“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)
One thing many companies take very seriously is how people see them. This is why the public relations (PR) department is set up to manage public perception as well as maintain a positive image of the organisation. In the same vein, there is something called the ‘PR of God’, which describes the perception of others about God and Christianity, and it is up to us as Christians to maintain it.
Paul speaking in our anchor text to the Philippian church and in extension, to you as well, admonishes that your thoughts and actions ought to mirror Christ at all times. This means that your actions must be in such a way as what Jesus would have done were He in your shoes. This is such a serious expectation of believers, and we must be consistently conscious of it. The Bible refers to you as an Ambassador of Christ, this implies that you represent Christ to the world around you, and you should be conscious of this (2 Corinthians 5:20).
As we continue our series on Christian conduct, it is important to emphasise that your conduct as a believer matters because it can significantly impact other believers’ growth and the perception of the world about God. It is sad that the reason some people have not received the Gospel is because of the conduct of some believers. While there is ultimately no tenable reason for anyone to deny the Gospel, you must be conscious of the influence you yield as a believer.
In addition, you show other believers the practical possibilities in Christ as you grow in your conduct, shedding behaviour and acts that are not Christ-like and imbibing those of Christ, thus encouraging them to grow as well.
Every time that you are about to react to anything, can you pause and ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?”, “how would Jesus react or respond?”, “would Jesus walk away or stay to fight it out?”. If you begin to ponder and indeed take steps to reflect on these questions, you will find that your mind continues to undergo renewal, and you are becoming like Christ, which is the ultimate goal. Jesus played out some of these questions; Sometimes he responded strongly to the Pharisees; sometimes he avoided them. (Matthew 23: 1- 39; 15:1-20; John 8:59)
The good news is you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. As a believer, you have the Holy Spirit in you who works in you to do God’s will (Philippians 2:13). This is not just a verse but should be the practical reality of your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to shape your reactions, dressing, words, social media activities and every area of your life. Yield to His promptings to give, apologise, speak or keep silent. Walk daily in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
In addition, renew your mind with God’s word and prayer (Romans 12:2). As you grow in the things of God, your default response to even untoward situations would be Christ-like, full of love and forgiveness.
Dear believer, let others see Jesus in you. Desire to have a mind like Christ.
Bible Reading Plan: Ezekiel 34–35; John 5:24–47