Matt 20; Mark 8;9; Luke 9;48; 22
There is a posture that, once taken, sets the tone for how we see and treat God and others, and therefore, that posture itself, promotes the very attitude and actions Jesus demands of His disciples.
Let us not underestimate the importance of posture and the attitude it both reflects (and further promotes) in establishing the foundation of our ability to do the good prescribed for us to do (Matt 5; Luke 6; Eph 2) - to EVEN be alerted to, aware of, acknowledge and then, to be able to make the most of the opportunity before us (Eph 5). Just to be able to see and perceive the opportunity depends on the attitude and our posture, let alone take advantage of (it).
If we do not think in search terms as humility and servitude - that we are here to serve and bless God and others if we do not understand Jesus’ own attitude and resulting posture (Phil 2), we will not see, we cannot see, the opportunity for what it is and we will, in essence, miss it.
Taking this posture is a reflection of an inward belief and subsequent attitude, and when one takes this posture they cannot think of themselves more highly than it should, but by the posture, shows their humble self - this person recognizes humbly their own neediness and that this neediness is met by God as they recognize, acknowledge, understand and accept, that neediness of soul and by extension life - and therefore can not help but be humble - and take the attitude and then the posture of a servant (just like Jesus - Phil 2).
This attitude and posture are what lead to the edification of the body - and in the one who has this attitude, and takes this posture - the purposeful desire that grows into a compulsion, prompting, a wanting, a getting, to bless the body- that is to bring one’s gift for, for the purpose of blessing others for their sake and the sake of the body. (Rom 12; 1Cor 12-14)
This is very much, the “storage-Phileo” family love, Paul here coins, or mints, to describe the true heart condition of one who is truly a disciple of Jesus, one being conformed into his likeness by time and proximity. It is the mark of one who has been truly affected, regenerated, born again, by the Spirit - a character in a consistent and persistent trajectory toward Christlikeness (Eph 5)
Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. Luke 6:40
And to be like Jesus, is the take on his attitude and posture. It is to recognize that their master, confident in his position (John 13; Phil 2; Heb 2), laid himself down, and that true strength and power in life, is, in the hands of the one, the heart of the one, who is secure in their position and their identity (as a child of God), and therefore, humbles themselves, even submitting themselves, to the honoring of the one before them as one worthy of being served and to meet their needs according to their needs - not one’s requirements or status.
25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28
And not depending on their own self’s esteeming, but having been esteemed by God, they instead, bend a knee in the service - of God and others.
Realizing that all they have received is not merely for one’s and enjoyment, and certainly not for ones on hoarding, but instead to take those things received, and humbly and generously serve the brotherhood and to do so, with their welfare in mind.
Realizing that their welfare has been taken care of by their heavenly Father, in Christ, so that they can be confident that in God and in the brotherhood, their humble servitude will be, eventually, reciprocated in the brotherhood by the brotherhood.
Romans 12:3-21
Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought
Sober judgment
Do not lack humility
Do not be overly proud; arrogant
personal perspective regulating behavior
to act high-minded, lacking humility and a true sense of reality
to think more highly of oneself than is proper
Sober or think - to feel, to think
to have understanding, be wise
to have an opinion of oneself, think of oneself - a proper understanding or feeling about oneself (1Cor 4:6-7)
Matt 20; Mark 8;9; Luke 9;48; 22
Proverbs 16:18-19 “18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”
1Corinthians 12:7,11 “7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
Ephesians 4:7 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Humbly, but with confidence (as God’s child - chosen) - happy in our poverty
