The Extreme Makeover

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

THE EXTREME MAKEOVER

Phil 2:5-11

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

NIV

If we are to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus, then it would make perfect sense we should not compare ourselves to anyone else other than Jesus. In other words, it does not matter how someone else appears or behaves or what ministry or calling they have upon their lives. It does not matter if they have more resources, material goods then we do, or less than us. What matters is that we have the same attitude as Jesus. From the description Paul uses, the main attitude is humility. To believe Jesus is actually God, not simply the Son of God. Because we are Trinitarians, we believe God is three persons, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So then God made himself nothing, he took on the form of his creation, and took on the very nature of a servant. That is how we should think as well. Not that we are God, but that we should humble ourselves as though we are servants. This would prevent us from thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. This goes against everything we have been taught from childhood. Our society promotes being proud of accomplishments, it rewards us for a job well done. It publicizes those who have done, what is thought as, great things. At least according to their agenda. The prime example we have become aware of is this sixteen-year-old girl who is lauded as an expert on climate change, while another sixteen year old has actually developed a method to remove all the plastic from the oceans, and has had no attention from the media. Our society has gone haywire. That is why we are not to live as the pagans do, but to live like Christ, being humble even onto death. We are not to live according to the standards of man, but according to the standards of God. Having the same attitude as Jesus requires a complete makeover. We have to forget about how we were raised, how we were influenced by other people, even other Christians, for they may not be a prime example of having the same attitude as Christ Jesus. This is all about allowing the Spirit to have His way in our lives, to be under his influence. Then our makeover will be into that which God intends us to be. This should be an extreme makeover, leaving the attitude of mankind, and entering into the attitude of Jesus. It is the same as how we are instructed to put off the old self and put on the new self.

Eph 4:20-24

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

NIV

When a house or an automobile goes through an extreme makeover, the older version is no longer there, no longer visible. Only the newer makeover version stands and is far better than that older version. This is how our lives are changed as well. That older self no longer is there as we have been changed, made over in the attitudes of our mind. Why then does that old nature want to creep back in? Maybe we have not yet been finished in this extreme makeover. Maybe God is not yet through with us and we are still in the process of this extreme makeover. One day we will be, but then we will be glorified, we will be exalted being in the presence of our Lord and Savior. So, for now, we are content to be going through this extreme makeover.