A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: BEING OF THE SAME MIND
Grace and peace to you,
This week we continue in our series “Pressing On,” taking up Philippians 2:1-13 which is known as the Christ Hymn. It is a beautiful passage that encourages the reader/hearer (including us in our century) to be united with Christ having the same mind, the same love, the same attitude as Christ Jesus. This sameness unites us with Christ and with one another.
There is a beautiful Spiritual called Woke Up This 
Morning (see this link for all the lyrics: bit.ly/4qkBEC5). Here is the first verse:
Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
Every verse reminds us that in everything we do our minds need to stay on Jesus. Christ Jesus needs to be our focus in every activity as individuals and as a community of faith. Keeping our minds on Jesus ties us together with the grace and love that Jesus extends to us. Keeping our minds on Jesus makes it impossible for us to ignore someone else’s needs, to hate someone, to treat someone badly, to be judgmental but instead be open and loving. What was the mind of Jesus? What were the actions of Jesus?
Philippians 2:1-13 is a beautiful recounting of the mind and actions of Jesus – he did not exploit his relationship with God to injure others, he became like us – human; he humbled himself on our behalf and God honored him. The same God who honored Jesus is the God who enables us to live as if we do have the same mind as Jesus.
Can we do this? Can we strive to be of the same mind? Can being of the same mind tie us together through the grace and love of Jesus Christ? See what happens tomorrow when you wake up with your mind stayed on Jesus.
Our breath prayer this Sunday is this: Unite us through grace; to love like Jesus.
Come and explore and breathe together!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen