Like Minds Think Alike

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus...(Philippians 2:5)

I get a little frustrated when people change their mind, don’t you? I like to know what to expect. So when the plan gets changed, I can get a little anxious. I want to know why someone is changing their mind. I ask if there is a good reason. But sometimes changing our minds can be for the better. Spiritually, it can be far better.
TO THINK LIKE CHRIST, THERE MUST BE A CHANGING OF THE MIND.

The way we think can be our biggest hindrance in our Christian life. We can read our Bibles, go to our small group studies, attend our prayer meetings, and faithfully contribute our offerings to the church. But unless we begin to think differently, our lives will not be much different. The same old sinful struggles and painful trials will persist because we still think like humans and have not begun to think with the mind of Christ. Understanding that we cannot do enough of the right things to be righteous gives us hope. We hope because Christ wants to help. He wants to give us a change of mind. A changing of the mind changes our attitude.

I. CHRISTIAN SERVICE RELIES ON A CHRISTLIKE ATTITUDE. Being able to demonstrate Christian encouragement, loving comfort, spiritual fellowship, and tender mercy depends on our attitude. Without a Christlike attitude, Christian service is not Christian. It does not represent Christ or serves Christ, but serves self.
II. CHRISTLIKE ATTITUDE IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST. Without a Christlike attitude, our mindset is self-centered because a fallen man thinks he is the center of the universe. The natural mind only thinks of the natural man. Spiritual service cannot be done with a natural mind.
III. A MIND LIKE CHRIST THINKS OF OTHERS FIRST. The spiritual mind is diametrically opposed to the natural way of thinking. To have the mind of Christ is to have the mind of a servant. Service begins in the mind. Service to others comes after we begin to think about others.
IV. WE CAN ONLY THINK OF OTHERS FIRST WHEN WE EMPTY OUR MINDS OF SELFISH THOUGHT. Christ emptied Himself of any thought of equality with God. And He was God. But He took on the mindset of servant. How much more should we, who are not God, be willing to empty ourselves of self-centered thinking? Only by the work of the Holy Spirit can we think godly thoughts and have godly attitudes.
A CHRISTLIKE MIND CAN’T BE LIKE MINE.
Have you surrendered your mind to Christ? Have you submitted your thinking to Him? He wants your mind, your heart and your attitude to be like His.