July 16, 2022
Read Phillippians 2:1-11
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in 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 of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Good morning! Let every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ Is Lord!
Oftentimes when I read a passage of Scripture, my head is filled with song! Such is the case this morning, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord . . . and they’ll know we are Christians by our Love. This one is immediately followed by He Is Lord, and the list goes on and on. Music is one of my ways to talk to God. Whether I’m happy or sad, music connects me to all that is beautiful in the world because of God our creator.
Paul spent much time sharing with the young believers the need to become like-minded with Christ and the fellowship of followers. Only when we share Christ’s mindset can we experience the true joy that is available to us. Christ taught us all to humble ourselves to each other and to God. Through Christ in his human form who humbled himself as an obedient servant to God even when he was called to give his life in the most humiliating and painful form of execution: death on the cross. Upon his resurrection, we are connected with the divine form of Christ who is our advocate and conduit through which we are directly connected to God.
How can we be saved from our human sinfulness and frailty? Only through the love, grace, and mercy of God as evidenced by the death and resurrection of Jesus. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Jesus, name above all names!
Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord
Emmanuel, God is with us
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word
Loving and Caring God, Thank You for loving us. We are sinners! We are filled with songs that lift the name of Jesus on high. May we take time to understand the meaning of our words. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Each new day is a good gift from God.
God’s grace is sufficient for us! Pastor Liz