Thanks for taking time to read the message. I hope that all are well this week. I have been doing better, and I thank the Lord for that and for the opportunity to post this message.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been studying what the Lord has to teach us in the book of Philippians. Beginning last week, we started to see how important it is for believers to be people who are humble. Those who follow Christ are not to think only about themselves. They are to consider the needs of others. In fact, the text from last week instructed us to consider others more important than ourselves.
Just as He is in all things, Jesus is our ultimate example of what a humble life looks like lived out in this world. Paul tells us that Jesus cared about others more than He cared about Himself. He was the epitome of humility.
Our section of Philippians for today is known as the Christ Hymn. That is because of its poetic nature in the Greek, and it is due to the fact that many in the earliest days of the church used these words about Jesus in songs that were sung during the worship service.
In this section, Paul demonstrates for us the way in which Jesus was humble. First of all in verse 6, Paul unequivocally lets us know that Jesus was God. Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who took upon Himself human flesh. He became God with us.
Even though Jesus was the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, He did not grasp on to that. What this means is that Jesus was willing to come to this earth and humble Himself by becoming a man. This was done out of the Lord's great love for us. He wanted to redeem us from the fall and provide forgiveness and new life for all who would call upon Him.
The humility of Jesus reached its full expression when He was willing to die upon the cross. He was humiliated, mocked and scorned while He was on the cross bearing our sins in His body. Yet, He was willing to do this so that we might be saved.
Because He was willing to humble Himself and become obedient unto death, God has highly exalted the Lord Jesus and given Him a name above every name. One day, when Jesus returns in power and great glory, every eye will see Him. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Clearly, Jesus is our example of how to live a humble life. We are to care about others, and we are to be willing to sacrifice for others. We don't need to have our own way all the time. Life isn't all about us and having our wants and desires satisfied. Our life is to be lived under the Lordship of Jesus Christ in service to Him and to others. We truly serve the Lord and serve others when we are willing to tell others about the life changing power of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Jesus came so that whosoever believes in Him might have abundant life. He desires that all people everywhere be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. You can come to Jesus today. I hope that you will. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray that I will get to feeling better. Thank you.
Pray for an end to the heatwave that is gripping large portions of the US and Canada.
Keep praying for peace. Pray that the ceasefire holds between Israel and Iran. Pray for peace in Gaza. Pray for the release of the hostages.
I am thankful that there has been some advancement toward peace in Congo.
Let us keep praying for peace in Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen.
One thing that we need to pray about is the end to a lot of foreign aid that was helping some of the poorest and sickest people in this world. Unfortunately, the government of my nation and the UK have decided to stop funding many foreign aid programs in order to spend more on weapons. Let us pray that individuals, churches and those who are extraordinarily wealthy can step up and make sure that people still get the help that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bahrain and Cambodia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.
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