Episode 14) The Mind of Christ: Humility and Unity

Let Us Pray

Our dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us ears to hear your Holy Word. We pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit to make these ancient words of Scripture relevant and near to each of us today. Shine your light in our hearts so that we may share it with others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

From Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, Chapter 2, vs. 1-17

If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he existed in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

assuming human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a human,

8 he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly

and gave him the name

that is above every other name,

10 so that at the name given to Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmuring and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17 But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice together with all of you; 18 in the same way also you should rejoice and rejoice together with me.

A call to humility

Paul sets a high bar for followers of Jesus. He asks the Philippians to share the same love, be united in spirit, and consider the interests of others alongside their own. Can we live this way through our own strength?

Paul begins with the encouragement, love, compassion, and fellowship we receive in Christ. He then points us to Jesus as our example. Jesus came to serve and humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on a cross. God exalted him.

Humility makes room for unity. When we attend to the needs of others rather than being driven by selfish ambition, our relationships and communities can begin to look different.

Shining in the world

Later in the chapter, Paul calls believers to live without complaining or arguing and to hold fast to the word of life. How can we shine in a broken world?

We begin by recognizing that God is at work in us. The Holy Spirit helps us serve God’s purposes with love in our hearts, even as we keep learning how to live faithfully with one another.

Peace be with you.