The Same Mindset As Jesus

A woman has been coming to our church recently who has been ostracized in other churches because she has a special needs child who makes disruptive noises. Noticing this, our pastor immediately addressed the issue from the pulpit. No, he didn't ask her to remove the child from the sanctuary. (In the recent past, I have observed other church pastors do this when a baby or young child started crying or making loud noises in the service.) Instead, our pastor lovingly told the woman that she was very welcome here. Then he sternly warned the congregation that if anyone says anything negative to her about it, then that person will have to answer to him. Afterwards the pastor bowed his head to pray, and when he did, he included in his prayers the boy's healing. "Wow!" I thought. "This is a pastor with the same mindset as Christ Jesus!"

The Bible says that we are to value others above ourselves, looking out for the interests of others, not ourselves. We are to all be like-minded and have the same love as Jesus. We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement 

from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from His love,

if any common sharing in the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete

by being like-minded,

having the same love,

being one in spirit and of one mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another,

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."

Philippians 2:1-5 (NIV)

Yesterday I noticed that another woman in the church decided to sit with the lady and her special needs child. It is so true that what we do and how we respond speaks more volume than what we say.