The verses in our Bible reading today may have come from an early hymn. Back then no one had a Bible or anything in print. People had to memorize whatever was important to know. So the early Christians composed songs and brief sayings that helped them remember the core teachings of their faith in Christ. They carried these truths in their hearts.
This song gets at the essence of who Jesus was, what He did, and how He accomplished salvation: He did it through humility. He was the Son of God. He had all power, all knowledge. It was the kind of position that most of us would not want to give up.
But Jesus did give it all up. He set aside His privileged place and became a human being. And once He became human, he went even further and made himself everyone’s servant. He was not some powerful political leader. He did not even have a position in the religious establishment of his day. He didn't care about titles or statuses.
Jesus came to serve and save. Period! He came to die. He came to die for our sins to save us —though he never sinned. The Apostle Paul uses these words to challenge the Philippians, the church of Philippi, to not to let pride ruin their community. If the Son of God could give up all that He gave up, including his own life for our sake, surely the rest of us can give up our foolish pride and offer our lives to Him. It is very simply the gospel way. How many times do we allow ourselves to get in our way and prevent us from using our gifts for Kingdom impact? How many times do we let our mindset, our way get in the way of God's perfect way?
Is it easy? No. But we ask daily as we commune with the Lord each day to have ourselves decrease so that Christ may increase in us. His way of thinking, actions and words reign over and be true.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to keep in step with your Spirit as we follow Jesus down the pathways of the gospel. Make us channels of your peace and servants to all. Loving Lord, I ask for you to quiet the temptation that goes through my mind. I ask for you to help me to choose kindness and empathy. Help me to be generous and not judgmental. I pray to ask you to give me the mind of Christ Jesus. Replace sin with holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: – Philippians 2:5 [KJV].
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