Imitating Christ’s Humility
Good Morning Friends,
The world’s views on Jesus and feelings about Him are absolutely incredible and ought to cause our hearts to hurt for although his name prompts worship and praise and purposeful action for some, to others it prompts rage, ridicule, relegation and refusal. So then here is the challenge of Imitating Christ’s Humility.
Scripture: 2If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was* in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2 (NRSV)
Message: In today’s scripture Paul asks his dear friends in Philippi to think of themselves the way Christ thought of himself, to take on the obedient status of a slave, without privilege, humble, selfless. He asks a lot and yet this has a very practical purpose. If the church is going to be healthy then we each have to have the mindset of Christ. If you have the mind of Christ you will be free from selfish ambition, but there is more. You will not want power and position. You will realize that God is personally interested in each of us. You will not be concerned if you have not received recognition. You will be balanced in the mystery of Jesus- His divinity and his humanity. Take this thought on a journey through the life of Jesus. Search for Jesus this morning in the cradle, the cross, the crypt and the crown. Look to the cradle with the mind a child. The manger may indeed be emotionally empty today. So empty yourself as well. Look to the cross and remember that He is no longer there. The crucifixion is complete. We can die to our needs and self-interests. We can crucify ourselves, to take up our cross, yet Christ’s supreme act of creation is complete. If you seek the Lord do not bother looking in the tomb- that crypt is forever victoriously vacant. If you are searching for Jesus, empty yourself and look up and hear His thundering voice on the wings of the wind. He is on the right hand of God…on a throne once more. To be like Christ then is indeed a difficult proposition. We must glorify God without equating that experience to exalt our own status. We must be as a slave, loving each other while clinging to those things eternal. Therefore allow Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection to count for something so that you might live to Christ in His kingdom. Those that truly put their faith in Christ, trust in Christ, live in Christ will share the glory in heaven with Jesus. Receive the attitude of Christ as a gift and find purpose in pleasing Him. When your belief in Jesus moves from your head to your heart and from your heart to your hands, you will never be the same because you will have become a loving part of something you could never be alone!
Pray that as we face death, sorrow and emptiness, that we are unselfish. Pray that we have a humility that leads to obedience. Pray we remember those who have died and have helped us on the journey. Pray we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those that weep. Pray we see others pain, their hurt and sorrow but reflect Jesus’ love. Pray we realize that success is found in the Lord and in His purposes for our lives. Pray we live to serve the living…we live for Christ in unity.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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