Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
[Do everything without grumbling or arguing] so that you may become blameless and pure…
Summary: The road to being Christ-like requires that we travel a path of humility in God’s service.
It is interesting that Paul seems to summarize Christian living with two simple words. His words suggest that by doing everything without grumbling or arguing, we can become “blameless and pure.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:15a – Becoming Nothing”
… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage challenge our concept of faith and what it means.
This passage is one of the most significant and possibly most ignored in the entire Bible.
Why is it significant?
It is important because it deals with the core of Christian living.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:12b – Faith and Action”
… to the glory of God the Father.
Summary: Everything Jesus did was to bring glory to his Father. His life is an inspiration to all who believe in him.
There is a saying you might have heard that goes like this: ‘If you know, you know.’ It suggests that you have to be part of the ‘IN’ group to get the meaning.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:11b – If You Know, You Know”
… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Summary: Verbal acknowledgement is powerful.
Part of exalting Jesus to the highest place is proclaiming his name … out loud. The “out loud” part is important.
“Why?” you ask. Well, let’s explore …
Continue reading “Philippians 2:11a – Say it — Jesus Christ is Lord!”… being made in human likeness.
Summary: As Paul turns the conversation to the nature of Jesus Christ, we discover a dangerous detour that tempts us away from Paul’s main point into a tarpit of our own making.
Before we dive into today’s passage, we need to have a little talk about theology.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:7c – Two Natures”
… by taking the very nature of a servant,
Summary: This passage provides a critical description of Jesus’ character. Understanding Jesus requires that we try to understand what it means to have the “nature of a servant.”
To avoid using his “equality with God” as an advantage, Jesus did things that run counter to our natural instincts for self-preservation. One of those things was “taking the very nature of a servant.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:7b – The Nature of a Servant”
… rather, he made himself nothing…
Summary: Paul’s description of Jesus gives us something to think about: Who is Jesus really?
When Paul writes that Jesus “made himself nothing,” he is not exaggerating.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:7a – Our Jesus”
Who, being in very nature God…
Summary: Understanding the nature of God is a tall order. Perhaps the best we can do is to understand that we are not God and then learn to recognize who God is.
Imagine for a moment that you are a puppet. (You can be any kind of a puppet you would like to be!) You live in a world populated by puppets of all different types. Some are nice, others are mean. You know the world we live in.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:6a – Punch and Jesus”
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Summary: Paul is preparing us to see something very special. He wants our hearts and minds to be open to what he is about to show us.
Paul is about to show us a portrait of Jesus. As he takes us down the hall to the gallery where the portrait waits, he reaches out his hands to us and gently speaks these words:
Continue reading “Philippians 2:5 – A Portrait of Jesus”
… not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Summary: Paul’s words about looking out for the interests of others echo similar words Jesus said when he was on earth.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone were looking out for me? I mean, really, think about it. If everyone looked out for me, I wouldn’t have to look out for me and I could look to the interests of others.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:4 – The Good Neighbor”