08.07.25 | Christ-like in Your Thinking | HEART ANCHOR | Youth Devotional

ποΈ 08.07.2025
π Christ-like in Your Thinking
π§ Let the Mind of Jesus Transform Your Thoughts
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π Bible Text
βHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.β
β Philippians 2:5
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π£ Introduction
What if today you saw everything through Jesusβ eyes? What if you viewed the people around you with His heart, His mercy, and His humility?
In Philippians 2:5, Paul challenges us to think like Jesusβnot just to believe like Him, not only to act like Him, but to think like Him. That changes everythingβfrom your decisions to how you relate to friends, foes, and yourself.
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π― Devotional : What Does It Mean to Think Like Christ?
Jesusβ mindset was marked by:
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Humility: Though He was God, He humbled Himself and became human. (Phil. 2:6β7)
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Service: He did not come to be served, but to serve. (Mark 10:45)
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Obedience: He obeyed the Fatherβs will even to the point of death on a cross. (Phil. 2:8)
β¨ βJesus did not flaunt His divine nature, but lived among people as one of them. He showed that true greatness is found in service.β β Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 645
This way of thinking often runs counter to the worldβs values: power equals strength, popularity equals significance, achievement equals success. Jesus showed that true greatness lies in love, devotion, and sacrifice.
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π Story β βThe Empty Seatβ
Jonas was sixteenβathletic, creative, a team playerβand very concerned with what others thought of him. At his school, being βcoolβ meant wearing the right brands, using sarcastic humor, and never showing weakness.
Recently, a new student named Sami had joined their class. Quiet, reserved, speaking with an accent. Many whispered, βHeβs just a refugeeβhe wonβt understand anyway.β No one spoke to him. In group work, he was always overlooked. Jonasβthough he considered himself a βnice Christianββignored him too.
One day in religion class, the teacher read Philippians 2:5:
βHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.β
Then she asked,
βWhat do you thinkβhow would Jesus act in your class? Who would sit beside the quiet student? Whom would He invite in?β
Her question hit Jonas like a lightning bolt. Later, alone on the bus, he thought: Jesusβthe King of the universeβhad humbled Himself, become human, sat with outcasts, the sick, the foreign, the weak. And he, Jonas, who wanted to be βgood,β didnβt even have the courage to smile at someone like Sami?
The next day, it was time for group work again. The seat next to Sami was, as always, empty. Jonas felt an inner resistance. What would the others think? What if it was embarrassing?
But then he remembered his teacherβs words: βWhat would Jesus do?β
He walked over to Sami, sat down beside him, and said,
βHey, want to work together? Iβm Jonas.β
Sami looked upβfirst surprised, then shyly smiling. βSure.β
In the days that followed, a genuine friendship grew. Jonas learned that Sami had lost his home in the war as a child. He had seen things no one should ever seeβbut he had never lost hope.
Over time, other classmates began to show interest in Sami too. Jonasβs small stepβa simple empty seat filledβbecame the beginning of change, not only in Sami but in the whole class.
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π What Does This Story Teach Us?
To think like Christ means not just having nice thoughts. It means:
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Being humble where others are proud.
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Reaching out to those who are forgotten.
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Daring to make a differenceβeven if it costs you something.
β¨ βMan looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.β (1 Samuel 16:7)
β¨ βThe life of Christ was marked by unobtrusive kindness. His attention was on the overlooked, His love on the outcasts.β β Ellen G. White
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π§ Reflection β What Does This Mean for You?
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Donβt think of yourself firstβask, How can I help someone today?
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Donβt judge by appearancesβsee with Jesusβ eyes.
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Donβt follow the crowd blindlyβfollow the Spirit of Christ.
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Ask yourself: Would Jesus be proud of my words, thoughts, and actions?
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π‘ Reflections for Today
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Reflection: Are your thoughts today self-centered or Christ-centered?
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Challenge: Do one thing today you might normally avoidβout of love, humility, or compassion.
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Prayer: Ask God to transform your heart and mind so you become more like Jesus.
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π Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank You for the example of Your Son. Help me to shape my thoughts, desires, and perspective on others as Jesus has shown us.
I ask You: Give me courage to be kind, even when itβs hard. Give me love for those who are different. Teach me not to place myself above others.
Today, I want to see with Your eyes, feel with Your heart, and act with Your Spirit.
In Jesusβ name, Amen.