DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT. RATHER, IN HUMILITY VALUE OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELVES, NOT LOOKING TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS BUT EACH OF YOU TO THE INTERESTS OF THE OTHERS
(Philippians 2:3-4).

Have you noticed that Self is not able to value others above itself? Rather, it does everything out of selfish ambition and vain conceit. It only looks out for its own interests. Why? Self does not feel special. Self does not feel loved. Self does not feel worthy. Self does not feel accepted and acceptable. Therefore, Self always needs to be first and best.

IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS CHRIST JESUS: 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, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. 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).

The Lord Jesus had no need to be first and best. He did not have to prove that He was worthy, or loved, or special, or accepted and acceptable…because He was God’s Son. However, He 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 to become obedient to the Perfect Father, even to death. This Jesus came to live His Life in your heart…in the place of Self.

THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER
(Philippians 2:9-11).

Maybe God has called you to serve Him in a very special way. What are you doing with His calling? Are you using it to your own advantage to prove that you are special, or worthy, or loved? Or, are you serving God through your obedience…only?  Allow the Lord Jesus to take over the place of your insecure Self, and replace it with His own secure Self. Then, you will be able to respond to God’s calling with humble, moment-by-moment obedience, instead of using His calling to your own advantage.

What will it take for you to adopt the mindset of Christ—to invite the Lord Jesus to live His humble Life in your heart, in the place of Self?

PRAYER: Lord God, I am sorry for always wanting to be first and best, serving out of selfish ambition and vain conceit. Please forgive me for being prideful. I invite You to come live Your humble Life in my heart, so I may have a servant heart to serve the Perfect Father in obedience, and value others above my Self.