The passage I read
was Philippians 2:1-11
You can find that passage here:
The verse that most
stood out to me:
5 In
your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
As I reflect:
This passage (as many
in the Bible) directly contradicts the world’s way of thinking. How many times have I seen or heard at work
that one should walk with a since of superiority in all that they do? How many times have you heard that to get your
next promotion you should display confidence and walk with your head high? This isn’t what the Word of God says. It says that our confidence is in the Lord;
not our selves. Is says we are to be
humble and obedient, valuing others higher than ourselves. Very opposite thought process from that of
the world. If I’m already saved, then
shouldn’t my concern be the salvation of others? If the Lord has already given His service to
me, then shouldn’t I be able to be a servant to others? Remember Christ came not to be served but to
serve? Remember Him washing the
disciples’ feet? Remember He is our
example? Where and at what point in time
did we pollute this story so that we could be self righteous men standing on
stages and pointing at ourselves? It’s
not about us.
Paul uses the only
perfect example of his point that is possible.
He chooses Jesus. I think that most
Christians have at some point heard that Christ is our example and we are to be
like him. But I wonder how many
professed followers really believe that it’s true. Consider it.
We are to be like the perfect man who laid His life down in obedience to
God. We are to be like Jesus who though
capable of building up and destroying all chose to humble himself as a man not
only before God the Father, but also before other men. He made Himself lowly to show us where true
strength is found. He fell to His knees
and spent time in prayer to give us the example of how to lead. He made Himself a servant, to teach us how to
serve. I believe it is far too easy for
us to simply admire Jesus for doing what He did/does. Bet we are not called to simply admire
Him. We are called to be like Him;
having the same mind, the same humility, the same serving spirit. And yea, it can be hard at times to do this
(especially when humbling ourselves before someone that we may think we are
better than), but imagine how God must have felt. Is He not infinitely better than all of us in
every way? And yet He was able to be obedient
and Humble even unto death for not a single sin in His life. How can we then justify not being humble
servants and allowing God to do the exalting?
I don’t believe Paul
is writing this to tell us to walk around with our heads down or to feel so
lowly that we have no worth. I do
however believe, that after having taught the Philippians about how to handle representing
Christ to those who oppose them, he
wants them to also be able to handle being Christ like to one another in the
family of believers. This is his message to us as well, that
we should treat one another as believers in the same body. That we should be humble amongst each other
and be servants seeking to esteem one another higher than ourselves rather than
seeking self gain and a position among leaders.
I believe that truly to lead in the body of believers means to
serve. For what example is given in
having others serve you? Be unified I lifting
each other up and in this way be drawn nearer to each other as a close knit
family of believers who’s strength and power come from Christ alone.
My response to the
Lord:
My Lord I am confident in you. I am assured that you can do all things and I
trust in this reassuring truth. I pray
that you mold me to be more like Jesus.
Help me to be a servant and to teach others also to serve in your
name. If ever I am accused of being a
great leader, may I humbling confess that I am but a servant and then point
them to you, my Great Leader and Teacher.
Help me to separate selfish ambition, from ambition that is right before
you. May I be ambitious only in ways
that serve you Father. Teach me to have
greater concern for the interests of others.
I bow before you Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus. Let it be so.
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