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 this week’s reading from Matthew, Jesus quotes the prophet Zechariah in naming his humility, an un-God-like character trait that receives adoration in the Philippians “Christ hymn.” In our hymn for this week—“Oh, Love, How Deep”—we sing that God did not send an angel but that God in Christ “wore the robe of human frame.” We might dress ourselves up in armor and all kinds of protective gear, which can be helpful in the moment but is, ultimately, never enough to remove our human vulnerability and eventual death. The only thing certain in this world is death, regardless of wealth, power, beauty, or whatever else we’re chasing. This reality of decay and dying is what God chose: God became human. Immortal was made mortal. Life gave in to death. And in that exchange, we were clothed with Christ, all of us dying and dead humans redeemed to new life.
Prayer
Oh God, you have suffered for us, with us, and because of us. You chose to come into our world of decay and death as one of us, and this choice gave us new life. Give me faith each day to believe that this promise of life in you is for me. Amen.
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