Over the years, I’ve written a number of devotionals about mindsets—how the way we think shapes the way we live. A mindset is more than a thought; it’s a steady posture of the heart, a heart that has chosen its direction, a fixed inward leaning toward God, an anchored attitude of the heart, a heart that has found its footing, a quiet but constant direction inside us. It’s the internal compass that directs our choices, reactions, and relationships. And if there is one mindset that transforms everything about the way we relate to others, it is the mindset the Apostle Paul points us to in Philippians 2.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5, NIV).
Right there, he tells us something profound: Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how much we know, but by how much we become like Christ in the way we treat people.
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…” (Philippians 2:6–7, NIV).
Jesus was not less than God. He is God. Yet He chose—willingly—to step down, humble Himself, and become a servant. Everything He did flowed out of this mindset. He didn’t grasp for position. He didn’t demand His rights. He didn’t use His divine authority for His own benefit. Instead, He poured Himself out. And Paul says, You—believer—take on that same mindset.
“…and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV).
The cross was not an accident. It was the ultimate expression of a servant’s heart. Jesus didn’t just serve with His hands; He served with His life. He laid down everything—His position, His reputation, His comfort, and finally His life—to lift us up.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place…” (Philippians 2:9, NIV).
Exaltation always follows humility. This is God’s pattern. When we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. When we choose the mindset of Christ, God works through us. When we become servants, God makes our life fruitful.
This mindset isn’t just a theological idea; it’s the practical blueprint for every relationship we have—marriage, family, work, church, friendships, neighbors, and even strangers. Every day gives us opportunities to choose Christ’s mindset: to let go of self-centered thoughts, to extend grace, to serve someone quietly, to bless someone who can’t repay us, or to forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it.
As we grow in this mindset, relationships heal. Hearts soften. Tensions ease. God’s grace flows. And His presence becomes evident in the way we speak, listen, forgive, and serve.
I’ve talked about mindsets for years because Scripture is filled with them. But this one—the mindset of Christ—is the foundation of them all. It is the mindset that brings Heaven’s life into ordinary relationships and transforms them with the love of Jesus.
Embrace it! Put it on! Live it! Allow it to transform you into someone you don't even know!
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34 (NIV)
