August 13
‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ John 20:21b
Bible reading: Philippians 2:5-11 (1) (Go to the Bible passage)
Once, I heard a song that children learned to sing in Sunday school, ‘Alas, I am not like Jesus…’ If we leave it at that, we live a pitiful life.
Paul sees it quite differently: no ‘alas’ at all. He calls upon us all passionately, ‘Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.’ 'Mindset’ means here: spiritual attitude, so Paul expects us to have the same spiritual attitude as Jesus. But that can only be if the same Spirit dwells in us as in Jesus. And what a wonderful attitude is described here! ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing.’
When in Proverbs 8 (22-31) is spoken about ‘Wisdom’, we realize that this passage refers to the Son of God. And about Him is written, ‘I was (…) delighting in mankind’ (Proverbs 8:31). This delight cannot have lasted long, for after turning its back upon God, mankind walked in darkness.
But the Son of God did not turn His back upon us. God spoke from eternity, ‘Who will I send?’ And then the Son answered out of the throne of God, ‘Here I am, I have come— it is written about Me in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, My God; Your law is within My heart’ (Psalm 40:7,8).
If we are really filled with the Holy Spirit, then it is inevitable that - driven by His love - we are willing to be amidst drunks and junkies as one of them, with only the enormous difference that we do not seek a solution in alcohol or drugs, but in full submission to the will of God.

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