Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 2:5-11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Verse 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, Verse 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, Verse 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Verse 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, Verse 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Verse 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Devotion
In our lives, you and I have emptied a lot of things: bowls and cups; garbage cans and wheelbarrows; refrigerators, wallets, calendars. It feels good to empty your plate; an emptied purse or gas tank is not so satisfying.
Paul’s words to the Philippians are a hymn. They sing of how Christ “emptied himself.” Himself! Jesus’ life was not taken; it was given.
What does Paul mean, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus?” Having the same mind as Christ calls us to say the same yeses, the same nos. We can try. We could never be like him. But we can bend our knee at his Name—and join the whole church in heaven and earth in confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. And we can keep in mind how God has already written the glorious end of the story.
Prayer
Thanks be to you, Oh Jesus, my friend, my friend indeed, who at my need your life did spend! Amen.