Humility & Accomplishment

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

----Philippians 2:5-8

This was the scripture we focused on this past week at a youth group beach camp I chaperoned. The theme for the week was 'Others First', and I really enjoyed being part of this special group. We also looked at several other verses in reference to putting other people's needs before your own...but these verses I think sum up the ultimate service for mankind. Jesus put aside the human needs for survival and relief from pain in order for us to have salvation. To me, that is as selfless as one can get. 

Think about that for a second. The Son of God gave up being a supreme being and entered our space and time - just to have that life ended as the perfect sacrifice for an eternal gift we did not deserve. Then he proved his divinity by rising up from death 3 days later, defying death and joining the Father in heaven. Jesus could have said, 'Well, they had their chance'- but instead he came down in the form of a humble servant and died for OUR sins.Talk about being knocked down a few notches.

In Philippians 2:5, the Apostle Paul is asking believers to have the same humble mindset as Jesus when we relate to others around us. He wrote it down in God's inspired Word, which spiritually inspired Christian scholars to include these words in the New Testament. Therefore, we as believers are expected to pursue this task. Now ask yourself this...what if all of us, as believers, really took on this task? What would the world be like? God asked for us to do this for a reason. Think about how much peace would exist in this world if people looked out for one another, instead of constantly trying to one-up their neighbor...or degrade their enemy. Christ didn't just turn the other cheek - He gave all he had.

This past week, I got to see these words put into action by teen-aged youth. They were helping one another, putting other people's needs first, and even putting their pride aside. It was pretty neat to see, especially in this day and age. I hope I am able to meet other people's needs in a similar fashion as I move along in life. I hope that one day, I can look back and say that I helped people; I put aside my pride; I helped where I could. Perhaps my sharing of God's Word in some of my thoughts on the internet can count as some form of service. Or even my modern day parables contained in the novels I write. Who knows? But in the end, I want to please my Father. Doesn't everyone?

It wasn't too long ago, I had my first book signing, and while we sat around the dinner table afterwards, at the same venue - my father told me in front of friends and family how proud he was of my accomplishment. It brought me to tears, and it is a moment I will never forget. But now what if I can dedicate my life to having the Christ-like mindset of putting others first? What if you can, too? What if more and more believers followed suit? Then, when we arrive at the Golden Gates, won't it be that much MORE SPECIAL, when the Father of all fathers says:

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Perhaps we who believe can all strive to achieve such an accomplishment!