Monday Devotional: September 25, 2023

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-13 (NRSVUE)

¹ 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 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.

“In humility regard others as better than yourselves.” Church leaders praise “servant-leadership,” and nowhere is its tension and cost clearer than in Philippians 2. Verse 3 in particular is a tall order!

The challenge is particularly stark in light of, at this writing in early 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One can immediately think of other examples — all forms of abuse, capitalism without regulation, some sports and entertainment venues, and, sadly, the church — where “humility” becomes the doorway for exploitation.

Paul is not naive. He is a prisoner of the Roman Empire for his proclamation of the gospel. Yet his appeal to the church at Philippi, where there has been conflict, is to “be of the same mind, having the same love.” Eighteen centuries later John Wesley echoed the same message: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”

Authority is balanced by humility, with Jesus as the prototype for a sacrificial humility rooted in love. The One whose authority was equal with God did not exploit that for his own glory but loved us to our redemption. Self-emptying was possible because Jesus knew who he was and to whom he belonged.

Jesus’ followers know that self-awareness and inner strength are required for this kind of humility. So did Paul, who exhorts each of us to “work out (our) own salvation with fear and trembling.” Paul knew better than to think we could save ourselves. If we could, we would not need a Savior. Rather, he reminds us that we are responsible for our role and attitude in salvation, which requires a strong dose of humility.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you loved us even to death on a cross. Help me to love like you, in a spirit of humility that knows myself as a believed child of God. Amen.

By Brian R. Bodt, The Upper Room Disciplines 2023, page 325.