What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
First thing that pops in to my mind goes way back to Junior High. As if middle school wasn’t awkward enough, I had an experience that was super humiliating. Remember how awkward Jr High relationships were? Well I had final mustard up the nerve to talk with a young lady that I was interested in at the Sunday school picnic. We eventually ignored our friends and walked down the trail in the woods. We found a nice log that seemed to be the perfect bench.
Sitting there trying to be super smooth and win this girls affection is when it happened! I heard it before I felt it, “prffft”! A fart slipped out! I was shocked! I jumped a little and fell backward! A sneak attack fart had just ruined my walk.
There I was, back on the ground and feet sticking up on the log, looking up at the girl I wanted to win over. Not the best move, haha.
That was embarrassing! It was humiliating! And I will never forget it. I was humbled in that moment. That is an example of being humbled, but it is not an example of humbling myself. This story is one of embarrassment. Humbling yourself is a story of dignity.
Last week (Phil 2:1-4) we talked about >Me, looking at others as greater than ourselves. On our own, that is impossible to do. We are naturally born into sin demonstrated in the innate desires of selfishness and pride. It’s a “dog eat dog” and “survival of the fittest world,” right, “I’m going to get mine.”
God’s call on His children is to flip the paradigm. From selfishness to selflessness. It starts with a way of thinking, our attitude, and then it flows into our actions. This week we are going to read about the definition of humility.
Read Philippians 2:5-11
This “mind” we are supposed to have doesn’t come from within yourself. It is an alien “mind”, meaning it is not natural to your disposition. It is a gift given to you if you are in Christ. Paul wrote this letter to believers. He wanted them to know that this “mind” is theirs in Christ Jesus. It’s a free gift and comes from the Spirit of Christ Himself.
You cannot will yourself to be truly humble, it is a result of setting your eyes (Hebrews 12:2) on Jesus and allowing His life and His words to transform your mind (Romans 12:1-2). He demonstrated the greatest act of humility in history.
What is the greatest “right” you have given up for someone else? The right to use your TV or borrow your phone? Give up your space in line? Allow someone else to get the credit?
To give up a right is to recognize that you have something you deserve, but you are going to relinquish it for the benefit of someone else. That is humility.
Jesus, before the incarnation, was in the form of God (Phil 2:6), and He was God (John 1:1). His existence was in complete harmony within the Trinity. His home was heaven. He needed nothing and lacked nothing. He deserved to be where He was and be served. Yet He did not lay claim to His “right” to stay in heaven, to stay comfortable and to be served by others.
He humbled Himself and became a man, in order to serve humanity. Not only that, he humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. In this amazing display of love and selflessness, Jesus flipped the paradigm and showed us that the way to exaltation begins with humbling ourselves (James 4:10).
It is because of Jesus humbled Himself that provided the way for us to be reconciled to Him. In Him, we are promised that we have been given the power to have the same mind. A mind that does not hold onto our selfishness or perceived rights, but humbles ourselves in order to serve others and make Jesus look good. It’s not easy, but is something we need to work out.
Read Philippian 2:12-13
We work out because God works in.
Paul is calling us to “work out our salvation,” but not “for our salvation.” Remember, he is addressing believers and his message is clear, we cannot earn our salvation. However, if we are saved, we need to put our faith into practice, or “work out” our faith. We practice our faith with “fear and trembling” recognizing it’s not about us, but about God.
God is working in you. He is creating a masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10) and won’t give up on you (Phil 1:6). His work in you is shaping your will and your work (lifestyle) for “His good pleasure.” I like to rephrase that in this way, God is working in you for your greatest good, your deepest joy and for His glory.
What does living out the mind of Christ look like in a believers life?
Read Philippians 2:14-18
Bam! Verse 14 is convicting! I am pretty sure I grumbled and complained about something today. I know God does not like grumbling and complaining. The Israelites spent an extra 40 years wondering in the wilderness because of the grumbling and complaining. I cannot do this without God’s help and He gives us ways to grow and mature in this area.
We live in a “crooked and twisted generation”. It is feeding us perverted ways of thinking, inappropriate views of life, morals, ethics and so on. The movies, music, news and social media are pumping in these lies. How are we to shine as lights when we adopt so much of the world?
We do so by “holding fast to the Word of life!” We need to be in the Bible as much as we can. We need to memorize it, study it, read it and apply it. It is one of the major tools God has given to us to prepare us for this world.
He has also given us the power of prayer and communion with Him. We are in union with Christ, and we are to be walking and talking with Him, so much so that our mind conforms to His mind.
He has also allowed suffering to loosen our grip on this temporal world. Paul himself, is writing about joy from a prison cell.
Paul then points to two examples of brothers who are living this out: Timothy (Phil 2:19-24) and Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25-30).
As I conclude, what would Paul’s paragraph about you say? How are you allowing the mind of Christ to be worked out in your life?
Take a moment and write a few lines about where you are at today. After that reflection, write a prayer of thanksgiving for what Jesus has done and promises to do. Ask for the power to change and be more like Christ today.
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