1 Corinthians 1:20 – So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. ²¹ Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. ²² It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. ²³ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 

²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 

²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ²⁸ God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. ²⁹ As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹ Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” (NLT)

Continuing in chapter one of 1 Corinthians, Paul touches upon another division within the church in Corinth, that of education.  We must understand that Paul was not one to put up with anyone claiming to be superior to anyone else, and it certainly shows in this passage!  The Greeks prided themselves on their wisdom, and often called the uneducated ‘foolish’.  With this background, consider the opening verses of this passage:  So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. ²¹ Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. ²² It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. ²³ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 

To both the Jews and the Greeks, the cross was a sign of weakness, but to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  The word used in this verse for ‘called’ was often translated as invited, which I prefer.  God invited us to share in God’s Saving Grace.  The way this verse reads, ‘but to those called/invited’ leads some believe that since some were invited, other were not.  This is not the case.  All are invited, but not all answer the invitation.  We have plenty of other Scripture verses that of speak God inviting all (2 Peter 3:9, John 3:16, just to name a couple). 

In a strong stance towards those who would separate by level of education, Paul asserts that, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.  Then in verse twenty-eight Paul states that God even chose things counted as nothing at all – ‘things that are not’ in other translations.  He was actually quoting a popular phrase used by Greek philosophers to make his argument that God uses all people to make God’s message known.  This is Good News, but also challenging to each of us.  We are being told that each and every one of us has something of tremendous value to share – our knowledge of Jesus Christ.  

Today, let’s share some of our knowledge of Jesus, not boasting in our knowledge, (verse 29) but humbly sharing.  

Posted by Ramón Torres 

1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. ¹¹ For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹² Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”

¹³ Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! ¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. (NLT) 

Today we take a look at the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth.  Paul had a close relationship to the Christians in Corinth, having spent eighteen months there establishing the church.  Corinth was one of the largest cities of its time, and became very instrumental in the spread of Christianity.  The Church in Corinth may very well have been one of the largest congregations of the first century.  It was not, however, without its problems.  The biggest problem that this church had was with members seeking to divide themselves.  Unfortunately, this problem plagues Christianity still today.

Christians, like all people, will use just about any reason to divide themselves.  In this passage, Paul is addressing just one of the reasons that the Corinthian Christians were using to divide – baptism.  It appears that some who had been baptized by certain individuals were claiming a loyalty to that individual.  They may have even been picking some minute details in that individuals’ preaching to further divide themselves.  While this may seem strange to some of us, still today many Christians follow a preacher as if that preacher were the second coming of Christ!  Paul makes it clear that no matter how much we may admire a Church leader, only Jesus died for our sins (verse 13), and therefore only Jesus deserves our ultimate loyalty.  This is why Paul asks in verse thirteen: “Was I, Paul, crucified for you?” 

I’ve often joked that the original Greek says, “Wherever two or more are gathered there will be division!”  Sadly, in some churches this seems to be the case.  We should strive to live up to the calling of verse ten: “Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”  Our purpose is to glorify God in all things, and dividing ourselves does little to glorify God.  In fact, divisions and fights within churches have often chased people away from Church – and away from Christ.  This is a tragedy of huge proportions.

In our relationships we will always have differences.  We must look beyond our differences.  Paul tells us in Colossians: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” (3:12-15, NLT). 

Today, let us look beyond our differences, cling to our common hope in Christ Jesus, and seek to glorify God in all our relationships.

Posted by Ramón Torres

Psalm 24:1 – The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.The world and all its people belong to him.
² For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.

³ Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
⁵ They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
⁶ Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

⁷ Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
⁸ Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle.
⁹ Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
¹⁰ Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—
he is the King of glory. (NLT) 

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”  Here is the basis of our belief.  Indeed, the very first verse of the Bible affirms this: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).  We must recognize this basic fact of our relationship with God – God is our creator, and God is the creator of all things.  Seven times in the very first chapter of the Bible we are told that God looked at what God created and said that it was good.  What has been created is Good Stuff!  

Recognizing that God created all things, we must also recognize a responsibility that God has given to humanity – to care for God’s creation.  In Genesis 1:28, God gives humanity dominion over the earth.  We are given the responsibility to care for God’s creation.  Certainly we have a responsibility to care for humanity, but our responsibility goes beyond humans.  Our responsibility is for all things created. 

Many churches do great work in their care for humanity, but we must not forget the rest of God’s creation.  As Christians, we do have a responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources.  In fact, if we are better stewards of our natural resources, we will be better able to care for humanity.  

Psalm 24 affirms several times that God is the King of glory.  Psalm 104:31 tells us:  “May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!”  God does take pleasure in all that God created.  God wants us to take pleasure in creation, as well.  So that future generations of God’s children may take pleasure in creation, we must be wise stewards of the created world.  There is, indeed, a correlation between being a Christian and caring for the environment!  Today, let us be mindful of God’s creation, doing our part to conserve and recycle.  

Posted by Ramón Torres 

Acts 4:18 – Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (NLT)

Why do many Christians resist sharing the Good News of Jesus with others?  I’ve often asked this question to various people, Sunday School Classes, and church groups. Common answers that I have received include: we don’t want to appear judgmental; we don’t want to seem hypocritical; we are afraid of being rejected; we don’t know how!  I’ve heard other answers, as well, but the overwhelming theme seems to be fear of failure.

In today’s passage from Acts, we have a picture into the Church in its infancy.  There is something striking about the early church – their dependence upon the Holy Spirit!  In the first five chapters of Acts alone, we encounter the work of the Holy Spirit over fifteen times. Here, in chapter four, Peter is speaking before the Jewish leaders, defending the actions of the followers of Jesus.  We are told in Acts 4:8 that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit before he began to speak.  Having been filled with the Holy Spirit, let us note what Peter says in verse twenty: “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter was human. I think that it is safe to say that before receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter had a healthy level of fear of failure within him. That all changed when he was filled with the Holy Spirit! Because of the Holy Spirit, Peter could not help himself.  Perhaps this is why so many mainline Christians fear the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit will move us forward.  Consider the last verse of this passage: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”  Sharing God’s truth – and even living God’s truth – takes a boldness that we most often cannot find within ourselves.  Jesus tells us, however, that the Holy Spirit is available to us, and that the Holy Spirit will help us (John 14:16).

When we are weak – or scared – the Spirit strengthens us.  Today, let us seek the Holy Spirit, that we might be bold in word and action.

Posted by Ramón Torres

James 5:1 – Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. ² Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. ³ Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. ⁴ For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

⁵ You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. (NLT)

Ouch! James has gone from practical faith to downright meddling!  Or so it seems when we consider this passage from a human point of view.  Does the Word of God condemn the rich?  Compared to most of the people in the world, and certainly when compared to even the rich of James’ day, we are the rich who live in luxury.  Do we not have most every desire of ours satisfied?  Then what are we to do with this passage that appears to condemn most middle and upper-class Americans? Let us remember, while Jesus certainly challenged the rich, there was only one person that he ever told to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor.  Jesus was not anti-wealth.  The Word of God is not anti-wealth.  The Word of God is, however, opposed to those who value wealth over people.

Consider what the prophet Amos said to the rich women of the land.  “Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”  (Amos 4:1 NLT)  Now forget the word ‘women’, this is the Word of God, so it speaks to all, male and female.  Forget the ‘drink’ in “Bring us another drink”.  In fact, you can substitute anything you want in place of ‘drink’.  Amos was telling the rich people that because they were living lavish lifestyles while people were starving, they were wrong and sinful in the eyes of God. 

This is what James is telling us in this passage.  Because God cares for every human being, we must care for every human being.  To have much is not a sin.  To have much and not be willing to give to those less fortunate is a sin.  Well, then, some may ask just how much we are required to give.  That, my friends, is between you and God.  You should, however, seriously talk this over with God!  It is the will of God that all Christians be generous.  Consider 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Then in verse eleven Paul writes: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God”.

Each of us, this very day, will be granted by God an opportunity to be generous.  Let’s be ready for that opportunity! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

James 4:13 – Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” ¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. 

¹⁷ Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (NLT) 

Christian faith put into practice daily – that’s what the Book of James is all about.  In this short passage we have one of the most powerful verses concerning our daily lives, but first let’s consider the uncertainty of life.

None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow, today is a precious gift.  It is a gift to be lived to the fullest.  The Bible is full of such references to the frailty of mortal life.  Psalm 102:11 – “My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows.”  All too often we become so preoccupied with planning for the future that we miss out on living life to the fullest right now.

The powerful verse from this passage is verse seventeen: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”  This brings the definition of sin to a whole new level!  We clearly know what sins of commission are – doing those things that are contrary to God’s will.  In verse seventeen we are taught about sins of omission – not doing the things that God desires.  We can live our lives with an appearance of godliness.  We can avoid, to the best of our human ability, sins of commission.  By our outward appearance many would consider us a fine example of Christianity, yet we can still be living a blatantly sinful life.  When we fail to do the things that God puts upon our hearts, we have sinned.  Was it God urging us to be more generous, and we failed to do so?  Was it God that urged us to speak to that person, and we didn’t?  When we know what we ought to do, but do not do it, we have sinned. 

We all need a Savior!  Thanks be to God that Jesus paid for our sins!  Today, let’s do two things.  First, let us thank God for grace and forgiveness.  Second, let us seek God’s Spirit to give us the strength to do what we know God desires of us.  By doing so, we will live life to the fullest, and that’s Good Stuff! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

James 2:14 – What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

¹⁹ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. ²⁰ How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

²¹ Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. ²³ And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. ²⁴ So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

²⁵ Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. ²⁶ Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (NLT)

I still remember the very first sermon that I ever preached.  The title was: Is Your Faith Practical?  I focused on the word practical, which means to be able to be put into practice.  The Book of James is about practical faith.  There are some who would argue that James and Paul are at odds with one another.  They claim that James contradicts Paul. Not so!  Consider what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:24 – “But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you.” 

Paul implies in that passage that faith is meant to be put into practice.  Paul dealt with many churches that emphasized that Christians are saved by the things they do.  That is not the case, and that is why Paul emphasizes salvation by faith alone.  However, Paul recognized that faith produces works.  Consider these Pauline passages:

Titus 2:7 – And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.

1 Timothy 6:18 – They should be rich in good works.

Philippians 2:12 – Work hard to show the results of your salvation. 

We are not saved by our works, but by faith.  The faith that saves us will then produce fruit, and the evidence of that fruit is the work we do.  Today, let us let the world see the results of our salvation! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Philippians 3:1 – Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

² Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. ³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, ¹¹ so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (NLT)

As we continue in Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi, we come across some strong words from the Apostle!  In verse two he speaks of ‘dogs’, and people who do evil.  Some scholars have believed that because of his change in tone, that this is part of another letter that was inserted here.  If there is a change in tone, it was probably due to the fact that Paul was writing about the Judaizers – a strict group of Jewish Christians who claimed that one must still adhere to the Jewish laws in order to obtain salvation.  From his letter to the Galatians, we know that Paul had very strong feelings about the Judaizers (not to mention the fact that they were partly responsible for his imprisonment). 

The Judaizers put their hope in human effort. Paul then tells us that if human effort were worth something, that he would be at the head of his class!  Paul had come to know, however, that none of his efforts were worth anything.  Consider verse seven: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”  Just how worthless did Paul consider human efforts to be?  Let’s look at verse eight: “For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”  The word that we translate as garbage is σκύβαλον, which was the Greek word used for the excrement of farm animals!  Two things we can learn from this.  First, sometimes the biblical translators clean up the Greek!  Second, human effort does nothing for us when it comes to salvation.  There is only one way of becoming right with God, and that is through faith (verse 9).

Today, let us celebrate our faith!  Let us celebrate that we not only can be right with God through faith, but as Paul tells us in verse ten, we can experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Philippians 2:12 – Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (NIV)

Verse twelve tells us to work out our own salvation.  Can we actually do that?  Yes, that is what Paul seems to be saying in verse twelve from today’s passage.  To properly understand this verse, let us put it into context.  Paul is not writing to people who do not yet know Jesus, he was writing to people whose salvation was secure.  Remember, he had been writing to them about keeping among their church members the same mind as Jesus, plus he has been saying that he may not be able to return to them.  So in verse twelve, Paul is essentially saying that they are to follow the Christian way of life without further assistance from Paul.  Consider the New Living Translation: “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation.”

Verse twelve also mentions fear and trembling.  This term causes some to raise a few questions.  When we hear the phrase ‘fear and trembling’, we may think of someone cowering in fear.  In the Biblical sense, ‘fear and trembling’ means to live in a deep and personal relationship with God.  It speaks of awe and reverence, not cowardice.   This deep personal relationship with God is to be displayed in our relationships with others.  In 2 Corinthians 7:15, Paul is rejoicing over the way that the Corinthians had received Titus.  He writes: “And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.”  They did not fear Titus, but rather they shared their relationship with God through their relationship with Titus. 

Keeping this in mind, Paul tells the Philippians that if they are faithful in doing this, that they will shine like the stars in the sky (verse 15).  The word Paul uses for ‘shine’ is literally ‘light givers’.  So, in this passage Paul is telling us three things: Keep living the Christian life, doing the good things that God has created us to do; Let the relationship we have with God be displayed in our relationship with others; be a light giver.

How better to glorify the Light of the world than to give that Light to others!  That’s good stuff! 

Posted by Ramón Torres

Philippians 2:1 – Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

Today’s Scripture picks up where we left off last week.  In that passage we looked at how God will use us to spread the gospel – if we are willing – in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Having made that case, Paul begins this section with ‘therefore’, indicating that he will discuss how to move forward with the gospel.   If we are going to share the message, then we must do something for one another.  If we are going to share the message, then we must strengthen one another.

We strengthen one another by first being strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  Verses one and two speak of this.  The word encouragement used in verse one is the same word used by Jesus in the Gospel of John to describe the work of the Holy Spirit.  Having been strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we are then able to selflessly work with one another to spread the Good News (verse 3).  We must guard against a spirit of division by looking to one another’s interests (verse 4).

To further state his case for like-mindedness, Paul quotes from an early church liturgy.  Verses five through eleven are traditionally known as the “Christ Hymn.”  This ‘hymn’ may or may not have been sung, but it was part of a worship liturgy.  How powerful it would be if we were to live out our daily lives with the same mindset as Christ Jesus, yet that is what this ancient hymn is all about!  Jesus never sought any earthly advantage over others (verse 6).  Even though he was God in the flesh, he took the very nature of a servant (verse 7).  He was obedient to the will of God, even to the point of death (verse 8).

Today, let us seek to humble ourselves, and seek to have the mindset of Jesus.  Let us serve others, and seek to be obedient to the will of God. 

Posted by Ramón Torres