The Attitude of Christ
Scripture
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
—Philippians 2:1–5 (NLT)
Paul opens this passage with a series of rhetorical questions designed to get our hearts nodding in agreement. Have you received encouragement from belonging to Christ? Comfort from His love? Fellowship in the Spirit? If the answer to these is yes, then Paul’s next charge is the logical outworking: live like it. Let the grace you’ve received spill over into how you treat one another.
This kind of life is impossible without one key ingredient: humility.
“Humility is the only soil in which the graces root; the lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure.”¹
—Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness
This humble, others-first attitude was perfectly modeled by Jesus, which is why Paul’s command is so direct: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” It’s the very blueprint for Kingdom living.
So what does Christ’s attitude look like in practice? It means rejecting selfishness and the need to impress others. It’s stepping off the exhausting treadmill of comparison and, in a world that screams “Promote yourself!”, choosing instead to “think of others as better than yourselves.” This isn’t a command to devalue yourself, it’s an invitation to be so secure in your identity in Christ that you are free to champion and serve others.
This entire passage is an invitation to shift our focus from inward to outward. Ask yourself, “Who around me can I take an interest in today?” and “How can I consider others better than myself?” When we take on the humble mindset of Christ, selfish division gives way to joyful unity, and the watching world catches a glimpse of what our King is really like. So look for that person today, the one easiest to overlook, and let Christ’s attitude shape how you treat them.
Reflection
- Where have you experienced comfort, encouragement, or fellowship through your relationship with Christ?
- In what ways do you struggle with selfishness or trying to impress others?
- What’s one specific way you can embody Christ’s attitude of humility and love in your relationships this week?
Prayer
Thank Jesus for the encouragement, love, and fellowship you’ve received through Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart that is humble, others-focused, and joyfully surrendered. Pray for the grace to love and serve those around you like Jesus would.
Footnote:
¹ Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness, Chapter 1.T