Good morning…
“Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first,” urges Philippians 2:4 in the VOICE translation. In verses five through eleven, God’s Word continues: In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:
Though He was in the form of God,
He chose not to cling to equality with God;
But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
a servant in form
and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
He humbled Himself,
obedient to death—
a merciless death on the cross!
So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!
Paul describes a new budding community of faith where every person considers the needs of others first and does nothing from selfish pride. Such bonding community, following in the humbling footsteps of Jesus, pulls together rather than pulls apart. Such spiritual connectivity grows a body of believers that knows its purpose and lets nothing interfere with God’s higher agenda. It is like an extended spiritual family where others line up to become part of this sacred assembly and to make this group their home, because they feel positive encouragement and they know they are truly loved by God and one another. Paul urges the Philippians, and now urges us generations later, to strive for this radical unity with God through Christ. We fulfill Jesus’ joy by adopting the mind of Christ who humbled Himself, became a servant, and suffered a humiliating death of the cross. Jesus becomes the example of God-ordained service, leading to the kind of humility and harmony that brings glory to God, our Heavenly Father.
Verse 12 brings all of this down to the personal level: “So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done… Continue to work out your salvation…” I love knowing that the word “salvation” in its native tongue means wholeness, the hidden wholeness for which we were designed when God knit us together in our mother’s womb.
Individually and collectively, let’s continue to discover our hidden wholeness with God, with our true self, and with our neighbors, sparking humility and harmony that brings God great glory.
…Sue…
