Live like Jesus!

For Thursday, April 25, 2024:

Philippians 2:5 NLT: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Paul is attuned to Jesus’ mind and attitude. It all happened on the road to Damascus. I jokingly say that Jesus had to slap Paul “upside the head” to get his attention! The truth is that Paul was struck blind until Jesus said otherwise. That got his attention, flipped the script, and turned Paul’s life around 180º!

Paul opened this letter with a series of questions, hoping the reader would “get it.” He states that believers should be like he is, since it was Jesus who personally made a believer out of Paul. But perhaps that’s still too oblique. So Paul points the Philippians directly to the source: “Let the mind of Jesus live in you!” Or in simple words, “Be like Jesus!”

Paul gives this conclusion first, and then goes on to detail several examples of living one’s life like Jesus. This is a text-book teaching method, still being taught nowadays. “State what you’re going to teach, then teach it, and finally summarize what you just taught.” Same thing, three times, three different ways. You don’t want anyone to miss the point of your message!

We all need to know a certain amount about teaching. Jesus commissioned all believers to make disciples of all nations, so we all need the skills to do a good job. Accept the commission and do your best!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship