Gaining The Christ Life

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me…. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Romans 15:1-3, 7 (KJV)

This passage says that Christ pleased God and not Himself. Jesus Christ lived for God; to do His will. He set an example for us to follow. As we focus on pleasing God, we will gain more interest in pleasing others- those who need Christ, those who need love, those who need built up. Love puts others first. Love seeks to serve rather than be served.

Christ was a servant. As we live to please the Lord, we will follow Jesus’ example of putting others above ourselves. We are to deny ourselves, and rather than being selfish, we become selfless. And in typical God fashion, when we seek to meet the needs of others, God will meet ours.

Jesus is now seated in the highest position, with the Name above all names, all power, all authority, riches, blessing, honor and glory. By making Himself lowly, He was lifted high. The same is true for us. When we lose, we actually win. When we give, we gain. The lower we go, the higher God will exalt us.

As we die to the self life, we gain the Christ life. Christ left all His glory and majesty to give us His all. In like manner, as we deny what we want to give others what they need, we grow more and more into Christ-likeness. As we put others first, God will put us first.

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: 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. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 4-11 (KJV)