self humbly puts the church's purity and well-being ahead of personal interests even at sacrifice to prevent division.
Where Christ formed within is practiced in His words, it shows itself in living in harmony on earth in kindness, love, courtesy and delicate regard toward one another instead of satisfaction with one's own ways and complaining of brethren. Holding to peculiar ways and feeling justified in complaining proves His mind absent. Without this mind none will reach heaven, for those who cannot live in harmony now could not live through eternity in love and peace. Having His mind means the heart in sympathy with His mind and purposes, evidencing His abiding in the soul with sensitivity to sin, tender conscience and growing sense of His preciousness.
Self-Denying Missionary Service
Having Christ's mind means workers go into new unentered places where the gospel has not been proclaimed and work as He worked, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests, doing all things without murmurings and disputings as blameless lights in a crooked nation, following His self-emptying who though in the form of God and equal with God made Himself of no reputation, took servant form in human likeness, humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross for which God highly exalted Him with a name above every name. That same mind sends missionaries into difficult, disheartening fields to serve the lost as He did, accepting hardship and indignity to bring people back to God. To save men and women He descended to the lowest depths of humiliation yet untainted by sin to uplift the fallen, allowing no reproach or hardship to turn Him aside, so His true missionaries are willing to work in the hardest places if souls can be reached. His example calls laborers to leave the most desirable places and live close to the needy even in humble homes and difficult settings, joining divinity to humanity so humanity can touch humanity while divinity lays hold on God's throne. It is willingness to enter a disheartening field rather than draw back, to seek the one lost sheep from the wilderness of sin to the heavenly fold and endure every indignity from those He came to save, risking reputation and enduring a hundredfold more mortification than man could bring to place salvation within every soul's reach. That mind overcomes natural faults that would master the soul, endures the daily battle costing mortification and perhaps reputation, and willingly partakes of shame and reproach to become a stepping-stone lifting fellow men weak in moral power, a willingness every soul will be tested to prove.
Its special work is helping those fallen under temptation, especially men weakened in moral power by liquor, tobacco and stimulants to their own and their families' ruin, with the strong supporting the weak by all possible help, encouraging faith, strengthening every good trait, and remembering the ransom paid must not be of no account. The man is for the time under demonic power and past Satan's control, so helpers are to befriend him when sober without blame, help him rise, and awaken the sense that it is not too late to be a man because Christ died for that soul. Even when the addicted person refuses help or returns to the same destructive pattern, Christians keep trying to awaken and restore him, treating him as friend not condemning him when sober. Christlike love turns from self, uses abilities to save others, asks daily wisdom for dealing with those in Satan's snares, and wins back the erring remembering God loves them despite sin and gave His Son for everlasting life.
Laying aside glory, dominion and riches to seek the perishing in sin and humble Himself to human necessity to exalt people to heaven, He gave the perfect holy pattern of sacrifice, self-denial and disinterested benevolence to be known and imitated in character and works especially by ministers, which cannot be equaled yet must be copied according to ability given, with love for souls leading to denial of self and any sacrifice to co-work with Christ. That life of continual sacrifice for others' good means in missionary work sowing truth carefully, earnestly, patiently and without selfishness, weariness or discouragement, trusting God to quicken seed lying dormant until grace convicts the heart and brings fruit to His glory as co-workers with Christ and angels. Followers imitate His toiling, self-denying, doing-good life by serving humbly and faithfully in small or great work without seeking praise, out of love and gratitude.
Having this self-denying mind requires restraining every extravagance and refusing to spend God's money needlessly while His cause suffers, refusing to live by the world's selfish ideas, laboring untiringly and self-sacrificingly for bodies and souls as He did in human guise after leaving high heavenly command. His laying aside heavenly glory to come in human form to serve and suffer calls for sacrifice and economy in gospel and health work, avoiding extravagant display or outlay. This mind is remembered when tempted to spend for nicknacks, finery and extravagance, binding tastes, appetites and inclinations, practicing economy, teaching children self-denial and self-control by precept and example, avoiding needless spending on clothing, food and furnishings so more supports missions. It shows itself in liberal hearts opening hands to give freely and costly offerings to keep missionaries in the field and advance work in destitute fields, trusting God who holds all resources and knowing generous giving never impoverishes the church, evidencing transforming power that cleanses selfishness and keeps God's people distinct under higher Authority as co-operators with Christ, since all possessions are the Lord's lent property never to be neglected in helping.
It governs wages and means by self-denial and true missionary work rather than selfish grasping for higher wages, accepting differing hardships, acting harmoniously, taking Christ's yoke in constant readiness to deny self and living in purity contrasting worldly selfishness, satisfied with simple wants instead of spending needlessly for what a sanctified heart would not desire. Workers must not set high price on labors nor desire higher and still higher wages, for that spoils spirituality and misrepresents Christ's self-denial, and those in responsibility including physicians and institutional leaders must set self-denying example from the very beginning so lower-paid associates feel not wronged, keeping Christ's example before brethren as a missionary people supporting many laborers. Everyone from highest to lowest in God's publishing work must work on this principle with self-denial characterizing all, leaders maintaining the spirit that brought the work into existence, and those without missionary spirit should not continue, for public confidence must be retained or work fails. Salaries are to reject worldly standards and act responsibly so example agrees with gospel taught.
Having Christ's mind shares His concern for the whole saving work without drawing territorial lines, recognizing unworked parts of the vineyard and never refusing another field on plea one's own interests need all means, but with noble helpful spirit using the Lord's money where most needed. It includes His sympathy for the sick and suffering, for He went place to place healing, so medical missionary work cannot be separated from the gospel, and those closely connected with Him as disciples may be channels of God's healing. That mind attends to every case calling for sympathy physically and spiritually, learned through practical lines like teaching cooking and treating the sick, practicing truth as in Jesus with heart softened by holy principles, while Christ as Teacher and Physician co-operates to give bodily health and soul restoration, giving sanctified understanding with clarity and force for medical missionary work pleasing to God, loving God wholly and sharing Christ's humiliation bound to the atonement. Workers treat patients with kindness, tenderness and gentleness sharing His sympathy for needs and sorrows, with His life from manger to cross as pattern forming right feelings for showing His Spirit in care.
Medical workers need this mind beyond education as righteousness and sanctification, being emptied of self till no fiber of selfish root remains, with Christ as honored guest filling the vacuum producing faith, love and unselfish interest for perishing souls as leavening influence through living connection with God. Remembering souls purchased with His blood with eternal realities in view, they think no more of charging exorbitant prices after worldly custom than of betraying the Lord, working not as mere businessmen but as Christian physicians taking only what is honestly due with eye single to God's glory and first thought how to show truth's power regardless of cost to self. When self is surrendered and Christ fills the heart selfishness has no place, service is shaped by His unselfish concern for the lost, serving for God's glory not gain. Physicians must give up own ideas and plans injuring God's work, refuse display of expensive house and surroundings to appear successful and popular, unlearn self-exaltation and gain altogether different experience in word and deed before truly acknowledged as medical missionaries by the Great Physician. This mind is earnest devotion, purity, love and willingness to sacrifice for God's glory and salvation, serving from committed heart not for wages or honor, treating fellow workers with love and unity rather than envy, jealousy or rivalry, the spirit in actions revealing connection with Christ.
It governs outward appearance in plain dress conforming to light given, refusing rich costly dress for simple clothing, so those carrying truth where never represented do not contradict it by looks, and those lacking this harmony are not ready for missionary work. It calls worshipers to deny self, part with idols, economize in every line, keep a box in each house for the church fund and bring self-denying gifts to keep God's house orderly and comfortable rather than robbing the treasury appointed to sustain field ministers, except where deepest poverty leaves no other way to secure humblest worship place. Money saved or gained by plainness is put into God's treasury to advance missions and meet urgent needs, making givers truly richer by hundreds and thousands and millions, proving faithful to be trusted with more as they keep letting it out, escaping many worldly losses.
Christ's servants with His mind act promptly for the oppressed, fearing God, discerning right from wrong, restraining wrong, feeling pity and sympathy and relieving suffering at once without contempt, delay, ambition or arbitrary power, while lacking it leaves one hard-hearted caring only for reputation and forcing the needy to plead in vain. It rejects injustice and cruelty degrading those Christ redeemed, humbly helping and blessing the oppressed, tempted, poor and afflicted with tenderness rather than harsh words crushing wounded spirits or extinguishing hope. A humble contrite heart feeling another's suffering reflects His character wrought by the Spirit so duty to the needy is not evaded, strengthening the fainthearted and bringing truth and justice without discouragement instead of turning away or hardening the heart toward the poor, afflicted, tempted and wounded.
He came from heaven in the great salvation plan to exemplify self-denying self-sacrificing love for fallen humanity, and though God needs no human gifts, after His ascension He left His work to believers to carry to perfection by practicing His virtues and disinterested benevolence, showing love for souls through generous giving and influence.
Transformed Character Daily Life
Becoming Christlike means pride gives way to humility, sin is hated as what depraves and crucified Christ, self is seen more clearly in weakness and deep sinfulness, dependence on Him is learned in every temptation, and clearer sight of His glory and love in giving His life brings lowliness, removes self-exaltation, makes even the lowest place honorable, and awakens desire to help others know the Saviour in faithful loving service. It shapes private and public conduct in a life devoted without reserve to God with integrity, refusing self-pleasing and persevering through difficulty, shining steadily to prepare self and others for future life, daily seeking to do His will in word and work to fulfill God's purpose and cooperate as His helping hand, putting on Christ and leaving self out by faith beyond sight, a need belonging to ministers as much as to the ignorant. Those entering heaven must be like Jesus, bear His image and have His mind, imitating His example and living as He lived with goodness in selfless service to suffering people, for His incarnation and continual self-denial manifest God's love in the only-begotten Son as express image of His person, and having this self-denying, self-sacrificing mind is both privilege and duty, without which none can be His disciple or be purified for the royal family and eternal life. Day by day one discovers unlikeness to Jesus and needs His fashioning hand to reflect His lovely image, longing for His meek lowly character, learning from Christ, revealing His spirit and following His methods while the Spirit transforms, with converted thoughts instead of disharmony and criticism, wearing His yoke, accepting counsel, welcoming Him within, walking His path, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but esteeming others better and seeking their interests, fixed on the heart-searching God in holy awe and trust, giving all in balanced obedience, growing by faith working by love to full stature complete in Christ, hid with Him in God in full assurance, triumphant, swallowed in divine love and strong in God.
It brings comfort and strength in sleeplessness and suffering, happiness, trust, peace and cheerfulness reflecting His light, His righteousness dispelling gloom, and it arms and prepares believers by constant prayer to expect and endure insult, misjudgment and cruel treatment as He received, partaking His sufferings without surprise. It means dependence on God rather than self-confidence or leaning on people, human judgment or fallible institutions, shown in humility, full trust in the Lord as Ruler, meekness of spirit, less talking and much more praying, caution in plans and movements, seeking counsel and looking to Jesus, so divine power joins human effort and the work abides the test, makes strong instead of weak and uncertain, and fits sacred responsibilities, without which God's people repeat Israel's follies in Samuel's day. It is patience, forbearance, self-control and calm endurance under variance, affliction, rejection, shameful abuse and despiteful treatment without passion, violence, retaliation, murmuring, discontent, resentment or fretting, but returning only compassion, pity and love with quiet dignity, unelated by applause, unafraid of threats, above human passion yet touched by woe, with serene inward calm and will swallowed in the Father's will, since another's wrong never excuses wrong, victory coming by overcoming as Christ overcame who did no sin, spoke no guile, reviled not and threatened not. It makes one better in every relationship and duty, incompatible with unkindness, churlish overbearing disposition, murmuring and fretful passion, but tender, courteous, sympathetic, kind, forbearing and forgiving, never coarse, rough, hard-hearted, revengeful or bitter, free to express tenderness and praise instead of cold reproof, with no evil speaking or thinking, shown in affectionate parents, loving children, faithful friends and agreeable associates, making home a type of heaven by abiding love, deepening love, joyful communion with God and intense interest in others, received by heavenly truth in the heart, whole yielding and heavenly affections.
Husbands must have this mind in purity, nobility and elevated spirit, not using Scripture to enforce the wife's subjection but studying in light of the cross to be purified, refined, overcoming wicked passions and fit to be lord of the household, symbolizing Christ's love to the church, doing things making for peace in courtesy and holy tender affection, comforting and encouraging wives and children in sorrow, supporting health and courage, keeping minds peaceful, elevated and uplifted to perfection, opposite to domineering narrow Nabal-like spirit provoking to wrath, and when lived out making married life a representation of heaven. In marriage and all service it means not seeking perfection in each other but bearing patiently, uniting interests, loving and working together, looking to Jesus in the patient race to the crown of life, giving soul, body and spirit to God without reserve, turning from self to Jesus and others' souls, being unselfish, self-forgetful, putting others' pleasure and comfort first, tender and thoughtful, doing distasteful domestic duties and deeds of kindness, hiding in Jesus in love and obedience, uncomplaining, cheerful, grateful, in steady self-discipline which is wholeness and true sanctification. Teachers must have it by giving much thought to God instead of seldom reaching to Him, acting as shepherds watching for souls as giving account, fashioning minds and characters beyond book knowledge, learning in Christ's school from the divine Instructor, letting His character shape practical life and teaching by continually considering His excellence, keeping spirit and thoughts in subjection to Jesus, practicing subjection and patience lest faults pass to pupils, requiring care in choosing shapers of youth, becoming kind, attentive, courteous examples through the Spirit that gradually influence students. It is the faith of Jesus in the soul-saving third angel's message to the world, with commandments and faith given equal force and power, no longer leaving faith casually understood while dwelling mostly on commandments, but comprehended, talked, lived, prayed and educated into home life and character.
It means standing faithfully for the gospel and defending Bible truth without giving enemies occasion to triumph, holding fast right principles and integrity under temptation in Christ as Pattern, cherishing His humility and meekness instead of pride, vanity and display, rejecting bribes of high wages and coveting money for self-exaltation that sacrifices His life-principles, for where that mind is absent truth has no sanctifying power, the soul lifts to vanity and traders of principle for earthly treasure lose heavenly treasure to shame unless they repent. It requires separation from worldly fashions and practices by a renewed mind, transformed rather than shaped by the world, for friendship with the world is hostility to God and those not valuing heavenly inheritance enough to separate share the world's fate, meaning Christlikeness in humility and simplicity as Commander of heaven come poor and staying humble, forbidding worldly ideas, patterning appearance and methods after the world for favor with higher classes, or copying worldly-wise customs, since outward show gives no true influence but only weakness, power lying in truth itself not display, and enabling walk with God uncontaminated like Enoch in corrupt age. It means working in His ways rather than self-centered ideas for advantage, armed with His mind to look from seen temporal things to unseen eternal things, fixing mind on heavenly things and eternal weight of glory in thought and talk, curing spiritual infancy, doubt, discouragement and stumbling over trifles, working out salvation with fear and trembling, keeping fervor by remembering heaven to gain and hell to shun as pilgrims soon laying armor at the Redeemer's feet, cooperating with God's will instead of hindering, and carrying on without discouragement when no results appear. God's promises are given so believers may have this mind and be partakers of divine nature, not merely to obtain gifts, making one firm in principle, steadfast in faith, unswerving in truth, virtue and loyalty, cultivating Christlike character ennobling every rank for acknowledgment as fellow workers, with Jesus abiding filling the heart with holy graces visible in transformed countenance as law is written on the heart and obeyed.
It properly represents God's character so His will is done on earth as in heaven, making one holy, fruitful, abounding in every good work, unwearied in well-doing, turning hope from earthly promotion to exaltation to Christ's throne and kingdom prepared from the foundation, like Christ in aspiration, meekness, lowliness and fragrance by wearing His yoke, united in ascribing praise to God supreme, pressing lifelong upward to perfection and conformity until complete in Him, which requires a clean soul temple washed in the open fountain, heaven's attractions brought to mind, responsibility for every ray of light, and refusing a low standard for the high standard of Calvary. It must shape business conduct, unlike hurried, stormy, faultfinding behavior or joking nonsense treating sacred things as common, which personal way never excuses nor glorifies God, and shape teaching in clear simple ways as He taught so common people gladly heard, studying His lessons and valuing simplicity rather than theatrical methods to please taste. Leaders and ministers must earnestly learn it instead of filling the mind with fine theories made to look great, idolizing few ideas injuring influence, or picking detached paragraphs to build positions without God's leading to please the enemy, but subdue self, walk humbly, let Christ shape thinking, train mind to think His thoughts and understand God's will and methods, seek wisdom from God as fountainhead rather than human mediators, for a leader not humbly following lowers the standard and harms the cause. It forbids a spirit of rulership restricting religious liberty and retarding conversion and post-meeting work, requiring bringing heart and mind into conformity, following given light and not bracing against reproof, for resisting light hardens conformity, and continuing in rulership leaves one unfit for sacred spiritual interests, since man's mind must not rule where God belongs but Christ's mind must be in man acting as Christ would in whatever exalted position, Christlike in every stroke, word and character.
It means sinking self out of sight, willingness to be hidden for greater usefulness, silence when accused giving confidence, controlling impetuosity proving experience more than wise words, presenting facts and needs without condemning brethren, recognizing all have infirmities, never esteeming self superior, carrying work forward in love and harmony, with His Spirit uniting while allowing individuality to serve in own part, less self and more Jesus blending efforts wherever possible. It is shown in Gethsemane trust through suffering with heart pleasing God and will surrendered, refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity while entrusting self to the righteous Judge, choosing humility and service requiring strength, grace and wisdom, learned by ceasing trust in man, earnest prayer for wisdom, eye on Calvary seeing transgression cost the Son's blood, hating sins wounding Jesus, keeping contrition while viewing Him as compassionate High Priest, purifying by faith working by love, preparing a people to stand in God's day and return to commandments through propitiation for the whole world, instead of dwelling on faults. It keeps words from hurting people under severe temptation when His mercy and patience are practiced, softens stern traits by grace, sanctifies character for young and aged alike with gentle peaceful courteous example free of hasty words or rude actions, and makes the aged mellow. It gives high, pure, elevated thoughts by identity hid with Christ in God, escaping corruption through lust, beholding Christ by faith and changed into His image, watching actions, seeking self-mastery by prayer and faith, asking forgiveness after failure and trying again, reading Scripture attentively and doing it, bringing His peace, joy and fragrance into daily life as a new creature bound to do only good, lifting to God's standard instead of low self-made standard, seeing as God sees with depths beyond short measure, giving success in overcoming instead of conceit, extremes, low contentment and condemning others.
It brings contentment in God's appointed place and faithfulness in common simple duties instead of idle wishing for great work, spending life doing reachable good even when rejected as in His own country, denying selfish desires, worldly honor and grasping ambition, shutting out pride, envy, resentment and jealousy, always awake to sufferers with inward purity and divine loveliness without taint, which self-sacrificing life is true worship and pattern. Faithful service done for God's glory not honor forms the mind like Christ through communion, prayer and wholehearted faithfulness, seeking understanding, cooperating to bless others, deepening companionship, seeing Christ in fellow workers, having His mind at all times seeing through His mind, working with abounding grace on His safe side, abiding in Him, learning Christlikeness unwearied in well-doing, putting away sharpness and close dealing so angels work with efforts. It means hiding self in Jesus and letting Christ appear, representing Him, loving souls as He did, obedient, courteous, full of sympathy, evidencing transforming power against prejudice, custom and fashion, which is the greatness, power and efficiency of truth's advocates, getting out of self into Jesus to show Christlike character undiscouraged in trial. It means living fully in God's favor so the greatly blessed know how to treat the less favored, working from Bible standpoint against worldly customs, laboring where most needed, elevating character by teaching Christian living and exemplifying Christ's Spirit, showing all are one brotherhood.
It means being one's brother's keeper, opening heart to let Christ in and put Him on for every member and laborer wherein lies greatest triumph, giving insight into needs of blood-bought heritage valuing souls too costly to treat carelessly, with the experienced and responsible watching influence because the weak in moral courage look to them, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside. It requires learning from the Great Teacher unto humility rather than self-sufficiency, making work wholesome, pure, ennobling and evident at home with grace purifying motives and governing actions, submitting to discipline making humble, keeping gentle spirit under trial and annoyance, living Christ's life by putting away passionate temper and walking in meekness and lowliness. It overcomes the natural irritable, passionate, selfish heart ready to take offense, complain and accuse when reproved or crossed, and unless overcome and His mind cultivated as abiding presence, such professors show Christ not abiding, testify falsely, quench brotherly love, grieve the Spirit, dishonor the Lord, do great harm, and will never join the royal family. It is sweet, beautiful and mighty to conquer, making one a blessing in home, church and world speaking peaceably and kindly, in contrast to satanic fury quarreling over trifles unto hatred, emulation, murder, imperiled churches and warfare, and being created anew, contemplating redemption to partake divine nature, Spirit and righteousness, it draws from political strife to rest in God, clothes with His righteousness, assures His indwelling and cries at His glory full of grace and truth.
It means self crucified with eye single to God's glory which alone keeps safe, His claims on words and actions, Spirit working outward requiring weighed speech and subduing all to His mind, Word obeyed as governing law touching every spring and phase, elevating and purifying sons and daughters, passions subdued daily, mind cooperating to fit for highest service, with accountability for deeds in the body, principles agreeing with God's words living by every word, built on Christ to stand temptation, separated from idols and uncleanness, worshiping in holiness, rising higher yearly, walking in light without stumbling, unlike mere self-denying professors on books who are tares misrepresenting Him. It is self-denial constantly seen from manger to Calvary as substitute and surety through whom all blessings come, so no worker greater than the Master must seek to be greater or seek selfish gain but must maintain His spirit as true missionaries, examples, rightly related to God, worthy in redemption watched by the universe, a followable life leaving royal courts, taking humanity, living righteously, enabling humanity to overcome and live righteously, with overcoming resisting the enemy, drawing near God, taking cross against inclination, His strength making perfection possible. His perfect example in every detail despite opposition is to be followed and taught to children, looking at His life, studying character, copying pattern, becoming what He was in perfect humanity, forming characters for eternity, sharing suffering as co-workers, leaving no excuse for low standard in this important period. It requires comparing character with Christ as Pattern and conforming life as the track to heaven, with earnest work between God and soul now without complaint, murmuring or self-petting, no time to lose, each saving soul by own righteousness through His redemption to likeness, refined, softened, humbler, self dying, bruised and warred against in Jesus to overcome as victor clothed with white-robed ones, correct in truthfulness, honesty, faithfulness and example to children.
It means having His love shape practical life in seeking others' highest good, serving rather than seeking to be served, caring for needs and sorrows, helping rather than dwelling on faults, modeling Christian conduct, looking beyond own interests, resisting selfishness and covetousness, practicing cheerful daily self-denial with love and forbearance. It means using possessions as He did: though heir of all He gave all for salvation, followers employ capabilities in His service, choosing self-denial and humility over extravagance and display, giving freely as service made privilege by His shameful death for everlasting life. It means forgetting self instead of dwelling on trials, looking outward to others' needs as partners with Jesus, with earnest burden-lifting curing mental ailments and lessening personal burdens until not worth mentioning. It means turning from self-importance and worldly success to humility and childlike faith, ruling out flattery, promotion-seeking, trust in finite ability and idolizing talent, with self dying and God becoming strength, requiring conversion instead of liberty to censure God's chosen workers, opposite to Israel's murmuring against Moses as God's leader causing wilderness fall, an example to those on whom ends come to consider calmly and rationally before rebelling.
It is shown in true Christian humility rather than expensive dress, giving influence and exalting the Savior through deportment, lives and words in harmony with faith, as seen in sanitarium workers. It is freedom from self; bringing self into work shows its absence and untrustworthiness, while losing sight of self in Christ banishes selfishness, conforms life to His teachings and plans to His great plan of love, and makes efforts valuable. Following His example means surrendering self so the Spirit guides the heart into accord with God's mind, overcoming natural passions, reflecting God's image when self no longer seeks supremacy and selfish impulses no longer rule. It means meekness and lowliness learned by wearing His yoke, accepting His counsel, welcoming Him within, walking where He walked, finding rest of soul, and being exalted as sons and daughters of God, proving belonging to Christ and bearing same fruit as branches of the Vine in unity and peace, through obedience without which no favor, giving up self-importance and display to receive His meekness and sanctification through truth instead of sanctioned exaltation.
It calls believers to become more like Jesus in conduct by obeying sanctifying truth, to represent Him in every circumstance, and to let His mind shape work so self is submerged and Christ alone appears lovely in the gospel invitation carried with earnest love, presenting the free feast to draw people, requiring faithful obedience for transformation. It is Christ's righteousness and love for the world, the grand theme to be lifted up, contemplated, adored, formed within and kept on every tongue, reviving and quickening to new life, shown in Him in form of God and equal with God making Himself of no reputation, servant in human likeness, obedient to cross-death, therefore exalted so every knee bows and tongue confesses Him Lord to the Father's glory. It is Christ the center in self-denial, sacrifice, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, formed within through the Spirit, the more sought the more valuable life becomes, awakening love and fervor as gospel themes. It means having His mind ruling in the heart, crucifying haughtiness and casting out pride, envy and evil surmising, sanctified through truth as partakers of divine nature, with Christ abiding instead of self, working reformation preparing for translation, revealing graces and fruits of the Spirit.
It means acting out His mind and speaking His words instead of serving the enemy with harshness, overcoming temptation to unkindness, with Jesus dwelling by the Spirit in the home, since only overcomers will enter heaven. It means taking His mind and character as pattern while the Spirit daily shapes character, receiving righteousness from God and sharing its light in unselfish influence and relationships. It is essential not merely for reflection but for practical life and teaching, shaping conduct in serving God humbly, walking humbly, and living truth in word, spirit and action rather than insisting on one's own plans or separating, so teachers considering His excellence and bringing His power need not lament inefficiency. It means yielding wholly to God's will rather than own righteousness, with God then working mightily through efforts, and means minds changed into conformity shown by the baptized living as new creatures raised from the dead, following step by step.
It means having His mind controlling every thought and purpose, with love constraining imagination and plans from selfish desires to pity for souls, laying self on God's altar as willing sacrifice with truth stamped on the soul, not planning for own pleasure but feeling self-sacrifice in labor as souls' worth is realized, ever keeping this attitude before God. It means having His mind and Spirit reigning with grace and truth inspiring and controlling actions, becoming living representatives read by all, bearing His dying in the body, even bringing persecution from those rejecting truth and despising the cross, yet ministry bringing glorious results though unlearned. It means having a mind in harmony with God's mind, constantly learning, teaching and reflecting light away from prevailing errors, with teachers, physicians and helpers showing zeal and burning love, while selfish guides point wrong, required of all seeking glory, honor and immortality. It means receiving heavenly truth into the heart, yielding wholly and cultivating heavenly affections, deepening love, producing communion with God and interest in others, making one tender and forgiving never coarse or bitter.
It means daily imitating His benevolent character not seeking His own interests but doing good, entering holy communion, blessing the world, finding contentment and receiving eternal reward. It means serving God with undivided affections, enthroning God and dethroning Satan, constantly contemplating Christ and loving His law from the heart, without which profession deceives and misrepresents Him and destroys truth by unsanctified life. It means abiding in Christ with self uprooted and dead, belonging to overcoming, requiring constant watch with no longer thinking own thoughts or doing own actions. It means counting no sacrifice too great to control passions and wrong tendencies and taking heed not to lead others astray, knowing a wrong course turning others aside is recorded in heaven, after His great sacrifice leaving royal courts in flesh to show cooperation for salvation possible.
It means Christ's mind free from self-seeking wholly given to service, shown when heaven's Prince lived a perfect human life as divine ideal, while desire for wealth, power and supremacy fills the world with envy and strife. It means imitating His toiling, self-denying, doing-good life humbly and faithfully in small or great work without seeking praise, from love and gratitude, as He came to teach how to live. It means genuine simplicity instead of forms, true love reaching for souls and bearing burdens, and labor educating souls by the Word adapted to all classes, which alone purifies from impurity. It means presenting truth with meekness and fervor, taking up His ideas, keeping souls' worth before them and living what is taught so lives reveal likeness to Jesus.
It means working as He worked in deed and truth with self-denial and cross-bearing rather than letting the world's spirit control thoughts and conduct, and naturally developing His mind by denying self and following, unlike half-and-half Mammon-serving professors whose standing is hypocrisy, stumbling to others, unprepared and without hope. It means ever cherishing His simplicity with self hid in Christ, giving fitness for God's great work, to be sought in prayer day and night. It means steadfastly seeking His mind in any employment, with counselors dealing faithfully but never rudely or overbearingly, treating people as the Lord's purchased possession not servants to order. It means resembling Christ in service to seek and save the lost, with tender sympathy, love for souls and benevolence as the very essence of Christian character, working with Christ humbly, lowly, unselfishly rather than from self-sufficiency or indifference.
It means humility through true knowledge of grace, opposite to making self the center, treating one's word as unquestionable and arbitrary authority as law. It means forgetting self and working for others with body and mind in unselfish service instead of self-indulgence, willing to do lowly work as He did, on which depend harmony, happiness and higher attainments as God intended. It means self-denial and great love for souls received by the truly converted, changing moral taste to single purpose in expenditures for God's glory, right church influence, and testimony as God's children without lifting a worldly standard, constantly fearing to lift it in place of Christ's banner. It means humiliation, meekness and lowliness enduring suffering for love, working to do good to youth and the erring with sanctified tenderness, requiring self crucified as painful death that is life to the soul.
It means learning meekness and lowliness shaping faithful daily duties, enabling workers to reflect the divine image and its glory to the world in self-denial and sacrifice. It means putting on Christ and being yoked to Him in continual self-denial and willingness to sacrifice to advance God's work and serve suffering people. It means letting Him put His mind in believers to love as brethren with meekness instead of cruel thoughts and evil speaking, learned under His yoke by denying self, lifting the cross and parting with wrong habits and divisive speech, disciplining self, for zeal untempered is vain, and with His mind words become sweet and pure, no longer wounding or dishonoring by differences nor giving enemy place weakening the church. It is received by sitting meekly at Jesus' feet, giving right views of God's character to teach, shown in plain, searching, practical preaching instead of formal religion without a Savior, having the mind of God in Christ one with the Father cheerfully obedient, the perfect pattern with heaven enshrined in humanity embraced by Infinite Love.
A minister is to be like Christ in mind, thought, word and action, avoiding entanglements diverting from God and serving carefully and wisely to continue doing good. It brings peace, harmony and rest in Jesus into the home, replacing dictatorial determination to have one's own way with love and forbearance, joining love with justice in managing children instead of severity alone, respecting wife's judgment and conscience as Christ's property, refusing to differ before children, leaving room for the Lord to impress her rather than insisting all conscience comes through the husband. It means having His meekness when dealing with fellow workers, sharing clearer understanding by going directly to them humbly to show improvement, giving help instead of criticism so words bless. It means becoming like Jesus by contemplating Him, with love, pity, tenderness, courtesy and service rather than desire for praise, using blessings and abilities for greater service, learning His sacrifice in becoming poor.
Workers united with Christ become humble and teachable rather than self-exalted, with power from the Spirit not wealth, learning or position, impressing others by their lives shaped by His meekness and lowliness. It means self is crucified and claims on words and actions yielded to God's glory, with Christ's Spirit uniting workers while allowing individuality, and with less self and more of Jesus blending efforts wherever possible. Neglecting spiritual things can leave people satisfied with own righteousness rather than shaped by Christ, whose self-renouncing life is the pattern to study. Mere profession does not make a Christian; the vital question is having His mind, which is God's love revealed through Christ as sin-bearer with heaven opened to enrich believers, proved by diffusing light rather than spending on self-indulgence as in Noah's day.
It means the mind of man must not rule where God belongs but Christ's mind must be in man, acting as Christ would act in whatever position, Christlike in every stroke of work, word and character. It means trusting oneself in His hands with humble trust, clinging to His mighty hand, coming nearer to Jesus for peace and rest, of good courage without faintness or distrust because Jesus lives and reigns, cherishing humility and meekness and hiding in Him to work. It means meeting God's high standard by a clean soul temple washed in the open fountain, with heaven's attractions brought to the mind, responsibility for every ray of light, and refusing a low standard, for setting mind on trifles leads lower and lower. It means having His mind and Spirit in character and dealing with others as true sanctification, dying to self with consecration, molding reproof with humility and wise words to make friends, qualifying for important positions, moving all acts for God's glory, spiritualized and polished, without stern severity wounding.
It means feeling obligation to do one's best with accountability to God, working intelligently, cheerfully and unitedly whether with many talents or few, cooperating with established work rather than independently establishing one's own methods, doing appointed part wherever providence leads to build up work. It is essential to Christian life, and one lacking it should not lead another from right; a Christian keeps distinct identity not submerged in another's influence and stands firmly in righteousness developing character God approves. It means following His self-denial and sacrifice in suffering and dying as pattern, so churches deny self and willingly share therein, exalting life to meet the divine standard with persevering energy to lighten others' burdens directly in the path, beginning at once, for failing is failing duty and no idea of Him can be too exalted. It means consecrated noble efforts for souls with unfailing determination, getting out of self into Jesus to show Christlike character under trial without discouragement.
It means being armed to intelligently take hold of God's work through childlike prayer for the Spirit, trusting the Word, going forward undiscouraged, with angels teaching and blessing and the heart filled with satisfaction unknown in carelessness. It means turning to God in prayer rather than relying on people, looking to Him for wisdom with eye on Calvary, seeing transgression cost the Son's blood, hating the wounds given Jesus, keeping contrition while viewing Him as compassionate High Priest preparing a people to return to the commandments. It means submitting to insult and mockery without retaliation, doing the will of Him who sent Christ, walking in His footsteps for others' good with eye single to glory, which is the Redeemer's only way unto eternal life. It means self-denying missionary work shaping life after His example, going in His Spirit as cooperating agents bearing God's love as He represented the Father, proclaiming Him Advocate and the Lord waiting to be gracious with mercy encircling the throne, giving up self-indulgence and pride.
It means not confining care to family or seeking profit, convenience and pleasure, but bearing responsibility for others and showing His love, with parental responsibility done humbly in Christlike spirit though He possessed all things yet claimed none, following His selfless shaping of mind and conduct. It is shown in hope, love and brotherly kindness rather than seeking supremacy, remedying dissension and serving as missionary work, and in drawing near to brethren, trusting ministers, loving fervently and being an example in word, conduct, charity, faith and purity, encouraging faithful responsibility in fear of God. It is shown in refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity, choosing humility and service which calls for strength, grace and wisdom, entrusting self to the righteous Judge when insulted, and in not grasping authority or compelling obedience but allowing time and light for decision with each judged by light received, after laying aside glory to take servant humanity and obey to cross-death. It means studying and practicing His life to guard every talent of influence, since acts, thoughts and words yield precious fruit when bearing heaven's endorsement, while impulsive remarks sow irrecoverable evil, with ministers living in sight of the universe.
Those imbued with His Spirit do His works serving others rather than from selfishness, and His mind and Spirit within are necessary for true confession, with inward grace appearing in conduct since profession alone is insufficient, shown by real acquaintance with Father and Son, not high self-estimate, self-use, exorbitant prices, judging brethren or disharmony, but sanctified submissive humble heart bearing outward fruits. It shapes conduct in serving God humbly, walking humbly, living truth in action rather than separating, and brings holy views ennobling workers of every rank to be acknowledged as fellow workers with transformed countenance as the law is written on the heart. It is Christ's righteousness formed within to be lifted up, contemplated and adored, reviving to new life, and is known by knowing Jesus which is eternal life, with God sending light into the heart to give knowledge of His glory in Christ's face, receiving and spreading lifelong the knowledge He unfolded rather than leaving unused, since known duty undone becomes a curse and works then carry heaven's fragrance. It requires converted thoughts to work successfully in His lines instead of criticizing God's guided work, learning from Christ, revealing His spirit, following His methods and contemplating His character so the Spirit transforms.
It means living as He lived not to please Himself, carefully considered and practiced, confronting self-indulgence, and when obeyed producing reformation with righteousness restored, walking and working as He walked. It means rejecting harshness toward fellow blood-bought brethren, laboring together with God, helping the tempted, weeding condemning words, refusing to sow doubt, learning His methods and living in full assurance toward brethren, regarding them precious. It acts promptly for the oppressed with fear of God, discernment, pity and immediate relief without contempt or ambition, while lacking it leaves one hard-hearted and forcing the needy to plead in vain, caring only for ambition and reputation, whereas having it saves helper and sufferer needless trouble and restrains wrong. Being born from above gives this humble mind that gave Himself for salvation, so believers do not seek the highest place but learn from Him, with work's worth depending on the Spirit within forming holier qualities and patience, not display, noise or own strength.
It lets His tenderness shape character to self-denial, giving to relieve suffering and laboring for salvation, giving up selfish interests, luxury, passions and desire for praise, serving without partiality and refusing indulgence while others suffer, opposing oppression and injustice, willing to live humbly even to give life. It means rejecting morbid gall and bitterness, since spirit shapes character and character rules mind, with complete self-denial following Him from heaven through overcoming Satan's hindrances to Calvary where He became sacrifice descending to unfathomable humiliation as God dying for the race, pressing steadfastly without failing. It takes His example as authoritative standard requiring self-denial and giving up all, following His humble self-giving mind in subjection to one another, with the cross teaching love and the value of souls, remembering His humiliation to deny self to save the perishing. It follows His perfect pattern leaving heaven to become human, teaching by example and daily sacrifice unto the cross, requiring parents to fashion families to God's glory, work out salvation daily, humble self under God, with close followers exalted and crowned beside Him, refusing haphazard work and self-exaltation, counting costly salvation too great to treat lightly.
Because He gave all withholding not His life, believers must not consult ease but yield as living sacrifice, summoning every power with disinterested love as laborers together with God bringing many to glory, manifesting same self-denial and interest for souls, following the Captain leaving royal courts as example of heaven's path, in personal effort not putting feelings first. Every son and daughter must have it to adorn doctrine, overcoming likes and self-favoring, letting God's peace rule with Christ dwelling as living power strengthening what remains. It means opening the heart, letting Him in and putting Him on, for every member and laborer, giving insight into needs of His heritage and valuing souls too costly to treat carelessly, wherein lies greatest triumph. When His grace abides believers practice His lessons, value His mercy and become peacemakers dealing directly and privately, and His condescension and self-giving love must shape character with His infinite sacrifice worked out in life, making salvation possible.
It rejects higher regard for one's own plans and independent action, instead counseling and working together as servants of all, with His love shaping life, words and deeds into union valuing others' gifts and seeking counsel rather than dominating, willing to learn how to teach and help. Through faith it lays aside royal rank, takes humanity and becomes poor, imitated through self-denial, love and unity so believers share divine nature, become rich in heavenly attributes and through suffering receive kingdom inheritance and glory, standing as substitute and surety. In facing opposition it looks to Jesus trusting Him to speak through believers, with conduct reflecting His love while the Spirit applies truth and convicts hearts. His self-sacrificing love giving all calls to liberality and benevolence through good works rather than selfishness, and to choosing fellowship with Him over frivolous pleasure which influences others, in deed and truth resisting self-indulgence.
It gives up personal pleasure for others' good, with sinners' salvation as the joy sustaining Him through suffering likewise spurring Christians to service pleasing God in love and devotion. It is marked by humility rather than self-importance, meaning dying to self and resisting trust in talent, with true representatives not exalting self but looking to Christ as head, cherishing childlike faith with God as strength. It is meekness, lowliness and burden-bearing following His condescension while putting away pride, helping escape corruption, sharing divine nature and essential for entering the kingdom, esteeming others and bearing burdens in self-denial. Being Christian is submitting will to God in everything, yielding self-will, seeking His glory, cause and others' good rather than self-gratification; those losing control when opposed have not harmonized will with God, and bearing the name alone is not enough.
His self-denial makes servants' trials seem small, calling for cheerfully giving up wishes and pleasures with duty and soul-saving first, imitating His useful life using time and strength to spread truth, living not for ease but to save souls. Learning from the Great Teacher unto humility makes work wholesome and evident at home, with grace purifying motives, and brings victory without competing with worldly institutions by choosing the cross over worldly status, in meekness and lowliness rather than rank, size or splendor, surrendering disappointed hopes rather than losing eternal life. Believers take Him as example working, sacrificing and loving in unity as God's children, with His becoming poor showing the self-denying spirit to cherish at home. His humility without display patterns missionary work, coming not with angels but as example sharing human experience, becoming poor and humbled, and models imitating Him rather than seeking a better portion as He lifts from ignorance and joins to divine nature.
It means sharing concern for the whole saving work, cultivating His spirit to join upright dealing with kindness and conciliatory deportment, with kind words and unselfish courtesy multiplying usefulness and heaven recording every unkind word, loving brethren for His sake, sanctified soul, body and spirit for angels' society, speaking only in kindness, with Jesus giving Spirit and grace especially to holy trusts as examples in word, forbearance and lowliness under Christ as Head, rendering account free from impulse with eye single to glory, temple cleansed, life assimilated to His image by grace and faith. It means having His mind at all times seeing through His mind, working with abounding grace on His safe side, abiding in Him, putting away sharpness so angels can work with human efforts. His mind is simplicity, self-denial and economy to be taught even to the poor against pride, display, indulgence and idleness that bring penury and degradation, resisting worldly spirit though lessons seem hard. Those seeking the lost need His mind and must teach truth as in Jesus, for self-reliance is insufficient for success.
It is humble dependence seen in meek spirit, less talking, more prayer and caution, and leaders must cherish broad views as apt learners with minds enlightened to God's will, trained to think His thoughts and follow His methods, not led by own will. It lives in humility with sympathy for weakness rather than harshness, staying close to Jesus in trust keeping piety sound amid evil, seeking the lost with victories rejoicing heaven, without lessened zeal. Without His mind and Spirit, though practicing self-denial and on church books, one is as tares misrepresenting Him; with it one separates from uncleanness, worships in holiness and walks in light without stumbling. It requires self to die with no separate interest apart from the work, putting truth's cause and others' good ahead of saving self.
It is shown in earnest devotion, purity, love and sacrifice tested in every department, serving not for wages or honor but for God's glory and salvation, with trial manifesting connection with Christ, heart enlisted, fruits seen as in the divine Lord. It is compassion sharing sorrow in tenderness, communicated as righteousness to one looking to the Lord as friend, loving and fearing Him, possessed even by youth under discipline bearing fruit and preserving integrity under false accusation, drawing nourishment as from a fountain like seed in good soil. It practices self-denial using resources to relieve God's children following Jesus rather than spending only for self, and attends to every case calling for sympathy physically and spiritually with heart softened by the Word, asking from the central Source of power, taught through practical missionary lines, stirred at woe and poverty, with Christ cooperating to give bodily health and soul restoration. It means separation from the world rather than shaping by its fashions, transformed by renewal, for friendship with the world is hostility toward God, taking His spirit to serve wholly and work with Him apart from selfish aims.
It controls every thought, turning from selfish plans to love and pity, laying self on the altar as willing sacrifice felt in labor as souls' worth is realized. It is true meekness, devotion and consecration free from pride with unselfish interest in doing good, making labor acceptable and useful, clothing with dignity and seeking to excel by good works not belittling, following Him who though Majesty became a servant traveling on foot teaching by the wayside without avoiding weariness, finding place in hearts with God's blessing. It means acting like Christ conforming life to His instead of former ignorance, drawing together in brotherly love with no suspicion, judging or condemning, producing unity without variance, fulfilling Christian obligations. It longs for His meek mind, daily discovering unlikeness and needing His fashioning hand to reflect His image, hid with Christ in God in full assurance, drawing strength from the sanctuary, triumphant, plunged in divine love and strong in God.
It is shown in constant mercy shedding light without calling attention to virtue, seeking neither gain nor honor, performing even healings quietly, against display religion of public prayer and trumpeted deeds, walking lowly with unassuming manners, rejected by those measuring piety by display who thus reject Christ. His disinterested benevolence marks His mission and calls ministers to selfless care, with self-denial essential to acceptable work allowing no selfishness, sharing His self-denying sacrificial spirit in service and devotion. It is dependence combining divine power with human effort so work abides testing, without which God's people repeat Israel's follies in Samuel's day. It exemplifies unselfish concern beyond family, profit and pleasure, bearing responsibility for others.
A true missionary heart is filled with Christlike love and steadfastness to principle, and Peter forgiven after denial needed this mind remembering weakness and patient love to be patient and forgiving toward the erring in caring for sheep, serving by His pattern conciliatory toward those going wrong. It trains the mind to think His thoughts and understand God's will rather than personal will, learning His methods in His school, required of gospel responsibility. It means cherishing humility since disciple is not above Master, taking a humble place, seeking God in faith, overcoming roughness in probation for heavenly fitness and character. His kindness and long-suffering rebuke impatience and superiority, calling those guiding youth to treat each soul with care remembering the price paid, after His self-denial and condescension as example.
It turns from making self constant concern to walking as He walked with gentle pure speech and elevated service, raising service higher without weakening energy so influence becomes holy, as Christ works through. It means sharing His concern without territorial selfishness and having His mind in gospel work that sanctifies understanding, gives clarity for medical missionary work, loves God wholly and shares His humiliation bound to the atonement, uniting human mind with His, fitting for pleasing service in redemption's central truth. It prepares for cruel treatment as He received, sharing sufferings without surprise, and arms servants facing insult without expecting escape, by constant prayer. It means working together for peace praying for the Spirit's molding, governing lips by kindness, refusing sour discourtesy, true to profession, with angels hovering round.
It rejects injustice and cruelty recognizing responsibility for degrading the redeemed, and means obeying every word, doing justice, respecting fellow workers and bringing every thought into captivity without retaliation even under unjust trust, allowing no selfish, guileful or harsh speech, enduring wrong as He did. Through faith mothers may have it and abide in Him, controlling temper with compassion and long-suffering to represent Christ and lead children in righteousness. It acts with tenderness toward a widow, honoring what she and her husband invested and suffered, enduring hunger and lack rather than letting work stop, handling God's work rightly in light of that sacrifice, treating courteously not as stranger, knowing cost of standing at duty when hard. It is unselfish, self-forgetful, putting others' comfort first, tender and thoughtful in domestic duties and deeds of love, hiding in Jesus, cheerful and grateful in steady self-discipline which is wholeness and true sanctification.
Physicians must unlearn self-exaltation and gain a different experience in word and deed before truly acknowledged as medical missionaries by the Great Physician, giving up injurious ideas and plans and display of expensive house and corresponding start to appear successful, learning His self-denial and sacrifice by experience. Seeking things above and receiving the Spirit equips with His mind in fruitful life showing righteousness of faith, sanctified in soul, body and spirit revealing refining truth through grace. His life is followable: leaving royal courts, taking humanity and living righteously, humanity can overcome as He did and live righteously by following Him. When commandments are fully obeyed self-distrust and yearning for enlightenment replace self-reliance, passions quell, sin becomes hateful, Jesus precious, bringing peace, joy and seeking others' good, asking His mind to dwell in the heart.
His words must shape mind and conduct through learning, believing and doing so people reflect His Spirit and serve others including their own people. It means self-denial constantly seen calling believers to keep missionaries in the field, give freely trusting God who holds all resources, knowing generosity never impoverishes the church, with costly offerings for souls. Followers need His spirit as co-workers in reform caring for the suffering and upholding the standard, and those lacking His self-sacrifice are unfit and a burden to institutions. It comes by drinking in God's Spirit gaining understanding of sacrificial mission and knowing Christ as Burden-bearer carrying workers in appointed work.
It means daily seeking to do His will in word and work, fulfilling God's purpose and cooperating as His helping hand. It means having His mind so works carry heaven's fragrance, receiving and spreading through life the knowledge He came to unfold rather than leaving it unused, since known duty undone becomes a curse. It means yielding mind to Christ with unity, self-denial for the kingdom and determined overcoming of hindrances to growth, laboring earnestly to keep the mind in the right channel so His mind becomes one's own and the Sun of Righteousness shines through the heart, surrendering self and personal policies so Christ reigns. It endures daily battle costing mortification and reputation, willingly partaking shame for His sake to become a stepping-stone lifting the weak, with a test coming to every soul to prove willingness, as He risked all humiliation to bring salvation in reach and overcomes faults mastering the soul.
It is necessary preparation for baptism through entire surrender, without which sin as transgression is not forsaken and true conversion does not occur, while renounced sin brings obedient conformity to law, though Satan hides its necessity, with appetites otherwise mastering and confusing. It means following His humility, self-renunciation and sacrifice formed by daily beholding and fresh awareness of His presence. It means being renewed with inward daily renewal while the outward perishes, reaching for His righteousness, walking and working in constant self-denial doing daily good in provided grace, wrestling in prayer against temptation, refusing dull indifferent service. It is humble self-emptying learned by fixing eyes on the heart-searching God, praying to be searched and led, living in holy awe trusting His love, giving all in balanced life illustrating His law and growing to full stature.
It is shown in hope, love and brotherly kindness remedying dissension, in courtesy and grace representing Jesus in every department, and in following His self-denying spirit accepting Him as Savior and Leader rather than rebellion, cultivating harmony instead of supremacy. It brings humble self-surrender bringing will into harmony with God, requires sharp self-examination rejecting worldly strife and oppression, with union so close that treatment of Christ is treatment of the Father and greater light brings greater guilt for disobedience, in likemindedness, same love, one accord, esteeming others better and seeking their interests, humbling as He humbled from equality to servant to cross-death, revealing humanity's value and redemption price. It must be studied daily from inspired words as the lesson book heavenward, where as representative He became Redeemer and Restorer in contrast to Satan the destroyer, in form of God and equal with God making Himself of no reputation, servant in human likeness, obedient to cross-death. It calls for conversion instead of faultfinding, for Israel's murmuring against Moses as God's leader caused wilderness fall as example for those on whom the ends come, to meet disagreement calmly and rationally.
It overcomes natural faults that would master the soul, and following His mind in use of possessions means employing capabilities in His service, choosing self-denial over extravagance, enduring mortification and reproach as stepping-stone, tested in willingness. It is shown in sanitarium workers through deportment and words in harmony with faith, giving influence and exalting the Savior rather than expensive dress, in true humility. It is essential to genuine religion, and refusing His humble path makes one a hindrance rather than help, after His servant-form obedience to cross-death unto exaltation before bowing creation. It means representing Jesus by loving erring believers with mercy and humility rather than coldness, remaining true to principle while subduing self for their sake, sacrificing hurt feelings, putting aside self-love and complacency, without neglect, contempt, revenge or retaliation, caring for souls though harmed.
His meek self-emptying shapes believers to give up self-importance and display, receiving His meekness since He does not sanction exaltation but desires sanctification through truth and grace. It is shown in liberal hearts opening hands for destitute fields, evidencing transforming power, keeping God's people distinct under higher Authority in united labor with Christ never neglecting help since all possessions are lent property, cleansing from selfishness in divine theocracy cooperating to utmost with the great Medical Missionary. It is humble self-denying Christlike rather than inflated, limiting desires and economizing, coming through thorough renewal influencing every family member and fitting for eternal trust, correcting defects and limiting wants to income as Master lived humbly, not spendthrift. Christians must copy His self-denying life in helping others and reflecting character, bringing joy to God's kingdom, and practice simplicity as example, with workers setting simplicity before others.
Believers must obey God's Word as transformed people with positive influence, living worthily and reverencing the trust made sacred by His death, with faith bringing every grace to perfect character, not dishonoring profession by worldly standard. It is marked by courtesy and humility to be developed in the church, with spirit and thoughts kept in subjection to Jesus, requiring care in choosing shapers of youth lest impatience pass on. It means the heart in sympathy with His purposes as evidence of His abiding, with sensitivity to sin, tender conscience and growing sense of His preciousness. It means having His mind in character and works imitating sacrifice and benevolence, especially ministers, with love for souls leading to any sacrifice to co-work with Him, laying aside glory, dominion and riches to seek the perishing and humble to human necessity to exalt to heaven, a perfect pattern to copy according to ability, disapproved if not resembled.
It cultivates character ennobling workers of every rank to be acknowledged as fellow workers, filling the heart with holy graces visibly transforming the countenance as the law is written on the heart. It means drawing near to brethren and encouraging faithful responsibility, and having His love leading to counsel with the experienced and regarding others as equally able to help, in word, conduct, charity, faith and purity, trusting ministers and loving fervently in fear of God. It means living in him rather than by counsel of those not knowing God, with principles and actions agreeing with God's words and living by every word, standing on His foundation in temptation. It keeps words from hurting under temptation and requires living meekly with sympathy rather than harsh denunciation, staying close in trust keeping zeal amid evil, practicing His virtues and mercy, seeking the lost to heaven's rejoicing.
It means self-denial and sacrifice learned in experience not set aside for personal plans, contrary to seeking display through expensive living to appear successful, giving up injurious ideas, and for physicians unlearning exaltation for new word and deed as true medical missionaries. It means self-sacrifice seeking others' good rather than exaltation, living by His will against influences turning away, and sharing selfless love faithfully working to save with deepening character without seeking glory, overcoming ease and indulgence. It is self-sacrificing love reaching where people are in darkness, leaving heaven's bliss to meet the fallen, doing rough work among the depraved adapting methods, expecting no better portion than the Redeemer had, stopping at no sacrifice, becoming poor to make rich, understanding conditions to gain victory. It is shown in taking His yoke in constant readiness to deny self living purely in contrast to worldly selfishness, with not one thread of selfishness, His mind revealed in life and work.
It is shown in teaching as He taught clearly and simply so common people gladly heard, valuing simplicity rather than theatrical attraction. It guides workers in self-denying disinterested united service from love rather than human reward, advancing the work and strengthening faith. It means having God work mightily and having enlightened conscience faithful in simple duties even when rejected as in His own country, denying ambition and shutting out resentment, yielding wholly rather than relying on own righteousness, awake to sufferers in purity. It is Christlikeness in humility and simplicity: though Commander of heaven He came poor and stayed humble, forbidding worldly patterning for favor, with power in truth itself not display, and conformity for favor bringing weakness, no higher standard than His life, shunning pretense in every line.
It means following His example of self-denial and earnest love avoiding needless spending so more supports missions, and feeling obligation to do best cooperating with established work, accountable to God, intelligently, cheerfully, unitedly with few or many talents wherever sent. It means letting Christ's mind guide daily relationships by rejecting rivalry, acting humbly and considering others' good following His humble service therefore exalted by God, from equality to servant to cross-death. It is expressed in shared love esteeming others above self and concern for needs, following His making Himself of no reputation and taking servant form, though equal with God becoming human in selfless unity. Forming character after His pattern requires renouncing self and pride, bringing will into full agreement with God, presenting self emptied so God supplies the Spirit, necessary for eternal life and abiding blessing, unable to retain self and be filled.
His self-denying example laying aside glory calls believers especially laborers to copy sacrifice, toil and concern for salvation, giving up ease and accepting humiliation, sorrow and tribulation in serving, laying aside rank, honor and riches to meet need, putting work before advantage with persistent love, not seeking better position than He had who endured toil and finished His work. Those following Him must not use power to compel obedience to God's law but allow time and light for decision, as He though equal did not exalt Himself but served, humbled and obeyed to cross-death. It is shown in missionary sowing carefully, patiently and unselfishly without weariness, trusting God to quicken seed and bring fruit as co-workers with Christ and angels, even when dormant until grace convicts, laboring earnestly perseveringly with care and anxiety as divine Teacher in continual sacrifice. His self-giving coming is pattern calling for unreserved surrender of time and talents to use entrusted means for the cause He came to advance, consecrated to God for fallen race with divinity and humanity united for complete recovery.
It means condescension shaping conduct with infinite sacrifice making salvation possible and gracious character worked out in followers. It means avoiding needless expense and display using resources for good works restoring the sick and relieving suffering, since work's character comes from principles not buildings, following His humble meek lowly self-denying example in all things. It means putting aside self-love and treating erring with love and mercy, maintaining high standard while rebuking sin firmly without approval yet keeping hope alive, patiently correcting, subduing self and remaining true though harmed. It means looking beyond own interests to care for others cheerfully in daily self-denial, resisting covetousness with love and forbearance for welfare.
It is shown in resisting self-indulgence choosing fellowship over worldly pleasure influencing others to follow, and in turning from self to use abilities to save asking daily wisdom for those in snares, with love winning back erring remembering God loves them and gave His Son for everlasting life. It means viewing self humbly and putting church well-being ahead of personal desires even at sacrifice, working for purity rather than division, desiring goodness not greatness. It is shown in refusing to seek status, serving without partiality, refusing indulgence while others suffer, opposing oppression, living humbly willing even to give life, giving up selfish aims, luxury, passions and praise. It means dependence with divine power joined to human effort, shown in meekness and prayerful caution, and leaders setting self-denying example about labor value from the beginning, not pricing labors high nor grasping higher wages spoiling spirituality and wronging associates, keeping Christ's self-denial before brethren as missionary people supporting many laborers.
It means having His love shape union with fellow workers, valuing gifts, seeking counsel and willingness to learn rather than dictate. Pride and lofty estimation must yield to meekness requiring thorough change and teachable approach to Scripture with self set aside so Christ is revealed as Sanctifier, imitating His humility from self-sacrifice to cross. It means obeying light sanctifying and transforming the soul into Christlike conduct, requiring faithful obedience, becoming more like Jesus in disposition. Christ's self-sacrifice rather than self-seeking is His mind; self-glorification blinds to Scripture's purpose as disciples' rivalry showed, preventing sympathy with His sacrifice and understanding redemption.
It is shown in abiding in Him doing His works sharing selfless sympathy faithfully working to save, overcoming ease, deepening character and increasingly like Him without seeking glory. It calls followers to let His mind shape work with self submerged so Christ alone appears lovely revealing love in the gospel invitation drawing people to the freely provided feast with earnest love for the fallen. He took humanity to display God's glory through human happiness and gave His life, and believers as heirs cooperate in saving work making sacrifices to relieve need, sharing what He is and has in pure unselfish love. It means having the mind of God that was in Christ who cheerfully obeyed the Father as perfect pattern with heaven enshrined in humanity, received meekly at His feet giving right views to teach in plain practical preaching.
It means having His spirit rather than demanding spirit over property, trusting the Lord to set troubles in order, recognizing demanding hearts misuse shares and wrong self and others, not destroying soul over shares. It governs outward appearance including plain dress in conformity to light, so those carrying truth where never represented do not contradict it, and those lacking harmony are not ready for missionary work, brought into His self-denial and sacrifice. It means exalting life to meet the divine standard with determination, no longer neglecting to lighten burdens but lifting them directly in the path with Christ's help, for no idea of Him is too exalted. Believers may have His mind and walk with God uncontaminated like Enoch in corrupt age, correcting mistakes and not assuming own judgment is God's, marked by unaffected humility and sincere love, receiving His mind to teach.
It means bringing heart and mind into conformity opposite to rulership restricting liberty and retarding conversion, following light and not bracing against reproof, for resisting hardens and continuing unfits for sacred interests.
Let this mind be in you means believers are commanded to have Christ's humble, selfless, servant mind, shown in likemindedness and same love, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests as well as one's own. That mind is defined by His pattern, who though in the form of God and equal with God made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in human likeness, humbled Himself in obedience unto death on the cross, wherefore God highly exalted Him with a name above every name. It is a meek, lowly, pure Spirit free of selfishness and self-glorification, shown in self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' good and in love that gives itself to seek and save the perishing. It is received by every person through conversion and transformation by the Holy Spirit, by surrender of the will and dying to self, and by constantly beholding Christ and studying His life until changed into His image. Having it cures self-seeking and control of others and brings unity, mercy, forbearance and pure speech, and it leads to obeying and working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works to will and do, in blameless life as lights in the world and in self-denying missionary service to the needy, tempted, sick and unentered places.
Verse Words and Context
The command is to have inwardly the same way of thinking that was in Christ Jesus, which is humility, meekness and selflessness expressed in unity and love rather than status-seeking. That likemindedness means being of one accord and of one mind, having the same love flowing from consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, and tender mercy and compassion. It is proved by doing nothing through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than self and looking not only to one's own interests but also to the interests of others. To meet the mind of the Spirit of God in all things is to seek and fulfill this same mind in every movement submitted to self-examination.
That mind is defined by Christ's pattern in the verses that follow: though being in the form of God and equal with God by right, He claimed none of these things for Himself and did not grasp at equality. He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men and found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the ignominious death of the cross. Wherefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. His self-emptying humility and obedience are thus the standard for the believer's attitude toward others.
The exhortation sets a high standard that must not be passed over indifferently but must be guarded strictly, individually and collectively, by all who claim to believe. It belongs to loving as brethren, being pitiful and courteous, showing universal humility and benevolence with self-denial and self-sacrifice in good works, with words sanctified by the Spirit and in accordance with gospel principles, so that the humble-minded, precious in God's sight, shine as blameless lights holding forth the word of life. It is clear instruction of great importance for the present time, especially for leading brethren, to be earnestly heeded, fulfilled and thankfully obeyed, leaving no excuse for walking contrary to God's will. It is to be studied together with the whole second and third chapters of Philippians without disregarding their lessons, and that chapter is needed for the education of all workers and should be brought before the people. It is part of God's complete provision in Scripture to show how to obtain the crown of life and enter the joy of the Lord, calling the sinner to hear mercy and repent, and it belongs to being doers of His words, pure, loyal and true, prepared in the short time remaining before accounts are settled.
Having that mind leads to obedience and to working out one's own salvation with fear and trembling, while God works within both to will and to do of His good pleasure in humble dependence. It requires walking as He walked and working as He worked in constant self-denial and daily reaching out to do others good, being renewed in the spirit of the mind day by day and reaching to the righteousness of Christ through the fullness of grace provided by His merits. It forbids dull, sleepy, indifferent service as unsafe, and requires wrestling in earnest prayer to resist temptation and using bestowed grace to gain a vigorous Christianity. It is expressed in willing obedience and unity, in doing all things without murmurings and disputings, being blameless and harmless as sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining as lights in the world and advancing the gospel into new unentered places.
Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation
Though in the highest place in heaven, in the bosom of the Father as the Majesty of heaven in the form of God and equal with God, Christ laid aside glory, riches, honor and supremacy. He voluntarily subjected Himself to the humbling conditions of human life, assumed the responsibilities of a servant, took human nature to save the lost, and humbled Himself in obedience unto death, even the most ignominious, revolting, agonizing death of the cross. That self-denying condescension in behalf of sinners means looking not only to one's own things but also to the things of others, and considering it banishes selfishness and produces gratitude and love with the deep sense of not being one's own, so that such a Master is not to be served from grudging, selfish motives. For humanity's sake He gave up ease, became poor, accepted suffering and humiliation, worked without outward pomp for others, cared for His disciples, shared their poverty, denied Himself for their good, bore their burdens, and gave His life as the price of redemption, even pardoning the dying thief while dying Himself though He was source of all riches and heir of all things. Having this mind is therefore refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity, not retaliating or threatening when insulted or made to suffer but entrusting self to the righteous Judge, dwelling on and speaking of His love and perfection rather than finding fault, and seeking to restore and help people in service to Him.
He humbled Himself lower and lower until there were no lower depths to reach, agonizing and dying the shameful death of the cross for guilty, condemned humanity. This was to make atonement to lift humanity from moral defilement and also to set a pattern for every disciple, minister and layperson alike. Looking to Calvary therefore rebukes self-important ideas, pride of talent and intellect, striving for supremacy, craving for human praise, exaltation, deference and respect, independence, selfish ambition, haughtiness, self-exaltation, selfishness, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, hatred and defilement. Instead followers master self, cleanse the soul temple, open the heart for Jesus to come in, lift the cross and follow Him, hide the life with Christ in God, bear reproach and abuse without retaliation or revenge, and become partakers of the divine nature to escape corruption through lust, humbly adoring Jesus and never exalting self. Pride cannot exist in hearts hid with Christ, and those who do not learn His meekness and lowliness for benefiting others will find no place in the kingdom of God and risk His having died in vain for them.
His humility was not a low estimate of His character, abilities or worth, but coming down to fallen humanity to lift people to a higher life. Though sinless He joined His divinity to fallen human nature, honoring what humanity can become through God's provision and participation in the divine nature. He adapted Himself to the fallen condition, lived among the poor and overlooked, shared human experience, became poor, humbled Himself and obeyed even to death on the cross, giving an example of service, self-denial and missionary work without display. His kingdom is therefore not ruled by striving for the highest position, and true disciples meet people where they are to help raise them up rather than competing for status, rank or outward appearance. Pride must be subdued and the heart made tender by His Spirit so His character can be formed within, for heaven honors not wealth, status, authority or titles but those who follow Christ and make their duties honorable through character and grace.
The verse reveals the mystery of godliness, God made flesh: He who was truly God and in the form of God did not count equality with God as robbery but emptied Himself, took the form of a servant made in the likeness of men. He is the divine Creator by whom all things were made and hold together and in whom all fullness dwells, revealing God's benevolence, mercy, long forbearance and example of perfect obedience. Because of that humiliation God highly exalted Him above all with supreme authority, so that every being in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. This truth holds new views and hidden treasures found by diligent searching, taxing the intellect, giving strength to mental ability, and what can be learned from it is never exhausted; having His mind is humility, obedient self-sacrifice and conformity to God's will after His perfect pattern, cheerfully obeying the Father as heaven enshrined in humanity. Those who fashion life and family by that pattern, count salvation bought at such cost too great to treat lightly, work it out daily without haphazard work, humble self under God's hand rather than seek self-exaltation, and sit meekly at His feet will be exalted by God in due time to stand beside Him with the crown of immortal glory.
Incarnation Veiling Divinity
Christ laid aside royal glory, robe, crown, riches and kingly dignity and took the form of a servant in human likeness. He veiled His divinity with humanity but did not surrender it, retaining it while becoming human. He veiled His glory because sinful people could not bear to behold it unveiled. He came as a divine-human Savior to stand at the head of fallen humanity, that humanity might touch humanity and divinity lay hold upon divinity. He shared the fallen race's experience from childhood to manhood and lived in perfect obedience even to death on the cross. That willingness to enter a disheartening field and endure indignity from those He came to save shows the mind believers are to arm themselves with in seeking the lost sheep to bring the wanderer from sin to the heavenly fold.
That condescension was to raise degraded humanity so that people might become partakers of the divine nature. Though He occupied the highest position in heaven in the bosom of the Father as Majesty in the form of God and equal with God, He voluntarily subjected Himself to the humbling conditions of human life and assumed the responsibilities of a servant in obedience unto the most ignominious, revolting and agonizing death of the cross. His incarnation and sacrifice reveal humanity's great value to God and the price paid to redeem people. Reverently contemplating these truths softens, purifies and ennobles the heart and gives the mind new strength and vigor. Considering that amazing sacrifice banishes selfishness from the heart and produces gratitude and love with the deep sense of not being one's own, so that such a Master must not be served from grudging, selfish motives. United to Him by faith, believing and receiving Him, believers become part of Him, reflect God's image, reveal His glory and cooperate with Him in redemption and suffering until His character is fully represented in His chosen people.
In humbling Himself He made atonement for the fallen race, giving Himself to save guilty people who could not save themselves. Though source of all riches and heir of all things, He gave up all He possessed for sinners, and even while dying on the cross He pardoned the dying thief. His meek and holy bearing of human sin opened the plan of salvation so that whoever believes may have everlasting life, and as beholders love Him they are changed into His image. Holiness is the fruit of that sacrifice and is promised because He died, and He longs to bestow it to make believers sharers in His own nature and to save those who by sin have separated themselves from God. They are called to choose His service, give themselves wholly into His control, learn meekness and lowliness, and learn how to do God's will. Because of that humiliation God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, so that every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The mind to be in believers must be studied day by day from inspired words as the lesson book for traveling heavenward, for as representative of the human race He became Redeemer and Restorer in contrast to Satan the destroyer. His great humiliation is to fill the mind by contemplating His divine character and His majesty and glory as the Highest and how He laid these aside and clothed His divinity with humanity, a self-denial and self-sacrifice that was the marvel of angels. This cures merely hearing the voice of man in preaching and going home with souls empty and unnourished and sitting in judgment on the sermon as a human effort. It calls instead for listening to the voice of God and bringing truth into the life so it has lasting effect. Remembering the depth of His humiliation teaches believers to be subject to one another, to love others and value souls for whom He died, and to deny self in efforts to save the perishing.
Nature of Christlike Mind
The mind to be in believers is the Spirit of Christ, which is meek and lowly, pure and undefiled, wholly free from selfishness, self-pleasing, self-conceit, self-glorification and pride. It shows itself in meekness, lowliness, humility, simplicity, gentleness, patience, teachableness, courtesy, devotion and consecration to God, in quiet unassuming manners, in gentle peaceful courteous conduct free from hasty words, rude actions, combativeness, firm self-assertion and self-esteem. Having this Spirit proves belonging to Christ, as branches of the living Vine bear the parent stalk's fruit, producing unity and peace instead of difference and strife, and it means walking in the same spirit and steps as Jesus, who humbled Himself for humanity that believers might be exalted as sons and daughters of God and find rest of soul. Young and aged alike are to show it, the aged growing mellow in disposition, for divine grace can sanctify character and soften stern traits. It makes labor acceptable to God and useful to His cause, finds a place in the hearts of His people, clothes with genuine not assumed dignity, brings His blessing and care, and seeks to excel not by belittling others' labors but in good works, following Him who though Majesty of heaven became a servant, did not avoid weariness, and traveled on foot teaching by the wayside. It appears in constant works of mercy and shedding light on others' pathway without calling attention to personal virtue, self-denial, self-sacrifice or benevolence, seeking neither gain nor honor, performing even wonderful healings as quietly as possible and walking lowly. This lowliness stands in direct contrast to religion of display — praying publicly, doing charity for effect, trumpeting good deeds, claiming to be without sin — and those who measure piety by display reject it as worthless and reject Christ because of it. One may be correct on many points of truth yet lack this mind, and until converted and self dies he cannot bless any church, but sees faults in others, questions those who disagree, excuses those who agree, uses truth to quarrel and boast, and turns souls away so that his light is called darkness; when he sees himself as he is, corrects defects of character, dies to self and becomes teachable, he can let his light shine in good works that lead others to glorify the Father in heaven.
That mind is self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' good. He left the royal courts of heaven, stepped down from His throne, laid aside kingly crown, royal robe, glory and supremacy, clothed divinity with humanity, submitted to poverty and a death of shame to save a sinful race, becoming poor that through His poverty people might be made rich. He did this not that people might lead a life of worldly pleasure and extravagance but that they might follow His example of self-denial for others, to seek and save the perishing and exemplify disinterested benevolence. His incarnation was an act of self-sacrifice and His life one of continual self-denial, manifesting the highest glory of God's love in the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son who is the express image of His person. Having this mind is both privilege and duty, and without self-denial and cross-bearing no one can be His disciple. That same mind must be in His workers, binding about their wants, living on the self-denial plan, giving all talents to God to be improved according to God's way and not their own ideas, working together with God in soul-saving with power and efficiency for the largest returns, never refusing to deny self for His sake, with the lesson learned in experience and not set aside for personal ideas and plans.
It is love that gives itself. Christ took human nature, joining divine power with human weakness, and humbled Himself to lift humanity and share His blessings, honor and glory with believers. He who fills all heaven with splendor and is worshiped by the heavenly host came to earth as man that people might be exalted to share His glory, and having the same mind means sacrificing self so others may be lifted up. He found joy in toil and suffering for others, and His followers find true happiness by following His example and living to do good to others. Christians reflect His image by denying self and sacrificing for one another, for without surrendering self they cannot love as He loved. He took human nature to display God's glory through human happiness and gave His life for that purpose, and believers share in what He is and has, becoming heirs of God and joint-heirs with Him, called to cooperate in His saving work and make sacrifices to relieve those in need.
Without this mind those claiming to be Christians are not Christians in character but misrepresent Christ and the truth, remain unconverted despite reputation, and cannot work with Him to draw people to Him. Mere profession deceives the soul, destroys truth by an unbelieving unsanctified life, and leaves its holder in hypocrisy, a constant denial of Christ rather than a confessing of Him, a cause of stumbling to others, keeping a selfish disobedient worldly spirit, doing half-and-half work and serving Mammon while the name is on the church books, unprepared to close earthly history and without God and without hope like the common sinner. Claiming to have advanced in Christian life is contradicted when conversation, influence and conduct do not reflect that mind. Having it molds character after the divine likeness and puts love and tenderness in the soul. It belongs to being doers of Christ's words, pure loyal and true to the highest interests, serving God with undivided affections, enthroning God in the heart while dethroning and expelling Satan, constantly looking to Christ and contemplating His character, loving the holy principles of God's law from the heart so that "I am a Christian" is the language of the heart, and thus being prepared in the short time remaining before accounts are settled for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Christ Himself, though divine and equal with God, humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, became human and obeyed even to death on the cross, and is now confessed as Lord to the glory of God the Father, and His humility and self-giving love are the pattern for believers and the essential subject of preaching and contemplation. He was wholly free of selfishness and did not live to please or glorify Himself, but lived to glorify God and save fallen humanity, giving up ease, honor, riches and supremacy, becoming poor, accepting suffering and humiliation and enduring death to save, so His life is the perfect pattern to study and imitate. Other Christians' failures should turn believers toward the Savior and strengthen resolve to become like Him, not lead them to copy those failures or dwell on them, for studying Christ rather than copying failings enables believers to resist temptations that would make them act inconsistently with His character. Following His example means dwelling on and speaking of His love and perfection rather than finding fault with others, and seeking to restore and help people. Having His mind is looking at His life, studying His character and copying His pattern, for what He was in perfect humanity believers must be, forming characters for eternity, and as co-workers with Christ this includes sharing with Him in His suffering, with the light of truth shining in this important period leaving no excuse for a low standard. It is living as Jesus lived not to please Himself, walking as He walked and working as He worked, and it must be carefully and prayerfully considered and put into active practice, confronting love of self-indulgence with the requirement to follow Him, and when obeyed it produces great reformation with righteousness and truth restored.
Receiving Mind by Faith
Philippians 2:5 is God's invitation for every person to receive the mind of Christ by conversion and transformation, acknowledging no standard but the perfection of God's mind and will and requiring conformity to His will. Everyone who receives Christ as personal Saviour is privileged to possess all His righteous attributes, with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, the inward person renewed day by day even while the outward perishes, and the whole being including even the thoughts brought into captivity to Christ. This learning of humility, self-denial, service and obedience rather than strife, vanity or self-interest comes through the Holy Spirit, since human goodness and righteousness do not arise from human effort alone. No one is to submerge his mind in the mind of a fellow mortal or imitate any merely human model, even one nearly perfect, for defective human beings cannot impart perfection, but each is to look to the divine Example with individual faith and individual experience. Christ graciously adapted His life for universal imitation, uniting wealth and poverty, majesty and abasement, unlimited power with meekness and lowliness to be reflected in every soul who receives Him, so that through His merits and power fallen humanity can be lifted from depravity, purified, made holy in its sphere as the Father is holy, reflect the image of Jesus, and become a living witness of what men and women may become through grace.
Receiving that mind requires thorough repentance, conversion and change of character, for a dedicated place of worship cannot substitute for cleansed hearts and God does not acknowledge people as His children without hearty repentance, confession of wrongs toward brethren and sisters, and shame before God for an unrighteous course. Pride and self-sufficiency must be put aside and crucified, personal ideas and policies given up, self emptied and self dying, and the will brought into full agreement and harmony with God's will. When people present themselves emptied of self, God supplies the place with the Holy Spirit and gives them of His fullness, for self cannot be retained and be filled with God, and this surrender ending the struggle of flesh against Spirit makes the person free indeed so he cannot be brought into servile bondage to sin. This abiding in Christ uproots self and belongs to overcoming and being among the worthy overcomers, requiring constant vigilant watch over mind and heart, no longer thinking own thoughts or doing own actions. When Christ dwells in the heart, love, tenderness and compassion replace evil speaking, bitterness and strife, producing reverence, order, unity and a humble loving spirit that puts others before self.
That mind comes by keeping the divine picture of Christ constantly lifted up before the people and studied in His life, lessons and perfection of character, contemplating the Redeemer until changed into His image. The Christ to be beheld reflects no shadows, is clothed in the attributes and glories of Deity, is in the likeness of the infinite God, and meekly and holily bore human sins to open the plan of salvation so that whoever believes may have everlasting life. The more the eye looks upon Him, the more creature merit sinks into insignificance and the more sinful and abhorrent sin appears, while beholding draws admiration, attraction, charm and desire to be like Jesus until assimilation to His image and having His mind. To receive Jesus as He is — full of compassion, amiable, courteous, divinely polite, full of goodness and mercy and forgiveness of sins — and to behold Him transforms into His image in gratitude and heavenly love, producing ever-increasing confidence, hope, patience and courage, living connection with God, humble grateful confidence as an abiding principle, and contemplation of His character who first loved us that sweeps unbelieving fears away before living trusting faith. To have that mind is to walk with God like Enoch, with the mind full of thoughts of Jesus as best Friend, growing into likeness with identity hid with Christ in God as a partaker of the divine nature escaped from corruption through lust.
It is gained and kept by earnest wrestling prayer with God to resist temptation, by watching every action so nothing harms Christian experience, by beholding the true standard of character and seeking self-mastery by constant prayer and faith. It requires reading the Scriptures attentively to get their full meaning and doing what is written, not being discouraged by failure but asking forgiveness and trying again, so that by using the grace bestowed a vigorous Christianity is gained and dull, sleepy, indifferent service is left behind. In this way the peace and joy and fragrance of Christ are brought into daily thoughts and practical life, making a new creature whose heart, purpose and will are bound up with Christ to do good and only good. The humble, meek, lowly mind ever cherishing the simplicity of Christ with self hid in Christ, which gives fitness for God's great work, is to be sought from God in prayer day and night with constant prayer, preparing believers to expect and endure the same cruel treatment He received as partakers of His sufferings without surprise when offenses come. Everyone must labor with earnestness and dependence on God to keep the mind in the right channel so the mind of Jesus becomes their own, opening the heart to the light of the Sun of Righteousness so it enters and shines through the whole heart.
Having the mind that was in Christ is not forced by God but must be individually decided by falling on the Rock and being broken, by opening the proud heart to the Spirit of God, by having intellectual ability sanctified to the service of God, and by being under the transforming power of God with the mind renewed by the Holy Spirit. It comes by drinking in the Spirit of God, which gives understanding of the character of sacrificial mission and work God gives to do and knowledge of Christ as the Burden-bearer who carries workers in that appointed work. It means living by faith, resting on God's promises and receiving the fullness of Christ, whose promised presence sustains this life of faith. It means daily seeking to have the mind of Christ in order to do His will in word and work, thus fulfilling the purpose of the eternal God and cooperating with Him in every measure He desires to carry out as His helping hand while living in this world.
Conversion changes character as a person enters personal relationship with Christ and receives His mind, turning from hereditary and cultivated tendencies and from the former mind to come under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit. It requires educating oneself to believe all of God's Word as wonderfully and gloriously fulfilled, so personal doubts vanish before true discernment and the doubts of others are dispelled through assurance of faith. For ministers and all workers it requires a deep work of the Holy Spirit and sanctification through the truth, giving up all selfishness to secure eternal life and bring the Spirit into life practice, showing the principles that governed His life in true humility of soul, meekness and lowliness instead of the sinner's character, and partaking of the self-denial and self-sacrifice that marked the Saviour's life as partakers of the divine nature. Mind and body powers are then held in subjection to Christ as a precious trust to be used in His service so souls are impressed by the truths taught. The verse requires taking Christ's mind by leaving self out and living by faith rather than relying on what can be seen.
Unity Humility Toward Others
Having the same mind cures the rising of self that tries to make other minds travel in the same lines with one's own opinions and ideas. It forbids carrying out one's own ideas and plans without interruption, forbids holding one's own course, words and reasoning as right without need of modification, and requires submitting every movement to strict self-examination and comparing every principle of action with the principles of God's Word. It requires counseling and working together in unity because in unity there is strength, rejecting selfishness and higher regard for one's own plans, opinions and work, refusing to act independently, and serving in oneness as Christ is one with the Father. That mind must be trained to think Christ's thoughts and enlightened to understand God's will and way rather than personal will, so that followers learn Christ's methods of work, let Christ shape their thinking, subdue self and walk humbly, especially those in responsibility lest they lower the spiritual standard.
It puts away the desire to control others, with strong traits that lead to such control subdued by grace so workers serve freely and in harmony with brethren. It gives up jealousy, cruel purposes, harshness and the urge to rule over others, and instead sets a righteous example through loving, tender care, with that change beginning at home in how a husband treats his wife and a parent treats children, where authority over God's people is exercised as faithful, tender shepherding and not domination. Where this mind and love rule, selfishness, suspicion, self-importance and arbitrary authority give way to peace and a changed spiritual atmosphere. Bringing heart and mind into conformity to it is the opposite of a spirit of rulership that restricts religious liberty and retards conversion, requiring following given light and not bracing against reproof, since resisting light makes conformity harder and continuing in rulership unfits one to deal with sacred spiritual interests.
It is shown in likemindedness, same love, one accord and one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory, in lowliness esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests as well as one's own. It appears in bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing and forgiving as Christ forgave, putting on charity as the bond of perfectness, letting God's peace rule in the heart, being thankful, and letting Christ's word dwell richly in wisdom with teaching, admonishing and singing with grace in the heart. Received as heavenly truth into a wholly yielded heart cultivating heavenly affections, it deepens love, gives joyful communion with God and intense interest in others, and makes one tender, courteous, sympathetic, kind, forbearing and forgiving, never coarse, rough, hard-hearted, revengeful or bitter, free to express tenderness, sympathy and praise instead of cold reproof, affectionate in family and faithful in friendship with neither evil speaking nor evil thinking, making the earthly home a type of the heavenly home. It makes one better in every relationship and duty, incompatible with unkindness, churlish or overbearing disposition, murmuring, complaining and fretful passion, and it works together with God for peace by praying for the Spirit's molding influence, governing lips by kindness, refusing sour discourtesy, and staying true to profession, with angels hovering round.
It turns from strife and bitterness to put others before self with love, tenderness and compassion replacing evil speaking and bitterness, which requires thorough repentance, conversion and change of character with confession of wrongs toward brethren and shame before God, since no dedicated house can substitute for cleansed hearts and order in the church. With this grace abiding, believers practice His lessons, value His mercy and love, and become peacemakers dealing with faults directly and privately rather than spreading discord. It meets disagreement calmly with self-control, kindness and courtesy, ruling out harsh speech, treating self as infallible, looking down on those who differ, and answering them as enemies with ridicule or jokes. It obeys every word of God and does justice to all, treating fellow workers with respect and kindness, bringing every word and thought into captivity, allowing no selfish, guileful, harsh or unbecoming speech, enduring wrong patiently without retaliation even under unjust and unreasonable trust, as Christ did no sin, spoke no guile, reviled not when reviled and threatened not when suffering. Learned under His yoke by denying self, lifting the cross, giving up wrong habits, disciplining self and parting with evil thinking and evil speaking, it makes words sweet and pure so they no longer wound souls, dishonor Christ with unhappy differences, or give the enemy place through divisive speech that keeps the church weak.
It represents Jesus in every circumstance by loving those who err with concern rather than neglect or contempt, remaining true to principle without revenge or retaliation, sacrificing hurt feelings and subduing self for their sake, contrary to self-love, self-righteousness and self-complacency. In correcting wrongdoing it patiently maintains a high standard, rebukes sin firmly and gives it no approval while keeping hope alive for the wrongdoer. Even when harmed, it treats erring brethren with love, mercy, tenderness and humility rather than coldness, caring for their souls, and when one has done wrong it corrects carefully, firmly and decisively in the Spirit of Jesus without selfish or improper feeling or word, while the wrongdoer owes humble confession to those oppressed. It promotes unity, confidence and love, heals old wounds, refrains from accusation, suspicion and harsh speech, and becomes an advocate for the erring as Christ is the living Intercessor.
It means thinking as Christ thinks, looking not to selfish interest but to others' interests and needs, taking Christ alone as example rather than erring men even when ministers. It forbids using brethren for personal profit through trafficking, trading and gathering unearned means, taking support from those who deprive themselves of comforts and necessaries, receiving from the less comfortable without sympathy, compassion or inquiry whether they can afford to help, and excusing such conduct because others do the same. Obedience requires a transformed life free from covetousness and avarice, content with what one has, refusing to seek one's own wealth, ready to help rather than be helped, representing Christ as laborers together with God who help the tempted, weed harsh condemning words from conversation, refuse to sow doubt, learn His methods, believe the Word and live in full assurance without doubting brethren. It rejects a demanding spirit over property and business shares that destroys the soul over not receiving its share, trusting the Lord who knows the trouble to set things in order, recognizing that a demanding heart misuses any share and wrongs self and others.
It brings humble views of self and desire for true goodness rather than greatness, leading believers to work for the church's purity and well-being and to give up personal interests and desires rather than cause division. As His glory and excellence are seen more clearly, one is brought low, freed from pride and self-exaltation, willing to regard even the lowest place in His service as honorable, dying to self, resisting praise and trust in human talent, and cherishing humble childlike faith relying on God as strength. Turning from self-importance and worldly success to humility rules out flattery, promotion-seeking, trust in finite ability and idolizing of talent, since measuring by merely human standards overestimates self and brings spiritual blindness and weakness. Viewing self humbly puts the church's purity and well-being ahead of personal interests even at sacrifice to prevent division.
Where Christ formed within is practiced in His words, it shows itself in living in harmony on earth in kindness, love, courtesy and delicate regard toward one another instead of satisfaction with one's own ways and complaining of brethren. Holding to peculiar ways and feeling justified in complaining proves His mind absent. Without this mind none will reach heaven, for those who cannot live in harmony now could not live through eternity in love and peace. Having His mind means the heart in sympathy with His mind and purposes, evidencing His abiding in the soul with sensitivity to sin, tender conscience and growing sense of His preciousness.
Self-Denying Missionary Service
Having Christ's mind means workers go into new unentered places where the gospel has not been proclaimed and work as He worked, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better than self and looking to others' interests, doing all things without murmurings and disputings as blameless lights in a crooked nation, following His self-emptying who though in the form of God and equal with God made Himself of no reputation, took servant form in human likeness, humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross for which God highly exalted Him with a name above every name. That same mind sends missionaries into difficult, disheartening fields to serve the lost as He did, accepting hardship and indignity to bring people back to God. To save men and women He descended to the lowest depths of humiliation yet untainted by sin to uplift the fallen, allowing no reproach or hardship to turn Him aside, so His true missionaries are willing to work in the hardest places if souls can be reached. His example calls laborers to leave the most desirable places and live close to the needy even in humble homes and difficult settings, joining divinity to humanity so humanity can touch humanity while divinity lays hold on God's throne. It is willingness to enter a disheartening field rather than draw back, to seek the one lost sheep from the wilderness of sin to the heavenly fold and endure every indignity from those He came to save, risking reputation and enduring a hundredfold more mortification than man could bring to place salvation within every soul's reach. That mind overcomes natural faults that would master the soul, endures the daily battle costing mortification and perhaps reputation, and willingly partakes of shame and reproach to become a stepping-stone lifting fellow men weak in moral power, a willingness every soul will be tested to prove.
Its special work is helping those fallen under temptation, especially men weakened in moral power by liquor, tobacco and stimulants to their own and their families' ruin, with the strong supporting the weak by all possible help, encouraging faith, strengthening every good trait, and remembering the ransom paid must not be of no account. The man is for the time under demonic power and past Satan's control, so helpers are to befriend him when sober without blame, help him rise, and awaken the sense that it is not too late to be a man because Christ died for that soul. Even when the addicted person refuses help or returns to the same destructive pattern, Christians keep trying to awaken and restore him, treating him as friend not condemning him when sober. Christlike love turns from self, uses abilities to save others, asks daily wisdom for dealing with those in Satan's snares, and wins back the erring remembering God loves them despite sin and gave His Son for everlasting life.
Laying aside glory, dominion and riches to seek the perishing in sin and humble Himself to human necessity to exalt people to heaven, He gave the perfect holy pattern of sacrifice, self-denial and disinterested benevolence to be known and imitated in character and works especially by ministers, which cannot be equaled yet must be copied according to ability given, with love for souls leading to denial of self and any sacrifice to co-work with Christ. That life of continual sacrifice for others' good means in missionary work sowing truth carefully, earnestly, patiently and without selfishness, weariness or discouragement, trusting God to quicken seed lying dormant until grace convicts the heart and brings fruit to His glory as co-workers with Christ and angels. Followers imitate His toiling, self-denying, doing-good life by serving humbly and faithfully in small or great work without seeking praise, out of love and gratitude.
Having this self-denying mind requires restraining every extravagance and refusing to spend God's money needlessly while His cause suffers, refusing to live by the world's selfish ideas, laboring untiringly and self-sacrificingly for bodies and souls as He did in human guise after leaving high heavenly command. His laying aside heavenly glory to come in human form to serve and suffer calls for sacrifice and economy in gospel and health work, avoiding extravagant display or outlay. This mind is remembered when tempted to spend for nicknacks, finery and extravagance, binding tastes, appetites and inclinations, practicing economy, teaching children self-denial and self-control by precept and example, avoiding needless spending on clothing, food and furnishings so more supports missions. It shows itself in liberal hearts opening hands to give freely and costly offerings to keep missionaries in the field and advance work in destitute fields, trusting God who holds all resources and knowing generous giving never impoverishes the church, evidencing transforming power that cleanses selfishness and keeps God's people distinct under higher Authority as co-operators with Christ, since all possessions are the Lord's lent property never to be neglected in helping.
It governs wages and means by self-denial and true missionary work rather than selfish grasping for higher wages, accepting differing hardships, acting harmoniously, taking Christ's yoke in constant readiness to deny self and living in purity contrasting worldly selfishness, satisfied with simple wants instead of spending needlessly for what a sanctified heart would not desire. Workers must not set high price on labors nor desire higher and still higher wages, for that spoils spirituality and misrepresents Christ's self-denial, and those in responsibility including physicians and institutional leaders must set self-denying example from the very beginning so lower-paid associates feel not wronged, keeping Christ's example before brethren as a missionary people supporting many laborers. Everyone from highest to lowest in God's publishing work must work on this principle with self-denial characterizing all, leaders maintaining the spirit that brought the work into existence, and those without missionary spirit should not continue, for public confidence must be retained or work fails. Salaries are to reject worldly standards and act responsibly so example agrees with gospel taught.
Having Christ's mind shares His concern for the whole saving work without drawing territorial lines, recognizing unworked parts of the vineyard and never refusing another field on plea one's own interests need all means, but with noble helpful spirit using the Lord's money where most needed. It includes His sympathy for the sick and suffering, for He went place to place healing, so medical missionary work cannot be separated from the gospel, and those closely connected with Him as disciples may be channels of God's healing. That mind attends to every case calling for sympathy physically and spiritually, learned through practical lines like teaching cooking and treating the sick, practicing truth as in Jesus with heart softened by holy principles, while Christ as Teacher and Physician co-operates to give bodily health and soul restoration, giving sanctified understanding with clarity and force for medical missionary work pleasing to God, loving God wholly and sharing Christ's humiliation bound to the atonement. Workers treat patients with kindness, tenderness and gentleness sharing His sympathy for needs and sorrows, with His life from manger to cross as pattern forming right feelings for showing His Spirit in care.
Medical workers need this mind beyond education as righteousness and sanctification, being emptied of self till no fiber of selfish root remains, with Christ as honored guest filling the vacuum producing faith, love and unselfish interest for perishing souls as leavening influence through living connection with God. Remembering souls purchased with His blood with eternal realities in view, they think no more of charging exorbitant prices after worldly custom than of betraying the Lord, working not as mere businessmen but as Christian physicians taking only what is honestly due with eye single to God's glory and first thought how to show truth's power regardless of cost to self. When self is surrendered and Christ fills the heart selfishness has no place, service is shaped by His unselfish concern for the lost, serving for God's glory not gain. Physicians must give up own ideas and plans injuring God's work, refuse display of expensive house and surroundings to appear successful and popular, unlearn self-exaltation and gain altogether different experience in word and deed before truly acknowledged as medical missionaries by the Great Physician. This mind is earnest devotion, purity, love and willingness to sacrifice for God's glory and salvation, serving from committed heart not for wages or honor, treating fellow workers with love and unity rather than envy, jealousy or rivalry, the spirit in actions revealing connection with Christ.
It governs outward appearance in plain dress conforming to light given, refusing rich costly dress for simple clothing, so those carrying truth where never represented do not contradict it by looks, and those lacking this harmony are not ready for missionary work. It calls worshipers to deny self, part with idols, economize in every line, keep a box in each house for the church fund and bring self-denying gifts to keep God's house orderly and comfortable rather than robbing the treasury appointed to sustain field ministers, except where deepest poverty leaves no other way to secure humblest worship place. Money saved or gained by plainness is put into God's treasury to advance missions and meet urgent needs, making givers truly richer by hundreds and thousands and millions, proving faithful to be trusted with more as they keep letting it out, escaping many worldly losses.
Christ's servants with His mind act promptly for the oppressed, fearing God, discerning right from wrong, restraining wrong, feeling pity and sympathy and relieving suffering at once without contempt, delay, ambition or arbitrary power, while lacking it leaves one hard-hearted caring only for reputation and forcing the needy to plead in vain. It rejects injustice and cruelty degrading those Christ redeemed, humbly helping and blessing the oppressed, tempted, poor and afflicted with tenderness rather than harsh words crushing wounded spirits or extinguishing hope. A humble contrite heart feeling another's suffering reflects His character wrought by the Spirit so duty to the needy is not evaded, strengthening the fainthearted and bringing truth and justice without discouragement instead of turning away or hardening the heart toward the poor, afflicted, tempted and wounded.
He came from heaven in the great salvation plan to exemplify self-denying self-sacrificing love for fallen humanity, and though God needs no human gifts, after His ascension He left His work to believers to carry to perfection by practicing His virtues and disinterested benevolence, showing love for souls through generous giving and influence.
Transformed Character Daily Life
Becoming Christlike means pride gives way to humility, sin is hated as what depraves and crucified Christ, self is seen more clearly in weakness and deep sinfulness, dependence on Him is learned in every temptation, and clearer sight of His glory and love in giving His life brings lowliness, removes self-exaltation, makes even the lowest place honorable, and awakens desire to help others know the Saviour in faithful loving service.
It shapes private and public conduct in a life devoted without reserve to God with integrity, refusing self-pleasing and persevering through difficulty, shining steadily to prepare self and others for future life, daily seeking to do His will in word and work to fulfill God's purpose and cooperate as His helping hand, putting on Christ and leaving self out by faith beyond sight, a need belonging to ministers as much as to the ignorant.
Those entering heaven must be like Jesus, bear His image and have His mind, imitating His example and living as He lived with goodness in selfless service to suffering people, for His incarnation and continual self-denial manifest God's love in the only-begotten Son as express image of His person, and having this self-denying, self-sacrificing mind is both privilege and duty, without which none can be His disciple or be purified for the royal family and eternal life.
Day by day one discovers unlikeness to Jesus and needs His fashioning hand to reflect His lovely image, longing for His meek lowly character, learning from Christ, revealing His spirit and following His methods while the Spirit transforms, with converted thoughts instead of disharmony and criticism, wearing His yoke, accepting counsel, welcoming Him within, walking His path, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but esteeming others better and seeking their interests, fixed on the heart-searching God in holy awe and trust, giving all in balanced obedience, growing by faith working by love to full stature complete in Christ, hid with Him in God in full assurance, triumphant, swallowed in divine love and strong in God.
It brings comfort and strength in sleeplessness and suffering, happiness, trust, peace and cheerfulness reflecting His light, His righteousness dispelling gloom, and it arms and prepares believers by constant prayer to expect and endure insult, misjudgment and cruel treatment as He received, partaking His sufferings without surprise.
It means dependence on God rather than self-confidence or leaning on people, human judgment or fallible institutions, shown in humility, full trust in the Lord as Ruler, meekness of spirit, less talking and much more praying, caution in plans and movements, seeking counsel and looking to Jesus, so divine power joins human effort and the work abides the test, makes strong instead of weak and uncertain, and fits sacred responsibilities, without which God's people repeat Israel's follies in Samuel's day.
It is patience, forbearance, self-control and calm endurance under variance, affliction, rejection, shameful abuse and despiteful treatment without passion, violence, retaliation, murmuring, discontent, resentment or fretting, but returning only compassion, pity and love with quiet dignity, unelated by applause, unafraid of threats, above human passion yet touched by woe, with serene inward calm and will swallowed in the Father's will, since another's wrong never excuses wrong, victory coming by overcoming as Christ overcame who did no sin, spoke no guile, reviled not and threatened not.
It makes one better in every relationship and duty, incompatible with unkindness, churlish overbearing disposition, murmuring and fretful passion, but tender, courteous, sympathetic, kind, forbearing and forgiving, never coarse, rough, hard-hearted, revengeful or bitter, free to express tenderness and praise instead of cold reproof, with no evil speaking or thinking, shown in affectionate parents, loving children, faithful friends and agreeable associates, making home a type of heaven by abiding love, deepening love, joyful communion with God and intense interest in others, received by heavenly truth in the heart, whole yielding and heavenly affections.
Husbands must have this mind in purity, nobility and elevated spirit, not using Scripture to enforce the wife's subjection but studying in light of the cross to be purified, refined, overcoming wicked passions and fit to be lord of the household, symbolizing Christ's love to the church, doing things making for peace in courtesy and holy tender affection, comforting and encouraging wives and children in sorrow, supporting health and courage, keeping minds peaceful, elevated and uplifted to perfection, opposite to domineering narrow Nabal-like spirit provoking to wrath, and when lived out making married life a representation of heaven.
In marriage and all service it means not seeking perfection in each other but bearing patiently, uniting interests, loving and working together, looking to Jesus in the patient race to the crown of life, giving soul, body and spirit to God without reserve, turning from self to Jesus and others' souls, being unselfish, self-forgetful, putting others' pleasure and comfort first, tender and thoughtful, doing distasteful domestic duties and deeds of kindness, hiding in Jesus in love and obedience, uncomplaining, cheerful, grateful, in steady self-discipline which is wholeness and true sanctification.
Teachers must have it by giving much thought to God instead of seldom reaching to Him, acting as shepherds watching for souls as giving account, fashioning minds and characters beyond book knowledge, learning in Christ's school from the divine Instructor, letting His character shape practical life and teaching by continually considering His excellence, keeping spirit and thoughts in subjection to Jesus, practicing subjection and patience lest faults pass to pupils, requiring care in choosing shapers of youth, becoming kind, attentive, courteous examples through the Spirit that gradually influence students.
It is the faith of Jesus in the soul-saving third angel's message to the world, with commandments and faith given equal force and power, no longer leaving faith casually understood while dwelling mostly on commandments, but comprehended, talked, lived, prayed and educated into home life and character.
It means standing faithfully for the gospel and defending Bible truth without giving enemies occasion to triumph, holding fast right principles and integrity under temptation in Christ as Pattern, cherishing His humility and meekness instead of pride, vanity and display, rejecting bribes of high wages and coveting money for self-exaltation that sacrifices His life-principles, for where that mind is absent truth has no sanctifying power, the soul lifts to vanity and traders of principle for earthly treasure lose heavenly treasure to shame unless they repent.
It requires separation from worldly fashions and practices by a renewed mind, transformed rather than shaped by the world, for friendship with the world is hostility to God and those not valuing heavenly inheritance enough to separate share the world's fate, meaning Christlikeness in humility and simplicity as Commander of heaven come poor and staying humble, forbidding worldly ideas, patterning appearance and methods after the world for favor with higher classes, or copying worldly-wise customs, since outward show gives no true influence but only weakness, power lying in truth itself not display, and enabling walk with God uncontaminated like Enoch in corrupt age.
It means working in His ways rather than self-centered ideas for advantage, armed with His mind to look from seen temporal things to unseen eternal things, fixing mind on heavenly things and eternal weight of glory in thought and talk, curing spiritual infancy, doubt, discouragement and stumbling over trifles, working out salvation with fear and trembling, keeping fervor by remembering heaven to gain and hell to shun as pilgrims soon laying armor at the Redeemer's feet, cooperating with God's will instead of hindering, and carrying on without discouragement when no results appear.
God's promises are given so believers may have this mind and be partakers of divine nature, not merely to obtain gifts, making one firm in principle, steadfast in faith, unswerving in truth, virtue and loyalty, cultivating Christlike character ennobling every rank for acknowledgment as fellow workers, with Jesus abiding filling the heart with holy graces visible in transformed countenance as law is written on the heart and obeyed.
It properly represents God's character so His will is done on earth as in heaven, making one holy, fruitful, abounding in every good work, unwearied in well-doing, turning hope from earthly promotion to exaltation to Christ's throne and kingdom prepared from the foundation, like Christ in aspiration, meekness, lowliness and fragrance by wearing His yoke, united in ascribing praise to God supreme, pressing lifelong upward to perfection and conformity until complete in Him, which requires a clean soul temple washed in the open fountain, heaven's attractions brought to mind, responsibility for every ray of light, and refusing a low standard for the high standard of Calvary.
It must shape business conduct, unlike hurried, stormy, faultfinding behavior or joking nonsense treating sacred things as common, which personal way never excuses nor glorifies God, and shape teaching in clear simple ways as He taught so common people gladly heard, studying His lessons and valuing simplicity rather than theatrical methods to please taste.
Leaders and ministers must earnestly learn it instead of filling the mind with fine theories made to look great, idolizing few ideas injuring influence, or picking detached paragraphs to build positions without God's leading to please the enemy, but subdue self, walk humbly, let Christ shape thinking, train mind to think His thoughts and understand God's will and methods, seek wisdom from God as fountainhead rather than human mediators, for a leader not humbly following lowers the standard and harms the cause.
It forbids a spirit of rulership restricting religious liberty and retarding conversion and post-meeting work, requiring bringing heart and mind into conformity, following given light and not bracing against reproof, for resisting light hardens conformity, and continuing in rulership leaves one unfit for sacred spiritual interests, since man's mind must not rule where God belongs but Christ's mind must be in man acting as Christ would in whatever exalted position, Christlike in every stroke, word and character.
It means sinking self out of sight, willingness to be hidden for greater usefulness, silence when accused giving confidence, controlling impetuosity proving experience more than wise words, presenting facts and needs without condemning brethren, recognizing all have infirmities, never esteeming self superior, carrying work forward in love and harmony, with His Spirit uniting while allowing individuality to serve in own part, less self and more Jesus blending efforts wherever possible.
It is shown in Gethsemane trust through suffering with heart pleasing God and will surrendered, refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity while entrusting self to the righteous Judge, choosing humility and service requiring strength, grace and wisdom, learned by ceasing trust in man, earnest prayer for wisdom, eye on Calvary seeing transgression cost the Son's blood, hating sins wounding Jesus, keeping contrition while viewing Him as compassionate High Priest, purifying by faith working by love, preparing a people to stand in God's day and return to commandments through propitiation for the whole world, instead of dwelling on faults.
It keeps words from hurting people under severe temptation when His mercy and patience are practiced, softens stern traits by grace, sanctifies character for young and aged alike with gentle peaceful courteous example free of hasty words or rude actions, and makes the aged mellow.
It gives high, pure, elevated thoughts by identity hid with Christ in God, escaping corruption through lust, beholding Christ by faith and changed into His image, watching actions, seeking self-mastery by prayer and faith, asking forgiveness after failure and trying again, reading Scripture attentively and doing it, bringing His peace, joy and fragrance into daily life as a new creature bound to do only good, lifting to God's standard instead of low self-made standard, seeing as God sees with depths beyond short measure, giving success in overcoming instead of conceit, extremes, low contentment and condemning others.
It brings contentment in God's appointed place and faithfulness in common simple duties instead of idle wishing for great work, spending life doing reachable good even when rejected as in His own country, denying selfish desires, worldly honor and grasping ambition, shutting out pride, envy, resentment and jealousy, always awake to sufferers with inward purity and divine loveliness without taint, which self-sacrificing life is true worship and pattern.
Faithful service done for God's glory not honor forms the mind like Christ through communion, prayer and wholehearted faithfulness, seeking understanding, cooperating to bless others, deepening companionship, seeing Christ in fellow workers, having His mind at all times seeing through His mind, working with abounding grace on His safe side, abiding in Him, learning Christlikeness unwearied in well-doing, putting away sharpness and close dealing so angels work with efforts.
It means hiding self in Jesus and letting Christ appear, representing Him, loving souls as He did, obedient, courteous, full of sympathy, evidencing transforming power against prejudice, custom and fashion, which is the greatness, power and efficiency of truth's advocates, getting out of self into Jesus to show Christlike character undiscouraged in trial.
It means living fully in God's favor so the greatly blessed know how to treat the less favored, working from Bible standpoint against worldly customs, laboring where most needed, elevating character by teaching Christian living and exemplifying Christ's Spirit, showing all are one brotherhood.
It means being one's brother's keeper, opening heart to let Christ in and put Him on for every member and laborer wherein lies greatest triumph, giving insight into needs of blood-bought heritage valuing souls too costly to treat carelessly, with the experienced and responsible watching influence because the weak in moral courage look to them, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside.
It requires learning from the Great Teacher unto humility rather than self-sufficiency, making work wholesome, pure, ennobling and evident at home with grace purifying motives and governing actions, submitting to discipline making humble, keeping gentle spirit under trial and annoyance, living Christ's life by putting away passionate temper and walking in meekness and lowliness.
It overcomes the natural irritable, passionate, selfish heart ready to take offense, complain and accuse when reproved or crossed, and unless overcome and His mind cultivated as abiding presence, such professors show Christ not abiding, testify falsely, quench brotherly love, grieve the Spirit, dishonor the Lord, do great harm, and will never join the royal family.
It is sweet, beautiful and mighty to conquer, making one a blessing in home, church and world speaking peaceably and kindly, in contrast to satanic fury quarreling over trifles unto hatred, emulation, murder, imperiled churches and warfare, and being created anew, contemplating redemption to partake divine nature, Spirit and righteousness, it draws from political strife to rest in God, clothes with His righteousness, assures His indwelling and cries at His glory full of grace and truth.
It means self crucified with eye single to God's glory which alone keeps safe, His claims on words and actions, Spirit working outward requiring weighed speech and subduing all to His mind, Word obeyed as governing law touching every spring and phase, elevating and purifying sons and daughters, passions subdued daily, mind cooperating to fit for highest service, with accountability for deeds in the body, principles agreeing with God's words living by every word, built on Christ to stand temptation, separated from idols and uncleanness, worshiping in holiness, rising higher yearly, walking in light without stumbling, unlike mere self-denying professors on books who are tares misrepresenting Him.
It is self-denial constantly seen from manger to Calvary as substitute and surety through whom all blessings come, so no worker greater than the Master must seek to be greater or seek selfish gain but must maintain His spirit as true missionaries, examples, rightly related to God, worthy in redemption watched by the universe, a followable life leaving royal courts, taking humanity, living righteously, enabling humanity to overcome and live righteously, with overcoming resisting the enemy, drawing near God, taking cross against inclination, His strength making perfection possible.
His perfect example in every detail despite opposition is to be followed and taught to children, looking at His life, studying character, copying pattern, becoming what He was in perfect humanity, forming characters for eternity, sharing suffering as co-workers, leaving no excuse for low standard in this important period.
It requires comparing character with Christ as Pattern and conforming life as the track to heaven, with earnest work between God and soul now without complaint, murmuring or self-petting, no time to lose, each saving soul by own righteousness through His redemption to likeness, refined, softened, humbler, self dying, bruised and warred against in Jesus to overcome as victor clothed with white-robed ones, correct in truthfulness, honesty, faithfulness and example to children.
It means having His love shape practical life in seeking others' highest good, serving rather than seeking to be served, caring for needs and sorrows, helping rather than dwelling on faults, modeling Christian conduct, looking beyond own interests, resisting selfishness and covetousness, practicing cheerful daily self-denial with love and forbearance.
It means using possessions as He did: though heir of all He gave all for salvation, followers employ capabilities in His service, choosing self-denial and humility over extravagance and display, giving freely as service made privilege by His shameful death for everlasting life.
It means forgetting self instead of dwelling on trials, looking outward to others' needs as partners with Jesus, with earnest burden-lifting curing mental ailments and lessening personal burdens until not worth mentioning.
It means turning from self-importance and worldly success to humility and childlike faith, ruling out flattery, promotion-seeking, trust in finite ability and idolizing talent, with self dying and God becoming strength, requiring conversion instead of liberty to censure God's chosen workers, opposite to Israel's murmuring against Moses as God's leader causing wilderness fall, an example to those on whom ends come to consider calmly and rationally before rebelling.
It is shown in true Christian humility rather than expensive dress, giving influence and exalting the Savior through deportment, lives and words in harmony with faith, as seen in sanitarium workers.
It is freedom from self; bringing self into work shows its absence and untrustworthiness, while losing sight of self in Christ banishes selfishness, conforms life to His teachings and plans to His great plan of love, and makes efforts valuable.
Following His example means surrendering self so the Spirit guides the heart into accord with God's mind, overcoming natural passions, reflecting God's image when self no longer seeks supremacy and selfish impulses no longer rule.
It means meekness and lowliness learned by wearing His yoke, accepting His counsel, welcoming Him within, walking where He walked, finding rest of soul, and being exalted as sons and daughters of God, proving belonging to Christ and bearing same fruit as branches of the Vine in unity and peace, through obedience without which no favor, giving up self-importance and display to receive His meekness and sanctification through truth instead of sanctioned exaltation.
It calls believers to become more like Jesus in conduct by obeying sanctifying truth, to represent Him in every circumstance, and to let His mind shape work so self is submerged and Christ alone appears lovely in the gospel invitation carried with earnest love, presenting the free feast to draw people, requiring faithful obedience for transformation.
It is Christ's righteousness and love for the world, the grand theme to be lifted up, contemplated, adored, formed within and kept on every tongue, reviving and quickening to new life, shown in Him in form of God and equal with God making Himself of no reputation, servant in human likeness, obedient to cross-death, therefore exalted so every knee bows and tongue confesses Him Lord to the Father's glory.
It is Christ the center in self-denial, sacrifice, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, formed within through the Spirit, the more sought the more valuable life becomes, awakening love and fervor as gospel themes.
It means having His mind ruling in the heart, crucifying haughtiness and casting out pride, envy and evil surmising, sanctified through truth as partakers of divine nature, with Christ abiding instead of self, working reformation preparing for translation, revealing graces and fruits of the Spirit.
It means acting out His mind and speaking His words instead of serving the enemy with harshness, overcoming temptation to unkindness, with Jesus dwelling by the Spirit in the home, since only overcomers will enter heaven.
It means taking His mind and character as pattern while the Spirit daily shapes character, receiving righteousness from God and sharing its light in unselfish influence and relationships.
It is essential not merely for reflection but for practical life and teaching, shaping conduct in serving God humbly, walking humbly, and living truth in word, spirit and action rather than insisting on one's own plans or separating, so teachers considering His excellence and bringing His power need not lament inefficiency.
It means yielding wholly to God's will rather than own righteousness, with God then working mightily through efforts, and means minds changed into conformity shown by the baptized living as new creatures raised from the dead, following step by step.
It means having His mind controlling every thought and purpose, with love constraining imagination and plans from selfish desires to pity for souls, laying self on God's altar as willing sacrifice with truth stamped on the soul, not planning for own pleasure but feeling self-sacrifice in labor as souls' worth is realized, ever keeping this attitude before God.
It means having His mind and Spirit reigning with grace and truth inspiring and controlling actions, becoming living representatives read by all, bearing His dying in the body, even bringing persecution from those rejecting truth and despising the cross, yet ministry bringing glorious results though unlearned.
It means having a mind in harmony with God's mind, constantly learning, teaching and reflecting light away from prevailing errors, with teachers, physicians and helpers showing zeal and burning love, while selfish guides point wrong, required of all seeking glory, honor and immortality.
It means receiving heavenly truth into the heart, yielding wholly and cultivating heavenly affections, deepening love, producing communion with God and interest in others, making one tender and forgiving never coarse or bitter.
It means daily imitating His benevolent character not seeking His own interests but doing good, entering holy communion, blessing the world, finding contentment and receiving eternal reward.
It means serving God with undivided affections, enthroning God and dethroning Satan, constantly contemplating Christ and loving His law from the heart, without which profession deceives and misrepresents Him and destroys truth by unsanctified life.
It means abiding in Christ with self uprooted and dead, belonging to overcoming, requiring constant watch with no longer thinking own thoughts or doing own actions.
It means counting no sacrifice too great to control passions and wrong tendencies and taking heed not to lead others astray, knowing a wrong course turning others aside is recorded in heaven, after His great sacrifice leaving royal courts in flesh to show cooperation for salvation possible.
It means Christ's mind free from self-seeking wholly given to service, shown when heaven's Prince lived a perfect human life as divine ideal, while desire for wealth, power and supremacy fills the world with envy and strife.
It means imitating His toiling, self-denying, doing-good life humbly and faithfully in small or great work without seeking praise, from love and gratitude, as He came to teach how to live.
It means genuine simplicity instead of forms, true love reaching for souls and bearing burdens, and labor educating souls by the Word adapted to all classes, which alone purifies from impurity.
It means presenting truth with meekness and fervor, taking up His ideas, keeping souls' worth before them and living what is taught so lives reveal likeness to Jesus.
It means working as He worked in deed and truth with self-denial and cross-bearing rather than letting the world's spirit control thoughts and conduct, and naturally developing His mind by denying self and following, unlike half-and-half Mammon-serving professors whose standing is hypocrisy, stumbling to others, unprepared and without hope.
It means ever cherishing His simplicity with self hid in Christ, giving fitness for God's great work, to be sought in prayer day and night.
It means steadfastly seeking His mind in any employment, with counselors dealing faithfully but never rudely or overbearingly, treating people as the Lord's purchased possession not servants to order.
It means resembling Christ in service to seek and save the lost, with tender sympathy, love for souls and benevolence as the very essence of Christian character, working with Christ humbly, lowly, unselfishly rather than from self-sufficiency or indifference.
It means humility through true knowledge of grace, opposite to making self the center, treating one's word as unquestionable and arbitrary authority as law.
It means forgetting self and working for others with body and mind in unselfish service instead of self-indulgence, willing to do lowly work as He did, on which depend harmony, happiness and higher attainments as God intended.
It means self-denial and great love for souls received by the truly converted, changing moral taste to single purpose in expenditures for God's glory, right church influence, and testimony as God's children without lifting a worldly standard, constantly fearing to lift it in place of Christ's banner.
It means humiliation, meekness and lowliness enduring suffering for love, working to do good to youth and the erring with sanctified tenderness, requiring self crucified as painful death that is life to the soul.
It means learning meekness and lowliness shaping faithful daily duties, enabling workers to reflect the divine image and its glory to the world in self-denial and sacrifice.
It means putting on Christ and being yoked to Him in continual self-denial and willingness to sacrifice to advance God's work and serve suffering people.
It means letting Him put His mind in believers to love as brethren with meekness instead of cruel thoughts and evil speaking, learned under His yoke by denying self, lifting the cross and parting with wrong habits and divisive speech, disciplining self, for zeal untempered is vain, and with His mind words become sweet and pure, no longer wounding or dishonoring by differences nor giving enemy place weakening the church.
It is received by sitting meekly at Jesus' feet, giving right views of God's character to teach, shown in plain, searching, practical preaching instead of formal religion without a Savior, having the mind of God in Christ one with the Father cheerfully obedient, the perfect pattern with heaven enshrined in humanity embraced by Infinite Love.
A minister is to be like Christ in mind, thought, word and action, avoiding entanglements diverting from God and serving carefully and wisely to continue doing good.
It brings peace, harmony and rest in Jesus into the home, replacing dictatorial determination to have one's own way with love and forbearance, joining love with justice in managing children instead of severity alone, respecting wife's judgment and conscience as Christ's property, refusing to differ before children, leaving room for the Lord to impress her rather than insisting all conscience comes through the husband.
It means having His meekness when dealing with fellow workers, sharing clearer understanding by going directly to them humbly to show improvement, giving help instead of criticism so words bless.
It means becoming like Jesus by contemplating Him, with love, pity, tenderness, courtesy and service rather than desire for praise, using blessings and abilities for greater service, learning His sacrifice in becoming poor.
Workers united with Christ become humble and teachable rather than self-exalted, with power from the Spirit not wealth, learning or position, impressing others by their lives shaped by His meekness and lowliness.
It means self is crucified and claims on words and actions yielded to God's glory, with Christ's Spirit uniting workers while allowing individuality, and with less self and more of Jesus blending efforts wherever possible.
Neglecting spiritual things can leave people satisfied with own righteousness rather than shaped by Christ, whose self-renouncing life is the pattern to study.
Mere profession does not make a Christian; the vital question is having His mind, which is God's love revealed through Christ as sin-bearer with heaven opened to enrich believers, proved by diffusing light rather than spending on self-indulgence as in Noah's day.
It means the mind of man must not rule where God belongs but Christ's mind must be in man, acting as Christ would act in whatever position, Christlike in every stroke of work, word and character.
It means trusting oneself in His hands with humble trust, clinging to His mighty hand, coming nearer to Jesus for peace and rest, of good courage without faintness or distrust because Jesus lives and reigns, cherishing humility and meekness and hiding in Him to work.
It means meeting God's high standard by a clean soul temple washed in the open fountain, with heaven's attractions brought to the mind, responsibility for every ray of light, and refusing a low standard, for setting mind on trifles leads lower and lower.
It means having His mind and Spirit in character and dealing with others as true sanctification, dying to self with consecration, molding reproof with humility and wise words to make friends, qualifying for important positions, moving all acts for God's glory, spiritualized and polished, without stern severity wounding.
It means feeling obligation to do one's best with accountability to God, working intelligently, cheerfully and unitedly whether with many talents or few, cooperating with established work rather than independently establishing one's own methods, doing appointed part wherever providence leads to build up work.
It is essential to Christian life, and one lacking it should not lead another from right; a Christian keeps distinct identity not submerged in another's influence and stands firmly in righteousness developing character God approves.
It means following His self-denial and sacrifice in suffering and dying as pattern, so churches deny self and willingly share therein, exalting life to meet the divine standard with persevering energy to lighten others' burdens directly in the path, beginning at once, for failing is failing duty and no idea of Him can be too exalted.
It means consecrated noble efforts for souls with unfailing determination, getting out of self into Jesus to show Christlike character under trial without discouragement.
It means being armed to intelligently take hold of God's work through childlike prayer for the Spirit, trusting the Word, going forward undiscouraged, with angels teaching and blessing and the heart filled with satisfaction unknown in carelessness.
It means turning to God in prayer rather than relying on people, looking to Him for wisdom with eye on Calvary, seeing transgression cost the Son's blood, hating the wounds given Jesus, keeping contrition while viewing Him as compassionate High Priest preparing a people to return to the commandments.
It means submitting to insult and mockery without retaliation, doing the will of Him who sent Christ, walking in His footsteps for others' good with eye single to glory, which is the Redeemer's only way unto eternal life.
It means self-denying missionary work shaping life after His example, going in His Spirit as cooperating agents bearing God's love as He represented the Father, proclaiming Him Advocate and the Lord waiting to be gracious with mercy encircling the throne, giving up self-indulgence and pride.
It means not confining care to family or seeking profit, convenience and pleasure, but bearing responsibility for others and showing His love, with parental responsibility done humbly in Christlike spirit though He possessed all things yet claimed none, following His selfless shaping of mind and conduct.
It is shown in hope, love and brotherly kindness rather than seeking supremacy, remedying dissension and serving as missionary work, and in drawing near to brethren, trusting ministers, loving fervently and being an example in word, conduct, charity, faith and purity, encouraging faithful responsibility in fear of God.
It is shown in refusing jealousy, resentment and defense of dignity, choosing humility and service which calls for strength, grace and wisdom, entrusting self to the righteous Judge when insulted, and in not grasping authority or compelling obedience but allowing time and light for decision with each judged by light received, after laying aside glory to take servant humanity and obey to cross-death.
It means studying and practicing His life to guard every talent of influence, since acts, thoughts and words yield precious fruit when bearing heaven's endorsement, while impulsive remarks sow irrecoverable evil, with ministers living in sight of the universe.
Those imbued with His Spirit do His works serving others rather than from selfishness, and His mind and Spirit within are necessary for true confession, with inward grace appearing in conduct since profession alone is insufficient, shown by real acquaintance with Father and Son, not high self-estimate, self-use, exorbitant prices, judging brethren or disharmony, but sanctified submissive humble heart bearing outward fruits.
It shapes conduct in serving God humbly, walking humbly, living truth in action rather than separating, and brings holy views ennobling workers of every rank to be acknowledged as fellow workers with transformed countenance as the law is written on the heart.
It is Christ's righteousness formed within to be lifted up, contemplated and adored, reviving to new life, and is known by knowing Jesus which is eternal life, with God sending light into the heart to give knowledge of His glory in Christ's face, receiving and spreading lifelong the knowledge He unfolded rather than leaving unused, since known duty undone becomes a curse and works then carry heaven's fragrance.
It requires converted thoughts to work successfully in His lines instead of criticizing God's guided work, learning from Christ, revealing His spirit, following His methods and contemplating His character so the Spirit transforms.
It means living as He lived not to please Himself, carefully considered and practiced, confronting self-indulgence, and when obeyed producing reformation with righteousness restored, walking and working as He walked.
It means rejecting harshness toward fellow blood-bought brethren, laboring together with God, helping the tempted, weeding condemning words, refusing to sow doubt, learning His methods and living in full assurance toward brethren, regarding them precious.
It acts promptly for the oppressed with fear of God, discernment, pity and immediate relief without contempt or ambition, while lacking it leaves one hard-hearted and forcing the needy to plead in vain, caring only for ambition and reputation, whereas having it saves helper and sufferer needless trouble and restrains wrong.
Being born from above gives this humble mind that gave Himself for salvation, so believers do not seek the highest place but learn from Him, with work's worth depending on the Spirit within forming holier qualities and patience, not display, noise or own strength.
It lets His tenderness shape character to self-denial, giving to relieve suffering and laboring for salvation, giving up selfish interests, luxury, passions and desire for praise, serving without partiality and refusing indulgence while others suffer, opposing oppression and injustice, willing to live humbly even to give life.
It means rejecting morbid gall and bitterness, since spirit shapes character and character rules mind, with complete self-denial following Him from heaven through overcoming Satan's hindrances to Calvary where He became sacrifice descending to unfathomable humiliation as God dying for the race, pressing steadfastly without failing.
It takes His example as authoritative standard requiring self-denial and giving up all, following His humble self-giving mind in subjection to one another, with the cross teaching love and the value of souls, remembering His humiliation to deny self to save the perishing.
It follows His perfect pattern leaving heaven to become human, teaching by example and daily sacrifice unto the cross, requiring parents to fashion families to God's glory, work out salvation daily, humble self under God, with close followers exalted and crowned beside Him, refusing haphazard work and self-exaltation, counting costly salvation too great to treat lightly.
Because He gave all withholding not His life, believers must not consult ease but yield as living sacrifice, summoning every power with disinterested love as laborers together with God bringing many to glory, manifesting same self-denial and interest for souls, following the Captain leaving royal courts as example of heaven's path, in personal effort not putting feelings first.
Every son and daughter must have it to adorn doctrine, overcoming likes and self-favoring, letting God's peace rule with Christ dwelling as living power strengthening what remains.
It means opening the heart, letting Him in and putting Him on, for every member and laborer, giving insight into needs of His heritage and valuing souls too costly to treat carelessly, wherein lies greatest triumph.
When His grace abides believers practice His lessons, value His mercy and become peacemakers dealing directly and privately, and His condescension and self-giving love must shape character with His infinite sacrifice worked out in life, making salvation possible.
It rejects higher regard for one's own plans and independent action, instead counseling and working together as servants of all, with His love shaping life, words and deeds into union valuing others' gifts and seeking counsel rather than dominating, willing to learn how to teach and help.
Through faith it lays aside royal rank, takes humanity and becomes poor, imitated through self-denial, love and unity so believers share divine nature, become rich in heavenly attributes and through suffering receive kingdom inheritance and glory, standing as substitute and surety.
In facing opposition it looks to Jesus trusting Him to speak through believers, with conduct reflecting His love while the Spirit applies truth and convicts hearts.
His self-sacrificing love giving all calls to liberality and benevolence through good works rather than selfishness, and to choosing fellowship with Him over frivolous pleasure which influences others, in deed and truth resisting self-indulgence.
It gives up personal pleasure for others' good, with sinners' salvation as the joy sustaining Him through suffering likewise spurring Christians to service pleasing God in love and devotion.
It is marked by humility rather than self-importance, meaning dying to self and resisting trust in talent, with true representatives not exalting self but looking to Christ as head, cherishing childlike faith with God as strength.
It is meekness, lowliness and burden-bearing following His condescension while putting away pride, helping escape corruption, sharing divine nature and essential for entering the kingdom, esteeming others and bearing burdens in self-denial.
Being Christian is submitting will to God in everything, yielding self-will, seeking His glory, cause and others' good rather than self-gratification; those losing control when opposed have not harmonized will with God, and bearing the name alone is not enough.
His self-denial makes servants' trials seem small, calling for cheerfully giving up wishes and pleasures with duty and soul-saving first, imitating His useful life using time and strength to spread truth, living not for ease but to save souls.
Learning from the Great Teacher unto humility makes work wholesome and evident at home, with grace purifying motives, and brings victory without competing with worldly institutions by choosing the cross over worldly status, in meekness and lowliness rather than rank, size or splendor, surrendering disappointed hopes rather than losing eternal life.
Believers take Him as example working, sacrificing and loving in unity as God's children, with His becoming poor showing the self-denying spirit to cherish at home.
His humility without display patterns missionary work, coming not with angels but as example sharing human experience, becoming poor and humbled, and models imitating Him rather than seeking a better portion as He lifts from ignorance and joins to divine nature.
It means sharing concern for the whole saving work, cultivating His spirit to join upright dealing with kindness and conciliatory deportment, with kind words and unselfish courtesy multiplying usefulness and heaven recording every unkind word, loving brethren for His sake, sanctified soul, body and spirit for angels' society, speaking only in kindness, with Jesus giving Spirit and grace especially to holy trusts as examples in word, forbearance and lowliness under Christ as Head, rendering account free from impulse with eye single to glory, temple cleansed, life assimilated to His image by grace and faith.
It means having His mind at all times seeing through His mind, working with abounding grace on His safe side, abiding in Him, putting away sharpness so angels can work with human efforts.
His mind is simplicity, self-denial and economy to be taught even to the poor against pride, display, indulgence and idleness that bring penury and degradation, resisting worldly spirit though lessons seem hard.
Those seeking the lost need His mind and must teach truth as in Jesus, for self-reliance is insufficient for success.
It is humble dependence seen in meek spirit, less talking, more prayer and caution, and leaders must cherish broad views as apt learners with minds enlightened to God's will, trained to think His thoughts and follow His methods, not led by own will.
It lives in humility with sympathy for weakness rather than harshness, staying close to Jesus in trust keeping piety sound amid evil, seeking the lost with victories rejoicing heaven, without lessened zeal.
Without His mind and Spirit, though practicing self-denial and on church books, one is as tares misrepresenting Him; with it one separates from uncleanness, worships in holiness and walks in light without stumbling.
It requires self to die with no separate interest apart from the work, putting truth's cause and others' good ahead of saving self.
It is shown in earnest devotion, purity, love and sacrifice tested in every department, serving not for wages or honor but for God's glory and salvation, with trial manifesting connection with Christ, heart enlisted, fruits seen as in the divine Lord.
It is compassion sharing sorrow in tenderness, communicated as righteousness to one looking to the Lord as friend, loving and fearing Him, possessed even by youth under discipline bearing fruit and preserving integrity under false accusation, drawing nourishment as from a fountain like seed in good soil.
It practices self-denial using resources to relieve God's children following Jesus rather than spending only for self, and attends to every case calling for sympathy physically and spiritually with heart softened by the Word, asking from the central Source of power, taught through practical missionary lines, stirred at woe and poverty, with Christ cooperating to give bodily health and soul restoration.
It means separation from the world rather than shaping by its fashions, transformed by renewal, for friendship with the world is hostility toward God, taking His spirit to serve wholly and work with Him apart from selfish aims.
It controls every thought, turning from selfish plans to love and pity, laying self on the altar as willing sacrifice felt in labor as souls' worth is realized.
It is true meekness, devotion and consecration free from pride with unselfish interest in doing good, making labor acceptable and useful, clothing with dignity and seeking to excel by good works not belittling, following Him who though Majesty became a servant traveling on foot teaching by the wayside without avoiding weariness, finding place in hearts with God's blessing.
It means acting like Christ conforming life to His instead of former ignorance, drawing together in brotherly love with no suspicion, judging or condemning, producing unity without variance, fulfilling Christian obligations.
It longs for His meek mind, daily discovering unlikeness and needing His fashioning hand to reflect His image, hid with Christ in God in full assurance, drawing strength from the sanctuary, triumphant, plunged in divine love and strong in God.
It is shown in constant mercy shedding light without calling attention to virtue, seeking neither gain nor honor, performing even healings quietly, against display religion of public prayer and trumpeted deeds, walking lowly with unassuming manners, rejected by those measuring piety by display who thus reject Christ.
His disinterested benevolence marks His mission and calls ministers to selfless care, with self-denial essential to acceptable work allowing no selfishness, sharing His self-denying sacrificial spirit in service and devotion.
It is dependence combining divine power with human effort so work abides testing, without which God's people repeat Israel's follies in Samuel's day.
It exemplifies unselfish concern beyond family, profit and pleasure, bearing responsibility for others.
A true missionary heart is filled with Christlike love and steadfastness to principle, and Peter forgiven after denial needed this mind remembering weakness and patient love to be patient and forgiving toward the erring in caring for sheep, serving by His pattern conciliatory toward those going wrong.
It trains the mind to think His thoughts and understand God's will rather than personal will, learning His methods in His school, required of gospel responsibility.
It means cherishing humility since disciple is not above Master, taking a humble place, seeking God in faith, overcoming roughness in probation for heavenly fitness and character.
His kindness and long-suffering rebuke impatience and superiority, calling those guiding youth to treat each soul with care remembering the price paid, after His self-denial and condescension as example.
It turns from making self constant concern to walking as He walked with gentle pure speech and elevated service, raising service higher without weakening energy so influence becomes holy, as Christ works through.
It means sharing His concern without territorial selfishness and having His mind in gospel work that sanctifies understanding, gives clarity for medical missionary work, loves God wholly and shares His humiliation bound to the atonement, uniting human mind with His, fitting for pleasing service in redemption's central truth.
It prepares for cruel treatment as He received, sharing sufferings without surprise, and arms servants facing insult without expecting escape, by constant prayer.
It means working together for peace praying for the Spirit's molding, governing lips by kindness, refusing sour discourtesy, true to profession, with angels hovering round.
It rejects injustice and cruelty recognizing responsibility for degrading the redeemed, and means obeying every word, doing justice, respecting fellow workers and bringing every thought into captivity without retaliation even under unjust trust, allowing no selfish, guileful or harsh speech, enduring wrong as He did.
Through faith mothers may have it and abide in Him, controlling temper with compassion and long-suffering to represent Christ and lead children in righteousness.
It acts with tenderness toward a widow, honoring what she and her husband invested and suffered, enduring hunger and lack rather than letting work stop, handling God's work rightly in light of that sacrifice, treating courteously not as stranger, knowing cost of standing at duty when hard.
It is unselfish, self-forgetful, putting others' comfort first, tender and thoughtful in domestic duties and deeds of love, hiding in Jesus, cheerful and grateful in steady self-discipline which is wholeness and true sanctification.
Physicians must unlearn self-exaltation and gain a different experience in word and deed before truly acknowledged as medical missionaries by the Great Physician, giving up injurious ideas and plans and display of expensive house and corresponding start to appear successful, learning His self-denial and sacrifice by experience.
Seeking things above and receiving the Spirit equips with His mind in fruitful life showing righteousness of faith, sanctified in soul, body and spirit revealing refining truth through grace.
His life is followable: leaving royal courts, taking humanity and living righteously, humanity can overcome as He did and live righteously by following Him.
When commandments are fully obeyed self-distrust and yearning for enlightenment replace self-reliance, passions quell, sin becomes hateful, Jesus precious, bringing peace, joy and seeking others' good, asking His mind to dwell in the heart.
His words must shape mind and conduct through learning, believing and doing so people reflect His Spirit and serve others including their own people.
It means self-denial constantly seen calling believers to keep missionaries in the field, give freely trusting God who holds all resources, knowing generosity never impoverishes the church, with costly offerings for souls.
Followers need His spirit as co-workers in reform caring for the suffering and upholding the standard, and those lacking His self-sacrifice are unfit and a burden to institutions.
It comes by drinking in God's Spirit gaining understanding of sacrificial mission and knowing Christ as Burden-bearer carrying workers in appointed work.
It means daily seeking to do His will in word and work, fulfilling God's purpose and cooperating as His helping hand.
It means having His mind so works carry heaven's fragrance, receiving and spreading through life the knowledge He came to unfold rather than leaving it unused, since known duty undone becomes a curse.
It means yielding mind to Christ with unity, self-denial for the kingdom and determined overcoming of hindrances to growth, laboring earnestly to keep the mind in the right channel so His mind becomes one's own and the Sun of Righteousness shines through the heart, surrendering self and personal policies so Christ reigns.
It endures daily battle costing mortification and reputation, willingly partaking shame for His sake to become a stepping-stone lifting the weak, with a test coming to every soul to prove willingness, as He risked all humiliation to bring salvation in reach and overcomes faults mastering the soul.
It is necessary preparation for baptism through entire surrender, without which sin as transgression is not forsaken and true conversion does not occur, while renounced sin brings obedient conformity to law, though Satan hides its necessity, with appetites otherwise mastering and confusing.
It means following His humility, self-renunciation and sacrifice formed by daily beholding and fresh awareness of His presence.
It means being renewed with inward daily renewal while the outward perishes, reaching for His righteousness, walking and working in constant self-denial doing daily good in provided grace, wrestling in prayer against temptation, refusing dull indifferent service.
It is humble self-emptying learned by fixing eyes on the heart-searching God, praying to be searched and led, living in holy awe trusting His love, giving all in balanced life illustrating His law and growing to full stature.
It is shown in hope, love and brotherly kindness remedying dissension, in courtesy and grace representing Jesus in every department, and in following His self-denying spirit accepting Him as Savior and Leader rather than rebellion, cultivating harmony instead of supremacy.
It brings humble self-surrender bringing will into harmony with God, requires sharp self-examination rejecting worldly strife and oppression, with union so close that treatment of Christ is treatment of the Father and greater light brings greater guilt for disobedience, in likemindedness, same love, one accord, esteeming others better and seeking their interests, humbling as He humbled from equality to servant to cross-death, revealing humanity's value and redemption price.
It must be studied daily from inspired words as the lesson book heavenward, where as representative He became Redeemer and Restorer in contrast to Satan the destroyer, in form of God and equal with God making Himself of no reputation, servant in human likeness, obedient to cross-death.
It calls for conversion instead of faultfinding, for Israel's murmuring against Moses as God's leader caused wilderness fall as example for those on whom the ends come, to meet disagreement calmly and rationally.
It overcomes natural faults that would master the soul, and following His mind in use of possessions means employing capabilities in His service, choosing self-denial over extravagance, enduring mortification and reproach as stepping-stone, tested in willingness.
It is shown in sanitarium workers through deportment and words in harmony with faith, giving influence and exalting the Savior rather than expensive dress, in true humility.
It is essential to genuine religion, and refusing His humble path makes one a hindrance rather than help, after His servant-form obedience to cross-death unto exaltation before bowing creation.
It means representing Jesus by loving erring believers with mercy and humility rather than coldness, remaining true to principle while subduing self for their sake, sacrificing hurt feelings, putting aside self-love and complacency, without neglect, contempt, revenge or retaliation, caring for souls though harmed.
His meek self-emptying shapes believers to give up self-importance and display, receiving His meekness since He does not sanction exaltation but desires sanctification through truth and grace.
It is shown in liberal hearts opening hands for destitute fields, evidencing transforming power, keeping God's people distinct under higher Authority in united labor with Christ never neglecting help since all possessions are lent property, cleansing from selfishness in divine theocracy cooperating to utmost with the great Medical Missionary.
It is humble self-denying Christlike rather than inflated, limiting desires and economizing, coming through thorough renewal influencing every family member and fitting for eternal trust, correcting defects and limiting wants to income as Master lived humbly, not spendthrift.
Christians must copy His self-denying life in helping others and reflecting character, bringing joy to God's kingdom, and practice simplicity as example, with workers setting simplicity before others.
Believers must obey God's Word as transformed people with positive influence, living worthily and reverencing the trust made sacred by His death, with faith bringing every grace to perfect character, not dishonoring profession by worldly standard.
It is marked by courtesy and humility to be developed in the church, with spirit and thoughts kept in subjection to Jesus, requiring care in choosing shapers of youth lest impatience pass on.
It means the heart in sympathy with His purposes as evidence of His abiding, with sensitivity to sin, tender conscience and growing sense of His preciousness.
It means having His mind in character and works imitating sacrifice and benevolence, especially ministers, with love for souls leading to any sacrifice to co-work with Him, laying aside glory, dominion and riches to seek the perishing and humble to human necessity to exalt to heaven, a perfect pattern to copy according to ability, disapproved if not resembled.
It cultivates character ennobling workers of every rank to be acknowledged as fellow workers, filling the heart with holy graces visibly transforming the countenance as the law is written on the heart.
It means drawing near to brethren and encouraging faithful responsibility, and having His love leading to counsel with the experienced and regarding others as equally able to help, in word, conduct, charity, faith and purity, trusting ministers and loving fervently in fear of God.
It means living in him rather than by counsel of those not knowing God, with principles and actions agreeing with God's words and living by every word, standing on His foundation in temptation.
It keeps words from hurting under temptation and requires living meekly with sympathy rather than harsh denunciation, staying close in trust keeping zeal amid evil, practicing His virtues and mercy, seeking the lost to heaven's rejoicing.
It means self-denial and sacrifice learned in experience not set aside for personal plans, contrary to seeking display through expensive living to appear successful, giving up injurious ideas, and for physicians unlearning exaltation for new word and deed as true medical missionaries.
It means self-sacrifice seeking others' good rather than exaltation, living by His will against influences turning away, and sharing selfless love faithfully working to save with deepening character without seeking glory, overcoming ease and indulgence.
It is self-sacrificing love reaching where people are in darkness, leaving heaven's bliss to meet the fallen, doing rough work among the depraved adapting methods, expecting no better portion than the Redeemer had, stopping at no sacrifice, becoming poor to make rich, understanding conditions to gain victory.
It is shown in taking His yoke in constant readiness to deny self living purely in contrast to worldly selfishness, with not one thread of selfishness, His mind revealed in life and work.
It is shown in teaching as He taught clearly and simply so common people gladly heard, valuing simplicity rather than theatrical attraction.
It guides workers in self-denying disinterested united service from love rather than human reward, advancing the work and strengthening faith.
It means having God work mightily and having enlightened conscience faithful in simple duties even when rejected as in His own country, denying ambition and shutting out resentment, yielding wholly rather than relying on own righteousness, awake to sufferers in purity.
It is Christlikeness in humility and simplicity: though Commander of heaven He came poor and stayed humble, forbidding worldly patterning for favor, with power in truth itself not display, and conformity for favor bringing weakness, no higher standard than His life, shunning pretense in every line.
It means following His example of self-denial and earnest love avoiding needless spending so more supports missions, and feeling obligation to do best cooperating with established work, accountable to God, intelligently, cheerfully, unitedly with few or many talents wherever sent.
It means letting Christ's mind guide daily relationships by rejecting rivalry, acting humbly and considering others' good following His humble service therefore exalted by God, from equality to servant to cross-death.
It is expressed in shared love esteeming others above self and concern for needs, following His making Himself of no reputation and taking servant form, though equal with God becoming human in selfless unity.
Forming character after His pattern requires renouncing self and pride, bringing will into full agreement with God, presenting self emptied so God supplies the Spirit, necessary for eternal life and abiding blessing, unable to retain self and be filled.
His self-denying example laying aside glory calls believers especially laborers to copy sacrifice, toil and concern for salvation, giving up ease and accepting humiliation, sorrow and tribulation in serving, laying aside rank, honor and riches to meet need, putting work before advantage with persistent love, not seeking better position than He had who endured toil and finished His work.
Those following Him must not use power to compel obedience to God's law but allow time and light for decision, as He though equal did not exalt Himself but served, humbled and obeyed to cross-death.
It is shown in missionary sowing carefully, patiently and unselfishly without weariness, trusting God to quicken seed and bring fruit as co-workers with Christ and angels, even when dormant until grace convicts, laboring earnestly perseveringly with care and anxiety as divine Teacher in continual sacrifice.
His self-giving coming is pattern calling for unreserved surrender of time and talents to use entrusted means for the cause He came to advance, consecrated to God for fallen race with divinity and humanity united for complete recovery.
It means condescension shaping conduct with infinite sacrifice making salvation possible and gracious character worked out in followers.
It means avoiding needless expense and display using resources for good works restoring the sick and relieving suffering, since work's character comes from principles not buildings, following His humble meek lowly self-denying example in all things.
It means putting aside self-love and treating erring with love and mercy, maintaining high standard while rebuking sin firmly without approval yet keeping hope alive, patiently correcting, subduing self and remaining true though harmed.
It means looking beyond own interests to care for others cheerfully in daily self-denial, resisting covetousness with love and forbearance for welfare.
It is shown in resisting self-indulgence choosing fellowship over worldly pleasure influencing others to follow, and in turning from self to use abilities to save asking daily wisdom for those in snares, with love winning back erring remembering God loves them and gave His Son for everlasting life.
It means viewing self humbly and putting church well-being ahead of personal desires even at sacrifice, working for purity rather than division, desiring goodness not greatness.
It is shown in refusing to seek status, serving without partiality, refusing indulgence while others suffer, opposing oppression, living humbly willing even to give life, giving up selfish aims, luxury, passions and praise.
It means dependence with divine power joined to human effort, shown in meekness and prayerful caution, and leaders setting self-denying example about labor value from the beginning, not pricing labors high nor grasping higher wages spoiling spirituality and wronging associates, keeping Christ's self-denial before brethren as missionary people supporting many laborers.
It means having His love shape union with fellow workers, valuing gifts, seeking counsel and willingness to learn rather than dictate.
Pride and lofty estimation must yield to meekness requiring thorough change and teachable approach to Scripture with self set aside so Christ is revealed as Sanctifier, imitating His humility from self-sacrifice to cross.
It means obeying light sanctifying and transforming the soul into Christlike conduct, requiring faithful obedience, becoming more like Jesus in disposition.
Christ's self-sacrifice rather than self-seeking is His mind; self-glorification blinds to Scripture's purpose as disciples' rivalry showed, preventing sympathy with His sacrifice and understanding redemption.
It is shown in abiding in Him doing His works sharing selfless sympathy faithfully working to save, overcoming ease, deepening character and increasingly like Him without seeking glory.
It calls followers to let His mind shape work with self submerged so Christ alone appears lovely revealing love in the gospel invitation drawing people to the freely provided feast with earnest love for the fallen.
He took humanity to display God's glory through human happiness and gave His life, and believers as heirs cooperate in saving work making sacrifices to relieve need, sharing what He is and has in pure unselfish love.
It means having the mind of God that was in Christ who cheerfully obeyed the Father as perfect pattern with heaven enshrined in humanity, received meekly at His feet giving right views to teach in plain practical preaching.
It means having His spirit rather than demanding spirit over property, trusting the Lord to set troubles in order, recognizing demanding hearts misuse shares and wrong self and others, not destroying soul over shares.
It governs outward appearance including plain dress in conformity to light, so those carrying truth where never represented do not contradict it, and those lacking harmony are not ready for missionary work, brought into His self-denial and sacrifice.
It means exalting life to meet the divine standard with determination, no longer neglecting to lighten burdens but lifting them directly in the path with Christ's help, for no idea of Him is too exalted.
Believers may have His mind and walk with God uncontaminated like Enoch in corrupt age, correcting mistakes and not assuming own judgment is God's, marked by unaffected humility and sincere love, receiving His mind to teach.
It means bringing heart and mind into conformity opposite to rulership restricting liberty and retarding conversion, following light and not bracing against reproof, for resisting hardens and continuing unfits for sacred interests.