“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends….
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” Philippians 2:3-18
These verses encompass what God has been laying on my heart about this Christmas break-valuing others above myself. It is so easy for me to come home and curl up in a ball of selfishness, wanting the Holidays to be my time of rest and fun. But we are supposed to have the mindset of Christ in our relationships with others! Think about what that really means…how much He loves us and how much He gave up for us…it’s incredible and leaves absolutely no room for selfishness. He saved us by sacrificing and serving Himself in obedience! So often I think Christians use “salvation status” as something that makes us “better” than someone who isn’t saved, even though many of us might not realize it. But why are we on this earth? For the people who don’t know our Dad in Heaven! Christ made himself nothing- God’s son who had everything God had in Heaven came down to earth in order to SAVE US. Let’s start having that mindset with the people in our lives! Humility and servitude…moving out of our comfort zones to serve people, treating others as more important than ourselves! Let’s stop complaining and grumbling and arguing and become a CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT IN A WARPED AND CROOKED GENERATION. Because what happens when we do that? We shine among them- people notice! Christ is poured out like a drink when we serve people the way He served us!! What an awesome thing to focus on this Christmas Holiday!
Pingback: O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? « Erik and Elena Brewer's Weblog
Pingback: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves « bummyla