Philippians 2
August 10, 2022
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v5-8)
The way we relate to our fellow believers matters immensely to God. That’s why there are so many commands throughout this letter about how we are to do that. However, the motivation behind these commands is the gospel. The answer to how we relate to each other in a way that is glorifying to God and good for us is to have the same mindset as Christ, who gave up everything, including his very life. In other words, if we keep Christ’s self-giving, sacrificial love for others in mind, it will inspire us to be humble, deferential, and willing to go the extra mile to love and serve our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, thank You for not only saving me from my sin and selfishness, but for being a living illustration of what it looks like to give one’s life away for the sake of others. I confess that I cannot live that life in my own strength. You know how many times I’ve fallen short of being humble and deferential to others - even after resolving to do so. Stronger than my resolve, though, is Your Spirit, who is transforming me into this kind of person - the more I keep my eyes on You and Your sacrifice for me on the cross. Continue to shape me (and all of my relationships) through the power of the gospel.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
