I am quoting from “Same Mind” by Mary Luti in today’s ‘Still Speaking’ entry. You can go on line and get the full text, and better still, subscribe to the Daily Devotional posted by the UCC. http://www.ucc.org/feed-your-spirit/daily-devotional/
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself." - Philippians 2:5-8
Paul's directive for relating to each other in a Christian way is to adopt the self-emptying attitude of Christ. Lay aside your sense of privilege. Abandon your love of reputation. Don't think you're the measure of all things. Because as long as we're busy shrinking the world to the dimensions of our own egos, we can never really receive and honor others. As long as I'm interpreting everything I see in terms of my own interests, your interests will always appear to be rivals, vying for my territory. And as long as we see rivalries everywhere, there'll be no justice and no peace in any dimension of human life...."
Thank you, Mary, for theses words. You see, I’ve been grappling with a little interpersonal misunderstanding. But, with the help of this passage, I now realize that the problem is mighty little, is all mine, and owned by my ego and desire to interpret what’s going on in terms of my own interests. This one I can let go. No one is right at the expense of the other being wrong. What a relief.
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself." - Philippians 2:5-8
Paul's directive for relating to each other in a Christian way is to adopt the self-emptying attitude of Christ. Lay aside your sense of privilege. Abandon your love of reputation. Don't think you're the measure of all things. Because as long as we're busy shrinking the world to the dimensions of our own egos, we can never really receive and honor others. As long as I'm interpreting everything I see in terms of my own interests, your interests will always appear to be rivals, vying for my territory. And as long as we see rivalries everywhere, there'll be no justice and no peace in any dimension of human life...."
Thank you, Mary, for theses words. You see, I’ve been grappling with a little interpersonal misunderstanding. But, with the help of this passage, I now realize that the problem is mighty little, is all mine, and owned by my ego and desire to interpret what’s going on in terms of my own interests. This one I can let go. No one is right at the expense of the other being wrong. What a relief.
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