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