If Christians were once again to be lost and destined to hell, but still remembered all we knew about Christ and salvation except how to be saved again, we would desire more than anything else in all the world that those who know Christ as Lord and Savior would present us with the clearest display of him in word and the most compelling lives to lead us to him.
While Christians are not to be worldly minded, we are to be devotedly mindful about the lost world. Concern for building our own self-esteem is a fleshly distraction from building Christ esteem in our lives to be displayed to all. Self-esteem determines to make sure others give due attention to us, whereas Christ esteem determines to make sure others give due attention to Jesus, the only one who can truly help them.
The flesh wars to ensconce our own needs, feelings, reputation and wants above others, and the Spirit wars to enthrone the true spiritual needs of the most worldly above our own, even those who mean us harm. When hurt by others, the flesh mounts an attack against them, but the Spirit desires we die to self and leave space for wrath. This so that we may present Christ in order that the worldly may be transformed, and thereby disdain worldly mindedness and embrace single minded devotion about the lost world.
“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” John 17:21.
