I have been challenged lately by Philippians 2:5-8. These few verses talk about the Incarnation of Christ, which is God coming and taking on flesh. It says in verse 5, “let this mind be in you…” What was on His mind as He left heaven and His union with God and the Holy Spirit and took on human flesh and lived on earth? He could have come in so many different ways than He did. If it would have been me, to be honest, I would have come with “stuff” from heaven, i.e. gold, angels, nice clothes, transportation, etc.

I think I would have let everyone know who I was. But not Jesus; His mind set was to leave everything and serve His creation. What a God, what a Creator, what a lover of His creation (that’s you and me)!

I read an article by J. Lee Grady the other night that kept me up thinking about our mindset of ministry and being ministers. Here are some of the excerpts: A pastor had invited a prominent preacher to their church to speak and here are some of the requirements they “needed” to preach the good news. “A five-figure honorarium; a $10,000 gasoline deposit for the privet jet; a manicurist and hairstylist; a suite in a five-star hotel; a luxury car for the airport to the hotel (2004 or newer), and room-temperature Perrier.”

Also at a charismatic conference recently “a pastor stood on a stage in front of a large crowd and smugly announced that the guest speaker was “more than an apostle”. Then the host asked everyone to bow down to the person, claiming that this posture was necessary to release God’s power. “This is the only way you can receive this kind of anointing!” And 80% of them fell prostrate on the floor.”

My heart is heavy for the name of God and how He is being represented. As well as the body of Christ and for those that are lost who see leaders that are portraying the Gospel and our Suffering Servant (Isa.53). We serve Him and not our gift; people serve Him and not us or our gift! For those of you that are serving the Lord, let us take on His mindset and humble ourselves that He will receive His reward for His sufferings. That is you, me, and all those He created.

Be filled with His love today.