Sunday, July 3
Philippians 2:1-18

In Philippians 2:5, the Apostle Paul entreated the small group of believers in the Greek city of Philippi (aka the church there) to “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

He had just finished encouraging them to practice friendship in an entirely new and counterintuitive way. Rather than just surviving this life – just watching out for “you and yours” – they were to integrate themselves with other image-bearers of God, intentionally living in such a way that they were to humbly seek the betterment of others.

And while this surely requires effort, it’s not alien to those of us who believe – as though we have to reach for something outside of ourselves we don’t have. Paul said something surprising: that the mind and heart of humility are already ours in Jesus! Within us, by God’s grace, are the raw materials to live humble, other-centered lives for the glory of Jesus and the good of all people.