Today's Scripture
One Year Bible Daily Reading – Nehemiah 4-6; Luke 19:28-48
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, 2 complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. 3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4 Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. 5 Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:
6 Though he was in the form of God,
he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
7 But he emptied himself
by taking the form of a slave
and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God highly honored him
and gave him a name above all names,
10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Contributed by Judy Perkins
Adam Hamilton writes in his book “Not A Silent Night” that pride is a dangerous sin, and it is. When you are prideful, you often get so caught up in your own importance that you forget to be humble and give thanks to God for all the blessings He gave you. It is through pride that you begin to believe that it is by your own works that you have received them.
Philippians 2:7 tells us that when Christ was here, He came not as a leader, but as a servant of God. So, how do we set aside our own egos and prideful natures to become humble enough to be a servant of God?
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
To take on the mind of Christ, we must first surrender ourselves to Christ. We have to bend our will to the will of God and let go of our own selfish desires (Philippians 2:3-4). Once we do that, the Holy Spirit begins to work within us and we are filled with joy, comfort, peace, and love. (Philippians 2:1). Then and only then can we truly humble ourselves and do the will of our Heavenly Father.
Just remember this one thing, it is God through the Holy Spirit, which works in you to do His will and His pleasure (Philippians 2:13), and when you humble yourself and serve Him, you are rewarded for your faithful service by earning the right to be called the sons of God (Philippians 2:15).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to be your faithful servant. Please work on my heart and help me to learn humility so that I can be a blessing to others by doing Your will and not my own. Help me to see that You are working with me throughout my life. I give you, God, all the glory, praises and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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