by Jerry Senn
I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. This time of year is usually too rush-rush for us to evaluate how the coming of Jesus into our world should change our attitudes and behavior.
When Paul wrote his brief letter to brothers and sisters in Philippi he already knew some relationships were shaky at best. (See Philippians 4:2-3). Reading between the lines, we get the idea that a call for unity was in order. (See Philippians 1:27).
Listen carefully to his words:
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.”
“Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing” (Philippians 2:1-4, NLT).
Wow! What a powerful challenge for most of us—a high bar to attain—even for the best of us. However, pursuing this high level of unity is Paul’s desire for believers. So, he adds an example both to motivate and for us to strive to achieve. Keep reading !!!
“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name” (Philippians 2:5-9, NLT).
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28, ESV).
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” … “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:7, 10, ESV).
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