Philippians 2:5-7

Passage

Have the same attitude in you that is also found in Christ.  Though He was in the same form as God, He did not consider equality with God as something worth grasping.  He emptied Himself after taking the form of a human slave – becoming in the likeness of man. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul wants the Philippians to have the same manner of thought – attitude – as is found in Jesus Christ.  Remember, the prior section of verses was about bringing the Philippians to see themselves in humility.  Paul wants them to continue to put other people ahead of themselves.  He wants them to see the value in others for the sake of the Gospel.  Having made that point, Paul now turns to Christ and shows exactly how a Christ-like attitude appears.  We are to become like Christ.  As Luther says, we are “little Christs.”

When you think of Jesus, about what do you think?  When you admire Jesus, about what are you admiring?  Why do you think Paul is asserting that His servant nature is the attribute we should desire most?  Do you think this nature of putting others first is difficult to do on a consistent basis?  Why?

Second Thought:

Jesus was God.  Yet, although He was God, He did not consider equality with God something that needed to be held, retained, and grasped.  In other words, although He was God, He was willing to become something less than God for the sake of others.  This is the beginning of the servant attitude right here.  The true and good servant does not even desire to be equal to the master.  The true and good servant does not want to work hard enough so that one day they might be master over their own.  The true and good servant is absolutely content doing the work of the master because it is what he or she is called to do.  Jesus was called to dwell among us as both a model and a sacrifice.  Since He did not consider it necessary to remain equal in form to God, He did come and dwell among us as that model and sacrifice.  Being a servant begins with our attitude.

How willing to serve God are you?  Is life about accomplishing your goals, your dreams, and being the master of your life?  Are you sending the message to God that you are Lord of your life or that He is Lord of your life?  Although you might not say the words, how might you subconsciously be giving God the message that in being master over your own life that you desire to be equal to God?  How is this dangerous?

Third Thought:

Jesus emptied Himself and became in the likeness of man.  The phrase “emptied Himself” is vague in its meaning, but many scholars think that this means that Jesus was God with all the power of God yet at the same time only able to use that power as the Father directed.  He was still fully God; yet He emptied Himself of any personal agenda contrary to the will of the Father.

If you had all the power of God, how easy would it be for you to give up control?  If you had all the power of God, how easy would it be for you to only ever use that power as God the Father would command?  If you had all the power of God, how easy would it be for you to fully and completely submit – even submit more than you do now?

Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 2:8-11