Click here to read Philippians 2:1-11

So far, Paul has told us what it means to be a servant of Jesus Christ, what it looks like to live a life fully abandoned to Christ, and the necessity of laying down our own will to pick up the will of God.  Now, Paul is sharing with us what motivated him to be able to live such a life: the example of Christ himself.  “And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us.  Let his mindset become your motivation.” (Phil. 2:5 TPT).

I love how he begins this section by reminding us to reflect on all that we have experienced by our own unity to Jesus through the Spirit.  “Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One!  You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love.  You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy.” (Phil. 2:1 TPT).  This is one motivating factor that I think propelled Paul into his ministry.  The transformation he experienced in his own life was so powerful there was just no stopping him from sharing it in hopes to see others experience what he did.  I think we should spend some time periodically reflecting on all that we have gained in knowing Jesus.  Remembering our life before him and reflecting on our life with him. 

Any time I do that I find that my heart overflows with such thankfulness but also awe and wonder because I know that only God could have accomplished such things in me.  As a matter of fact, my husband and I walked through this transformation together (prior to being married) and only God could have kept us together through it.  When I reflect on these things, to say that I am “overflowing with his comforting love” is an understatement.  When we meditate on all that He has done for and in us I think it motivates us to look for others to help because naturally we want others, especially those we love and care for, to experience the same great love that we have found. 

Paul suggests that we as believers use our personal testimonies to join us together with one heart, one passion, united in one love.  What God did for me and what He has done for you should be enough to unite us for one purpose: share this transforming love with others.  Two themes that I have noticed throughout the New Testament are love and unity.  These are essential to grow the Body of Christ.  We may have all kinds of differences between us from language and culture to opinions and levels of revelation that can cause separation.  Paul even identifies pride-filled opinions, self-promotion, and selfishness as being destructive to our cherished unity.  But when we are united in Christ, we are united by one love and one Spirit.  That alone is enough for us to come together for the purpose of bringing that love to others and growing the Body through the unity of that same Spirit.  That same transforming power that hit us is there for others and we can get distracted with so many other things that don’t matter but Paul wants us to see that it’s about bringing that transforming power out into the world everywhere we go and seeing others experience Jesus for themselves. 

“In authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves…possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests.”  (Phil. 2:3-4 TPT).  There is no higher example of this than Jesus himself.  Jesus was not like God but was the very substance of God.  The Trinity is the three-in-one.  I have a hard time with this sometimes, but I think of it kind of like water.  Water can be in various forms (liquid, solid, vapor), but the source for all three forms is still water.  Jesus and Holy Spirit are different forms (different persons) of God but all three are God.  In verses 6-8 Paul explains that Jesus didn’t consider himself being God as anything to be lost or gained but willingly emptied himself of his Godly identity to become a man.  And not even a highly respected man but a servant.  The NKJV translation says, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”  (Phil 2:7 NKJV).  He was obedient to the point of death on the cross, a criminal’s death though he was an innocent man.  Why?  To reveal God’s love to the world.  Now we can never make such a sacrifice because we are not God, but we are still expected to lay down our lives in that we do not live for our own desires anymore, we live to seek, discern, and carry out the will of God; to reveal God’s heart to the world.

Paul also points out here that the obedience of Christ is what resulted in the great authority that his name now carries.  “Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness!  He has now been given the greatest of all names!  The authority of the name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence!  Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name – in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm.  And every tongue will proclaim in every language: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh,’ bringing glory and honor to God, his Father!” (Phil. 2:9-11).  One great take away from this is that obedience results in authority.  And notice also this isn’t to bring glory to Jesus, but to bring glory to “God, his Father”.  So, though he was exalted and given the highest authority it all still brings glory to God.  So should all we do in our lives.  Our obedience may bring us into places where we are raised up and given greater authority to operate in His power, but it is still all to bring glory to God, the Father.  Jesus recognized that and everything he did was out of obedience to his Father’s will.  He was humble, he was a servant, and he loved us more than his own life.

I think when we finally come to the end of ourselves and settle in our hearts that we exist to bring glory to God, He can finally begin to really use us. 

Let’s pray.

Father, we are so grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus gave.  There could be no greater sacrifice than for the most Supreme Being to become a created being and give His life to save the rest of His creation.  We could never fathom the magnitude of your love.  As we reflect over our own transformations by the power of your love, we pray that you would stir a passion in our hearts to see others experience your love for themselves.  We pray that through the empowerment of your Holy Spirit we would actively seek and obey your will in our lives, that we would unite with other believers, and move with one purpose: to share your heart with the world bringing glory to you, God, the Father.  Help us to identify areas in our own lives that we have not been able to lay down yet and walk us through that process of sacrifice so that we can be fully used of you.  Continue to the work that you began in us, grow your Spirit in us, grow your Kingdom in us, that we may exude your presence in greater measure.  In the great and mighty name of King Jesus we pray, amen.