September 27, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Leviticus and Philippians? Here’s today’s reading:
Philippians 2 (NIV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,……Continue Reading
I just lost all my writing for the last hour or two on Phil. 2. Perhaps I will try again tomorrow night. I hit the wrong button.
Sorry to hear that Dennis. Been there, done that. Look forward to seeing what you share.
😕so sorry. Just wanted to jump in and let you know that I read and appreciate what you write.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
”Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
Here is reverence for the Name again.
Philippians 2
Make my joy complete by being like minded with Christ. Having the same love being as one, being as one in spirit. Do not do anything out of selfish ambition or conceit but consider others better than yourselves! Your attitude should be the same as Christ.
Every knee should bow in Heaven, and on earth and under the earth and we will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God our Father!
Continue to work your salvation with fear and trembling. Do ” everything without complaint or arguing.
How beautiful it’s explained that we are to shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life! How powerful!
Philippians 2
What an example we have in Jesus (v.5-8). Indeed, one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
What an incredible chapter. First establishing that we should think of others above ourselves and who better to be our example of that than Jesus. He gave up so much for us, that He could save us form our sins. How great is the gap between being the God of glory and then becoming human and then sacrificing himself on a cross. Paul’s point? If He would humble himself that much, how much more should we? But Jesus’ humility is not the end of the story though. Because of His sacrifice and obedience to the Father’s will, He will be lifted high and glorified because of it. And imagine, that we are connected to that glory and have it as we represent Him on this earth. It should lead us to obedience and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling recognizing that Jesus did not save us to keep us as we are. We should be willing to serve in any way God leads and equips just like Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus. He is worth it, and we should look forward to shining our light for Him.
Philippians 2
You are not going to believe this but just as I was finishing the last few words, I hit the wrong button again! I was encouraging us to live for Christ daily after an hour or two. We are using two key boards for one sticks too much. I really wanted to share my thoughts on this chapter.
Philippians 2
Let me try one more time. We are to be likeminded having the same love. being of one accord, and of one mind. vs 2. We are to have the mind of Christ. What does this all mean? Well first we have to start with Christ. Jesus Christ was with God the Father and the Holy Spirit from the very beginning. Jesus Christ was the agent of creation. We were all created by Him. John 1:1,14 {In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Colossians 2:9 {For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.} This is the Trinity. Col. 1:16,17 {For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.} Phil. 2:6 {Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.} This is the same Jesus that came to earth to be born as a helpless baby in a manger. Born of poor people, where He could had been born as a king. vs 7,8. We do know that His human parents were God fearing and hard workers. Joseph; Jesus step dad was a good father to Him. The Spirit of God came upon Mary and she conceived. Such good examples of God fearing people. But they were not the ones to be worshipped for they worshipped at the feet of Jesus; for they knew who He was. The angels told them and wise men also worshipped Him. But Jesus wasn`t just born to become a human baby but He came to earth for a specific purpose; and that was to die on the cross for all the sins of the world; past, present, and future. He died in our place for only He could truly pay the price. He was the perfect Lamb of God. No other human could pay for their own sins; never mind the sins of the world. Hebrews 10:11,12 {And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.} Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom, 3:10b {There is none righteous, no not one.} Rom. 3:28 {Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.} This is what Jesus did for us not only in His death and resurrection three days latter but His selfless demonstration of example by teaching and servant actions. We may not die for Him in the physical sense unless we are killed for speaking for Jesus; but we should be living for Him on a daily basic with Him as the preeminence in our lives. This includes as Paul spoke earlier; that we are to be of one mind in Christ Jesus. This means we are to have a humble attitude in regards to others and put them first. It is all about Christ and not ourselves. Being involved in the things of Christ and not our own interests. There is nothing wrong with our own interests but it should not take away our pursuit of Christ. God bless you all and may we continue to grow in Him and follow His lead in our lives.
Glad it finally worked, Dennis. Thanks for persevering!
I pray that God works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. This doesn’t mean that people are going to like us, or that everything is going to go smoothly. Rather, it means we strive to become who God wants us to be, and when we do so we stand out as people with integrity amongst people who have no integrity. And that is pleasing to the Lord.