6-23-10

PHILIPPIANS 2

Be like Christ. There, that is primarily chapter 2. Any questions?

Christ did nothing from a selfish perspective. He certainly was not looking out for His own personal, human interests. He certainly regarded others as more important than Himself, speaking in human terms. Note that the text does not say that He had no personal interests, nor does it imply that we should have no personal interests. So how do we look out for the interests of others? Paul answers that. Have the attitude of Christ.

Check the motives. Why do the bible study, why do the outreach activity, why tell others about Christ, why raise obedient children, why praise God publically? For our own self-aggrandizing? No matter what it is we do, Paul tells us to do those actions as though we are thinking of others.

Christ was even willing to temporarily let go of His place in heaven, to come to earth to show us how to get it done. Side note: the NASB in verse 6 says “…did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped”; this word “grasped” does not mean “understood”, but rather, “held onto”. So Christ purposefully let go of His grasp, His holding onto of His glorious place in heaven in order to save us. He became a willful slave to us, to the point of being obedient to His death on the cross.

Make no mistake, some day, all will know that Jesus is God. At His name, every knee will bow, on earth, in heaven, under the earth, everyone! And God’s glory will be clear to all.

As Jesus showed His perfectness by His works and actions, so too are we to demonstrate our salvation as it should produce works from us that point to Christ. But to what end? Well, we come back to testimony. We are to be blameless and innocent while we are in the middle of a “crooked and perverse generation”. These words literally mean “turning away from the correct path”, and it describes our society very accurately. So Christians should stand out in their behavior, not blend in.

Verse 16, holding fast to the Word. Hang on to the truth as though it is that last branch on the side of the cliff, where letting go means certain death. What a great picture!

And rejoice, again, rejoice. If Paul can say it near his imminent death, so can we. And I won’t go into detail here, but read the commendations of Timothy and Epaphroditus. We, too, should honor such as these among us, may we have the privilege to serve alongside such champions of the faith.

SO WHAT…?

So, I will check my motives, I pray you will, too.

So, I will let my actions speak way before my mouth does, and I pray you will, too. People notice what I do, not what I say. Take that to the bank.

So, dear God, I promise I will hold fast to your Word. It’s all the truth I have, and all the truth I need. Thank you for your Word, and for THE Word, Jesus Christ.