Philippians 2:5-11
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians was essentially a thank you letter from Apostle Paul to the saints in Philippi. Philippi was the first Jesus Community Paul started in Eastern Europe; and when they heard he was in prison they sent his dear friend Epaphroditus to bring gifts to comfort him. But Paul took the opportunity to make this communication much more than a simple expression of gratitude. He used it to describe, explain and express the blessedness of suffering for the sake of Christ. It is in this communication where he famously remarked, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (1:21) This seemingly oxymoronic declaration sets the stage for this entire letter and Paul’s overall approach to ministry. And with it he invites all Christians to join his inverted approach to life and living. He invites us to THINK DIFFERENTLY.
Living as a Christian (a Christ-like believer) is seeing your own story as a lived expression of Jesus’ story. As the suffering of Christ for us was His badge of glory and honor, our suffering and endurance are testaments of our love and devotion for Him. This glorious epistle lays out the benefits and blessings associated with giving your all to others for the glory of God. Just like Jesus! To fully capture the beauty of this wonderful letter let’s review its structure and design.
It is comprised of several short vignettes that support the verses we read this morning.
Paul opens with a prayer of gratefulness. He then speaks how his imprisonment is a blessing. He then admonishes all believers to follow his example; and by doing so you imitate the example of Christ. But in the middle of all this, he places in a song. The second chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians contains a well-known passage often considered a hymn or poem. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul writes about the humility and exaltation of Christ, emphasizing how Jesus, despite being divine, humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross. It is sometimes referred to as the "Christ Hymn."
He follows that hymn with an acknowledgment of the selfless work of Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of what kinds of servants Jesus was look for, and again challenges us all to live a Christ like example. Finally he reminds us that there’s no glory in his ultra religious past, but instead his current life was an reenactment of the story of Jesus. His own suffering is participation in the story of Jesus.
The conclusion to this short but ultra powerful communication was that Paul had found the secret to contentment. It wasn’t in comfort, riches, popularity, or any extraneous values this world can provide. True and utter contentment comes only in the perfect will of God. Contentment comes in imitating the divine nature of Christ. Forgetting those things that were behind, Jesus lost himself in the present will of God. We must strive to do the same.
Paul aspiring to experience the Lord to the fullest exclaimed, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (3:10). Letting us know while we certainly want to know Jesus in the power of His Resurrection, we must also value and appreciate the fellowship of His suffering. Going through difficult times for the honor of being called the Children of God.
Dearest Children of God, as we rehearse the refrain of the Hymn of Paul (Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus) let’s understand its significance. It is a call to think differently. Because when you think differently, you behave differently. When you behave differently, you seek strength, affirmation and validation from sources other than those that have failed you for so long. Look exclusively at Jesus because He promised, when you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all the things your soul’s been searching for will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
God Bless
