13 Oct. Philippians 2:1-18

13 Oct. Paul encourages the believers to live unselfishly

"Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the Spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose."

"When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honour to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others."

"In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit."

"But [instead] he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death - death on a cross."

"So God raised him to the highest place [in heaven]. God made his name greater than every other name so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus - everyone in heaven, on earth and [dead and buried] under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father..."

"Keep on working to complete your salvation with fear and trembling, because God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault..."

"Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you. You also should be happy and full of joy with me."

          (Philippians 2:1-18)

 

 

Paul urges the believers in Philippi to be kind and compassionate, and to give up any selfish desires. "When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honour to others than to yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

Instead, they should seek the attitude of Jesus Christ who “was like God in everything” (Philippians 2:6), but selflessly “gave up his place with God, and made himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7).

Jesus was born as a human-being, “and when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death – death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).

Paul looks forward to the time when everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Lord in their life. Then, standing before Jesus like a subject before their king, “every knee will bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

In the meantime, the believers should stand apart from corrupt and sinful people. They should “shine like stars in the dark world” and “offer the teaching that gives life” (Philippians 2:15-16).

The photo shows Jesus giving a threefold blessing (in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) on a mosaic in the church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul, Turkey.

You can read more from Paul's Letter to the Philippians @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/15-pau…/to-live-is-christ/

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