Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

May we also take upon ourselves the form of a servant.  May we humble ourselves greatly before the One who is the very picture of servanthood and service Himself.  Jesus was God and humbled Himself to be a lowly man—and not just a man, which is already far below God, but a servant of men, a poor man, someone who would not have been considered great among the people of the day.  And then He submitted Himself further unto death—but not even a noble death, a death on a cruel cross, an execution, a painful, visible, humiliating death.

Jesus stood up from the supper and girded himself with a towel and stooped low at His disciples’ feet.  Jesus stood in the midst of a thronging crowd of disease and dirt and brokenness and ministered to every need with patience, kindness and grace.  Jesus walked a lonely path with a cross upon His mangled back.  He let a crowd of dissenters spit in His face and mock Him with hate and cruelty.  He let some soldiers ridicule Him before they hammered in some nails and lifted him up between the thieves.

Nothing was beneath our Lord Jesus Christ.  He sought not his own, but the will of the Father.  And then when we see Him there serving the helpless and ministering to the needs of His disciples and treating everyone with love and compassion, can we not seek to do the same in our lives?  Can we serve others from that same place of humility and place their needs above our own?  And when we witness in our mind’s eye His death upon the cross, the ultimate sacrifice of giving His live, can we not also decide to give Him our lives?  Will we cease to live for self and live for Him instead?

Jesus left heaven to come to Earth.  He set aside His glory and took upon flesh.  He loved those who hated Him.  He served with compassion.  And He gave all.  Will we lay aside our comforts and step out into the world?  Will we put away any prideful ambitions or arrogance and seek to serve?  Will we be portraits of His love to all those around us?  Will we give even if it hurts and desire to always obey?  Let us take upon ourselves the mind of Christ and go forward to fulfill His purposes.