“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Phil. 2:5–7
Do you remember those WWJD bracelets that were everywhere in the 90s? Four tiny letters asked one huge question: What Would Jesus Do?
As dated as the bracelets may look now, I still believe the thought-provoking question behind those four letters remains the same. What would Jesus do?
I mean, really, what would Jesus do if He decided to take a lap around the earth this year? Who would He hang out with? How would He respond to current events?
What would He do if He were in your shoes?
One of my favorite New Testament writers is Paul. He is direct and clear in communicating how holy, loving, and gracious Jesus is. When Paul wrote his letter to the believers in Philippi to thank, encourage, and remind them of Christ’s divine nature, he didn’t know it at the time, but he was also writing a letter to us.
Paul shared in Philippians 2:5–7 that Jesus first humbled Himself—for you, for me, for everyone—so that we can all have access to our heavenly Father for eternity. I believe if we truly want to know what Jesus would do, a great place to start is where He started: in a posture of humility.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes living out Christlike humility can feel overwhelming to navigate. For whatever reason, I don’t typically like using the word “insane,” but perhaps it’s the only appropriate word to describe a society that rewards self-promotion, instant gratification, and having the last word in any conflict. It can all feel, well, insane to me.
What I’ve learned over time is that a thought-out, humble response to someone or something is more Christlike than a quick, prideful one. Humility asks questions, is others-oriented, and isn’t afraid to say, “I was wrong about that.”
The next time you’re faced with a situation or person that feels, you guessed it, insane, my encouragement is this: you don’t have to match the madness.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do in a chaotic world is quietly look like Jesus. Your humility opens the door for people to see glimpses of Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for modeling perfect humility. We ask that You fill us with Your Spirit afresh today. Help us see people and circumstances as You see them, as we model humility to a world in need. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More?
Spend time reading all of Philippians 2. Imagine Paul writing these words while he was sitting in prison, possibly chained to a Roman guard, innocent of any crime he had been accused of committing. How does knowing Paul’s circumstances encourage you to have the same attitude and mind of Christ today?
