Philippians 2:5-11
verses 6-7: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
God has shown me exactly what to do. I am to serve others. In this way, I can be just like Jesus. In other ways, I cannot expect to be like Him, and can’t hope to. I am not a tiny god, put on earth to have special powers or to be just like our creator. Jesus showed us how to lead our lives. Why is this so difficult in our culture? Why do I find myself struggling with this? We have made our lives and our very existence so complicated and time-consuming. Jesus’ message was not complicated: Live your life in servanthood.
Holy Father, I ask you again for direction, for open eyes to see opportunities, for softened hearts to accept your love, and for wisdom to know what you would have me do. If I miss an opportunity, please show me again. Amen
Becky, transforming
pic by Kay
Philippians 2:6-11 verse 9-10 Paul begins by saying if anyone has any comfort, encouragement, or tenderness from the love of Christ, they should make his joy complete by acting in a way that would be pleasing to Jesus. This means that they should refrain from doing things out of their own selfish ambition. God gives us what we need. One of these gifts is his son, Jesus. Jesus was no longer God on earth. He did not act as if He was better than anyone else. He was a servant to all whom He encountered. Because of this humility, God put Him in the highest place and gave Him the greatest name. One day, Paul said, every knee w…
Philippians 2:10-11 - “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
In our post-Christian, hyper-political culture of grievance and complaint, even being on one’s knees has become a statement that has nothing to do with God. Nevertheless, Scripture tells us that someday, at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend. I struggle with how that will come about, but I do know three things. 1) This is the work of the Holy Spirit, not of mine. 2) Our God is big enough to accomplish this in ways that I can…