Philippians 2:1-13 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 2:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, Verse 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Verse 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Verse 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 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.
Verse 12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Verse 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Devotion
As he often does, in this reading Paul sends words of encouragement and caution to the faithful in Philippi. Work together, be in agreement, keep your spirits up, help each other—don’t do dumb stuff. Paul asks the Philippians to do their best to be like Jesus: have the mind of Christ among you. But then he does something unique. The last six verses of the reading are a hymnic statement of belief for the Philippians—and for the church. Almost a creed. A creed before there were creeds: Jesus is God, but he emptied himself and became a servant (a slave). He humbly died on a cross, and God has lifted him up above all. Finally, Paul adds, God is asking them—and us—to confess that Jesus is Lord.
Prayer
God of faith, give us the mind to see and honor Christ the servant. Christ who loves us, Christ who died for us, Christ whose name is above every name. Amen.
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