Tag Archive for Philippians 2:1-8

from Prepare Yourself for Worship

2017-07-21 Devotional with Hymn, Prepare Yourself for Worship No comments

Your Chosen People

All-wise Father, You have chosen to reveal Yourself to me through
other people,
other believers,
deeply flawed as they are.

Through them, You teach me and
give me the privilege of teaching.

You encourage me and
give me the chance to encourage others.

You love me with
a human touch and
a human word
and give me the opportunity to love others the same way.

You enable me to
be who You want me to be and
enjoy all You want me to enjoy
through these
precious,
imperfect,
colorful,
wildly unpredictable, and
thoroughly human people all around me.

Father, help me to
always listen and
always speak to them with
gentleness,
love,
humility, and
gratitude. 

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Hymn: Philippians 2:1-8
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Receiving Christ’s Servants

2017-03-29 Devotional with Hymn No comments

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and that you help her in whatever matter she may need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. (Romans 16:1-2, NASB)

Phoebe was apparently coming to the church in Rome from her home church in Cenchrea, near Corinth, Greece. Reading Paul’s comments about how he wanted her received made me think of how God’s servants are sometimes received by the church.

Friends, let’s be honest:

1.         Our emotions are more human than we’d like to admit. And we sometimes react to each other on an emotional level, rather than on a rational level.

2.         We often react to each other’s personalities, cultural traits, and abilities out of self-interest. We like people who make us feel comfortable. We don’t like those whom we perceive as threatening our interests. In our inner reactions to people, we can be petty, territorial, and downright jealous.

In these verses I see three reasons why we should receive all Christ’s servants with respect.

“Receive her in the Lord.” Because I truly love Christ, I want to love those He loves. I want to embrace those He has embraced, though they may have as many faults as I do.

“Receive her…in a manner worthy of the saints.” Jesus considers that person one of His “holy ones”, which is the literal translation of the word for “saints”. He has set them apart for himself. As His humble servant, I need to treat them as worthy of that honor.

“Receive her…for she herself has also been a helper of many.” We sometimes fail to respect those whom God has mightily used for His children’s welfare. We devalue those whose work Christ values so highly. Somewhere there are people who have been blessed, lifted, and drawn to Christ by that person. And for that, they deserve our full acceptance and genuine respect.

May the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7, NASB)

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Hymn: Philippians 2:1-8
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Give Me the Mind of Christ

2016-10-16 Devotional with Hymn No comments

John 17:20-23; Philippians 2:1-8

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us.” (John 17:20-21, NASB) 

If there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:1-5, NASB)

Father, I treasure the word of Christ,
constantly guiding and encouraging.
I treasure the comfort provided by Your love,
ministered through Your children.
I treasure sharing in Your Holy Spirit,
who draws all of us together into You.
I treasure Your mercy and Your compassion, which You pour out richly
to us and through us.

Therefore, Father, flush out all my petty pride, and
replace it with the sweet freedom of humility.
Free me from anxious self-seeking and
turn my heart toward the rich blessings of unity.
Too long I have craved a glory that is meaningless and empty of all reality.
Instead, fill my life with the pleasure of sharing Your love.

O Father, give me the mind of Christ!
Give me His Spirit, His heart, His joy!
He gave up far more than I have or am,
and He chose the pleasure of pleasing You.
Even as He faced a brutal and humiliating death,
His heart eagerly embraced You.

That’s what I want, Father.
Give me His mind.
Grow in me the single-minded trust and wholehearted love
of an obedient Son
for His loving Father.
Unite us completely and forever in Jesus Christ!

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Philippians 2:1-8
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