Humility in Christ

Die to Self - Humility in Christ

Philippians 2:2-11

2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I agree with these statements as believers in Christ:

• We have encouragement because we are united with Jesus Christ as our Lord.   
• We are comforted by the love of Christ for us.
• We have great fellowship with the Lord through His spirit.
• We have shown tenderness and compassion for others.

Because we are learning these things and acting according to these principles, we are offered a challenge by Paul to RESPOND - TODAY – He is challenging us to "MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE"

How do we make the joy of the Lord complete?  How can we do this?   So, how can we bring people to God today and make the Lord’s Joy Complete?

Honest Answer – WE CANNOT DO THIS!  We cannot go out and do the things we just read on our own power and strength.  If we do, then we are acting out of our own will and not the will of the Lord.

While serving on a mission trip in Peru, I challenged my team with this question.  "What makes what we are doing this week different from other humanitarian organizations that can come in here and offer the same service? If we bring them only our giftedness and talents, then we are bringing the world to the world, right?  I want to bring these people more than the world – I want to bring them Jesus!"

So, how do we bring people Jesus today?

·      By being like-minded

·      Having the same love

·      Being one in spirit and purpose

·      Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit

·      In humility consider others better than yourselves

·      Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others

Challenge: How can we pass on these things to those we follow Christ today?  How can you make today all about making the joy of the Lord complete?  We must put into action this verse from Paul!

Prayer: Lord, I desire to make your joy complete in my life.  Replace my strength with your strength today and use me to be like-minded, sharing your love with others.  Teach me to be one with your spirit and to do nothing out of selfishness for my own gain today, but truly humble myself and consider others better than me.  Help me to see the interest of others more important than my interest today.