Weekly Devotional: August 19, 2026
POSSESSING THE MIND OF CHRIST
A 4-week devotional series by Major Ed Lee, Corps Officer of Conway, SC
GOD’S WORD
Philippians 2:3-8
DEVOTIONAL
“A SANCTIFIED MIND”
Philippians 2:5-8
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
THE MASTER’S USE
Thirty-six years ago, when I was a young man preparing to enter the School for Officer Training, I read a book by evangelist and writer Frances Hunter entitled, “Possessing the Mind of Christ.” That little book was essential in formulating my spiritual direction as I prepared myself for a lifetime of service and mission. Frances Hunter reminded me that the heart and the mind must be redeemed and cleansed for the Master’s use.
Many times, I have found myself saying, “I must get my mind straight about this issue,” or “my heart and my head need to be aligned with the will of God in this matter.” It is a truth to live by that “right thinking precedes right living.”
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to warn them about living carnal lives and thinking unspiritually. The natural man cannot align with the things of God without possessing the mind of Christ. Paul compares carnal and spiritual. The spiritual man’s thinking must be aligned with Christ. Paul asks the question that is a direct quote from the prophet Isaiah: “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” The answer is... “those who possess the mind of Christ.”
Please journey with me in this 4-part series entitled, “Possessing the Mind of Christ”.
A Renewed Mind – Romans 12:2b
A Sanctified Mind- II Corinthians 10:5|
A Submissive Mind – Philippians 2:5
A Heavenly Mind – Colossians 3:2
A SUBMISSIVE MIND
Philippians 2:5 – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus, Son though he was, left the heavenly glory, set aside the privileges of the Triune God, and took on the form of a servant. He took the form of a bondservant, the lowest status on the social ladder in the world to which Jesus came. A bond servant was bound by debt or some other legal reason to serve. No one would intentionally choose that life. The eternal God, the one by whom the worlds were made, entered our world as a servant, bound by the sin debt He didn’t owe, and willingly took it upon Himself that mankind could be redeemed.
Notice the words and phrasing in Philippians 2:5-8 that indicate the mindset of Jesus – “no reputation, bondservant, humbled Himself, obedient to death, even death on a cross”. Jesus was submissive to the will of God and what was necessary to redeem mankind.
Philippians 2:8 - “He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a the cross.” Jesus’ thoughts were on mankind. He became the ultimate obedient servant. Salvation and redemption of mankind were on His mind, and His obedience was supreme. Though He never sinned, He bore our sins. Submission of the mind requires sacrifice.
Philippians 2:3 - “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” The Greek translation for “lowliness of mind” suggests a deep sense of humility. The mindset of Christ is to lay aside privileges for oneself and pay whatever price is necessary.
Alfred Lyod Tennyson was a great English poet from the 19th Century and a member of the House of Lords. Lord Tennyson said that his greatest desire in life was to have a “fuller vision of God.” When our minds are directed towards Him and what He desires, we think less of ourselves and more of Christ’s will for our lives.
J. Wilbur Chapman was an American evangelist around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He traveled overseas and conducted some evangelistic meetings in London. He asked if he could see General William Booth. General Booth was over 80 years old and his vision was failing, but he agreed to meet with Chapman. Dr. Chapman listened reverently as the old general spoke of the trials and conflicts, and the victories. The American evangelist then asked the general if he would disclose the secret for his success. “He hesitated for a second,” Dr. Chapman said, “and then I saw tears come into his eyes and steal down his cheeks.”
General Booth said, “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and a vision for Christ could do for the poor of London, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in The Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.” Dr. Chapman said he went away from that meeting with General Booth knowing that “the greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender.”
The old gospel song, “When He was on the Cross,” written by Ronald Payne and Ronny Hinson, so beautifully expresses the submissive mind of Christ:
“He knew me, yet He loved me.
He whose glory makes the heavens shine,
So unworthy of such mercy,
Yet when He was on the cross,
I was on His mind.”