PODCAST
Unity: A Matter of Christ Likeness
January 22nd, 2013
Romans 15:1-13
Unity: A Matter of Christ Likeness–sounds like a good idea. It is much more than hollow words from a mere platitude. As stated in Paul’s instruction to the Roman Christians, it takes a great deal of work–spiritual discipline, even to the point of self-denial to invest oneself in the lives of others above and beyond her or his own interests. It is a renunciation of a person’s own pursuits in favor of the needs and interests of others.
But we are not left to our own devices to bring about unity within the Christian community. God gives us the endurance and encouragement to have the same mind-set and attitude toward each other as Christ had. And this unifying in mind and spirit is not condescension on the part of those who have many attributes, nor is it an entitlement on the part of those whose attributes may be fewer in number or lesser in quality. This unity is for the specific purpose of glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice–a collective articulation of praise without regard for status, position, or personal power.
Author: Richard H. Neiderhiser
January 22nd, 2013 at 9:47 am
To start having the mindset of Jesus, we would, at least, need to have some of His actions with one another. His shoes are way too big for our feet to fill, but all children like to try to walk in shoes that are extremely too big for them!
Following is a non-inclusive list of Jesus’ mindset: (Refer to Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John)
Bring honor & glory to God
Be willing to spend time alone in prayer with God
Do righteous acts
He enough wisdom to know what to do with knowledge
Weep
Have a healing touch
Know how to raise the spiritually dead (as well as the physically dead)
Produce the impossible & do the impossible
Teach at the synagogue (as well as associate with sinners without falling prey
to temptations)
Explain giving the government its dues & God HIS
Know when the Holy Spirit had gone out
Tear down religious walls and rebuild in 3 days
Turn the tables on those out for financial gain in a Holy place
Speak truth / no lies / non-defensive
Communicate through parables, analogies & questions ‘
(which allows for self-examination, answers the foolish with their own folly,
and allows for those with a teachable heart to hear the truth)
Know who will betray & that be okay
Follow God’s Will (regardless of personal costs)
Have very little (if any) possessions
Remain silent when under wrongful judgment