“… But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5)
Let’s be honest: we are too “inside” our own world. Our point of view, our wants, our needs, our feelings. We become offended with others for not understanding where we’re at. We deem them selfish and insensitive. But we would all do well to have the mind of Christ.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us and as us. He left His world to enter ours. He was willing to see what we see, feel what we feel, know what we know. He is touched by the feeling of our infirmities because He was willing to be tempted in all points even as we are. Is it too much to say that God got “out of Himself” and put Himself in our shoes?
Jesus did not cease being God, but there was a point two millennia ago where He began to be man. He took upon Himself our form, and was willing to understand our predicament from the inside out. He showed us how God would live if He was one of us. Now He has returned to heaven, as perfect God and perfect Man. He lives to help us be just as He was when He was in the world.
Jesus came to where we were, He lowered Himself, not to partake of our wrong, but to make us right and to elevate us to where He is. He became one of us, so we could become one with Him.
May we learn from our wonderful Lord that it is more blessed to give than to receive. May we discover the blessedness of getting outside the confines of our narrow inner world. May we consider the state of those around us with greater care and empathy.