Hallelujah! The Lord God has been faithful to us throughout the past week and I do believe that we all will have a life-changing testimony to share with everyone around us about God’s faithfulness in all of our lives. I am personally blessed this week and am hoping that you too are blessed by the same God. The Lord again gave us a very thought evoking Scripture passage for this week’s SftW meditation, which is Philippians 2:3-11. It will be easier to understand the passage we chose for our meditation, if we are able to read and understand a couple of the previous verses, which state: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind (Philippians 2:1-2). Apostle Paul earnestly exhorts the followers of Jesus Christ to be like-minded having the same love, one in spirit and of one mind. Although, the passage we chose for our meditation is written primarily to the believers in Philippi, Apostle Paul is writing this to all God’s people across the world, that is, every believer in every age everywhere. Let us pray that the Lord would speak to each and every one of us as we meditate upon each word or phrase of the selected Scripture passage.

There are numerous spiritual lessons to be learned from this passage, but our given time and space is limited to discuss only six of those lessons, which will definitely empower our spiritual life and our walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we meditate the Scripture:

*First of all, Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Philippi and the believers across the world not to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3a). The reason Apostle Paul stated this is because if anyone does anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (excessively praising oneself), it is for nothing but self-seeking, self-promoting, self-serving, self-benefitting, self-praising, self-lifting up, and so on; which will end-up in one’s self-destruction. The reason is that such activity will only benefit the I or Me group and no one else will get benefit out of it. The person who does it, does it for personal gain, which, in most cases, causes disagreement and conflicts and division within a family, church, among friends, society, and so on. According to James brother of Jesus, some of the main reasons for the disorder and evil practices which exists in a family or community is because of one’s envy and selfish ambition. He wrote to the early Christian believers that For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice (James 3:16). King Solomon also mentioned that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another (Ecclesiastes 4:4). Whether we agree with this or not, many of us are still under the grip of such a pattern in our life despite reading the Scripture regularly or attending worship services without fail. Unless we attain spiritual maturity and have the mindset of Christ, it is hard to change such attitudes. As a minister of the gospel, Apostle Paul might have come across some people doing things out of selfish ambition that caused divisions and chaos in the church (ref: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 11:17-19). When he wrote the believers in Philippi, he urged the believers not do anything out of their selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3). He is not only urging the believers in Philippi, but he is asking all devout followers of Jesus Christ across the world and time to not do anything out of selfish ambition, rather do everything in humility and love for the glory of God!

*Secondly, Apostle Paul encourages us to value our fellow believers and fellow citizens above ourselves with humility and an unselfish attitude (Philippians 2:3b-4). This means, instead of doing things out of selfish ambition or vain conceit; the believers, in humility and love, ought to value others above themselves (Philippians 2:3b) and treat them with due honor and respect (Leviticus 19:32; 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Peter 5:5-6). In other words, instead of doing everything for one’s own benefit, try to do good to everyone and, thus, take care of their needs also. It doesn’t mean that Apostle Paul is asking the believers to ignore their own needs and help others’ needs. Definitely, our personal interests and concerns are important and they must be taken care of, but, at the same time, we cannot ignore those around us and neglect meeting their needs, whatever they might be – spiritual or physical or emotional or material or any need as such. Apostle Paul stated elsewhere: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:9-10). This shows that the believers are called to do good to everyone everywhere. This is what exactly the Samaritan man in the parable Jesus shared with His disciples did (Luke 10:25-37). When the Samaritan man, who was on a journey, saw a person in need (who was attacked by robbers, stripped of his clothes, beaten up, and left on the road half dead [Luke 10:30]), he took pity on him, went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and cared for him (Luke 10:33-34). The Samaritan man not only just helped the person who was in need for the time-being, but he was also keen in leading him to complete recovery by taking care of the entirety of expenses for his recovery needs, like the expenses of his continuous stay in the inn and treatment (Luke 10:35). Similarly, Apostle Paul is asking the believers in Philippi and all the believers across the world to do good to all people, that is, helping people who are in need, in addition to one’s own family and the family of believers. This is where Christ-likeness begins to reflect in and through a believer’s life.

*Thirdly, Apostle Paul invites us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in our relationship with one another (Philippians 2:5). What we can understand from this verse is that Apostle Paul urges the believers, that is, the devout and faithful followers of Jesus Christ, to have the same mindset (attitude) of Jesus Christ in us that will reflect in our relationships with one another. This means, believers are asked to have the same mindset/attitude of Christ as they deal with their fellow-believers as well as non-believers (that is, with the insiders – those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the outsiders – those who are not in the Lord Jesus Christ). For instance: one cannot say they follow Christ and not practice Christ’s attitude in their relationship with others or say that they love God and not love their brother/sister or others. Apostle John put it in the succinct way, saying: Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen (1 John4:20). Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ ought to display the mindset/attitude of Christ Jesus in and through everything they say or do or imagine. Eventually, believers’ life will be well rooted in the same mindset of Christ Jesus – the way they think, the way they talk, the way they act, the way they imagine, and so on, and they must imagine/say/do things the same way Christ Jesus does them. This is why, Apostle Paul said to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in believers’ relationships with one another (Philippians 2:5).

*Fourthly, Apostle Paul briefly describes what it means to have the mindset of Christ and its impact upon Himself in His relationship with His Father in heaven above as well as His relationship with His people on earth below (Philippians 2:6-8). Here, Apostle Paul describes the humility of Jesus Christ as an example of the mindset/attitude of Christ, which states:

6 Christ Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

The Son of God (Christ Jesus), being God, did not consider equality with God but took the very nature of a servant, humbled Himself and being made in human likeness, obeyed God in everything He said and did, even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8). He humbled Himself as a servant and served those people whom He came to save and gave His life as a ransom in the place of their lives (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). Whether in the ancient times or at the present time, execution on the cross is not a symbol of heroic death or honorable death for anyone but it is a form of degradation and humiliation, yet Jesus endured it as part of God’s plan for saving humanity (Isaiah 53:1-12). The author of Hebrews wrote that:

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1b-3)

Knowing this fact, an individual or a community who claims to be Christ’s followers will humble themselves and live a life that is worthy of their calling in order to fulfill God’s will and His purpose in and through their life. Jesus said: I am gentle and humble in heart (Matthew 11:29). James the brother of Jesus urged the early Christians to humble themselves before God, as it is mentioned Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:10; also refer to Proverb 29:23; Luke 1:52; 14:11). Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus saying Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). Furthermore, Apostle Paul said elsewhere: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Again, Apostle Paul urges the believers to follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) and humble themselves in obedience to Christ, as he himself did. Thus, believing and putting into action everything Christ has commanded will enable a devout follower of Jesus Christ to humble themselves before the Lord and have the same mindset/attitude as our Lord Jesus Christ, so that in due time the Lord God will exalt everyone who follows Him wholeheartedly as He exalted His Son Jesus Christ.

*Fifthly, Apostle Paul is narrating the end result (outcome) of Jesus’ humility and sacrifice. God exalted Christ to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them (Philippians 2:9-11a; Revelation 5:3, 13). In the history of the universe, there will not be any other being or person who humbled themselves as Christ Jesus humbled Himself.  Being God Himself (John 1:1-3; 10:30; Colossians 1:15, 19-20), He left behind the glory He had in heaven (John 17:5; Philippians 2:5-7), came down to this world as a human being (Luke 2:6-12), made Himself a servant to those whom He came to save (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45), and obeyed His Father in Heaven wholeheartedly even to the point of death on the cross (John 8:29; Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:7-9) in order to reconcile sinful humanity with the holy God His Father and save them from eternal condemnation (John 3:17; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:1-6). As a result, the Lord God Almighty exalted Him in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea; and made Him the Lord that every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives and every knee will bow before Him in worship the glory of God the Father, as Apostle Paul mentioned: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11a).

*Sixthly, we, God’s chosen people of our generation, are called to glorify God in everything we say or do as Jesus Christ glorified and honored God the Father by doing everything God commanded Him to do and, thus, He fulfilled God’s purpose in and through His life (Philippians 2:11b). Everything that happens in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea happens according to the will and purpose of God, and everything that happens according to the will of God glorifies God. Jesus’ humility and complete obedience glorified God the Father. As devout followers of Christ, we need to understand that everything Jesus said and did brought glory and honor to God the Father. Likewise, our word and deed ought to bring glory and honor to the Lord God Almighty.

Dear friends in the Lord, as Apostle Paul urged the believers in Philippi to have the same mindset of Jesus, he is reminding each one of us who are called to be His followers to have the same mindset of Christ, so that we may be able to put into practice the things Jesus taught and showed us in our life and in our dealings with one another. In order to do that, one must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires and live by the Spirit, as Apostle Paul exhorted the believers in Galatia: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:24-26). As devout believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to practice everything Christ commanded us to say or do, just as Christ Jesus said and did everything the way the Father commanded Him to do (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:26; 10:18; 12:49-50; 14:30-31; 15:10). In addition, the believers ought to humble themselves the way Jesus humbled Himself, empty themselves the way Jesus emptied Himself, and submit to the will of God and fulfill God’s will in and through their life in the way Jesus submitted Himself to fulfill the will of God in and through His life (John 4:34; 9:4). Jesus, being God with full glory, emptied and humbled Himself and came down into this world and fulfilled all that God the Father commanded Him. As a result, at the end of His life and ministry on earth, the Lord God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, and made Him the Lord over all His creation, and glorified Him in His presence with the glory He had with Him before the world began (John 17:5; Galatians 2:9). Similarly, if we, His chosen people, wholeheartedly follow the example of Christ Jesus in doing things in and through our lives, the Lord God will exalt us and reward us and will give us a new name (Isaiah 62:2; Luke 6:38; Philippians 2:9-11a; Revelation 2:17; 3:12; 19:16). Therefore, let us pray and prepare ourselves before the Lord God Almighty who can enable each one of us to keep in step with His Son Jesus Christ and live by the Spirit for the glory of God the Father. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!