In Christianity we have become accustomed to the surprising and paradoxical ways of God. It is more blessed to give than to receive, how happy are those who mourn, those who are poor will gain a rich inheritance, the meek not the mighty will one day rule the earth; satisfaction comes in desiring holiness not in satisfying sinful desires. In the portion before us we are confronted with another one of the paradoxical ways of God, those who humble themselves will be exalted. We come to consider this matter as Paul is writing to the Philippians about the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, v9-11, ‘Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Paul is dealing with a unity problem in the Philippian church; this is a problem that requires humility to solve. Paul has no better cure than to take us to Christ that in beholding the glory of His humility we will be changed from one degree of glory to another, becoming more like Him towards one another. Perhaps like me you have felt a bit disoriented as you have worked through this text. On the one hand we are dealing with the mundane and every day problem of people not getting along; and then we shift gears to gaze upon the infinite glory of God in a multitude of mysteries. We move from people grumbling and complaining and building up resentment; only be blinded by the most selfless act beyond our ability to comprehend. We move from our petty grasping for...

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