How Can I Have the “Attitude of Jesus”?

By Ken Grider, National Encourager Coach

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.”

Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

The goal of any devotional– and life on earth for that matter –is to point to God. The goal is to bring us into a closer relationship with and a greater awareness of our Savior. I want to be someone who says, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV) regardless of location, proximity, timing, or circumstance. Notice I said, “I want to be”…this is not always the case. In fact, my most frequent request of God is that he will let me see with his eyes and love with his heart. But, as I unpack these verses, my spiritual assignment, once again, becomes one that I cannot accomplish by human effort. That is why passages like Philippians 2:5-8 are both encouraging and daunting: “but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men” (verse 7).

That word in verse 7…” EMPTIED,” I looked it up, and it literally means “poured out.” That verse says that if I want to have the same attitude as Jesus, I need to take “me” (the things that I believe make me unique) and pour them out for the benefit of others. Jesus was well aware of his position, privilege, and even His true power. Yet, he CHOSE to pour all those things out, to empty himself of them, for our good.

There is no greater display of love, and strength, than Jesus, voluntarily setting aside his position as The Almighty Lord and then allowing humanity to offer it back to him if we so choose. Power on display was not how Jesus chose to display his deity. He deliberately chose authenticity, vulnerability, and humility. I love that about my Savior!

I also love that I can never live this way without divine intervention. I can’t muster up the courage to live this kind of authenticity in front of people who, potentially, could use my vulnerability against me. Fear will always drive me to abandon authenticity and take refuge behind position, privilege, and power. Those things produce pride, which is the exact opposite of the “Jesus’ attitude” described in these verses.

Let’s take a moment and thank God for His presence in our lives. For the Holy Spirit, whose participation in our daily lives allows us to live beyond our fears and pour ourselves out for others. I encourage you to strive for this “attitude of Jesus” and seek to live with authenticity, vulnerability, and humility in all things– remembering always that Jesus does tell us to “take heart, because I [Jesus] have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT).

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