Category Archives: Philippians

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Dear God, I need to do a word study on the word humble because it has been coming up a lot for me over the last eight days. I know I’ve mentioned this before in my journals this week, starting with the one I wrote last Saturday night before I preached. Maybe I’ll take some time to do that this week.

I’ll tell you, I did have one humbling thing come up in my work life the last couple of weeks— surveys. I decided a couple of weeks ago that we needed to survey our patients at work. I’ll admit that I was nervous because you never know what’s going to come back. Then, about five days after that, the consultant doing our board strategic planning retreat said she wanted to do surveys of our staff, board, volunteers, donors and community partners. The one with the staff really made me think twice. There have been some frustrations and factions develop between some of the staff members and my first concern was that it would come out in the surveys and reflect poorly on me to the board. But then I had two thoughts.

1. No, this is why you do these things. If there’s something they need to know then this will tell it.
2. (And this is where I’m being really honest with you, God) if I resist then it will make me look like I’m hiding something.
3. I’ve actually already told some board members about the conflicts about which I know, so if something does come out it might surprise some of them, but others can tell them that these are problems I’ve been trying to address. Maybe I haven’t been adequate in handling them, but I haven’t tried to sweep them under the rug or hide them either.

Father, it all starts with humility. Then that leads to repentance. Then that leads to loving you and loving others. So I am truly sorry for my sins. I can think of some from yesterday. I will strive to spend some time worshipping you and others today. And please use these surveys at work to make all of us better.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Do everything without complaining and arguing,

Philippians 2:14

Dear God, this can be a hard one, but so powerful if done well. I’ve always admired the people that, when they die, people say about them, “She/he never had a negative thing to say about anyone.” Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be said of me when I die. I’m better about it than I used to be, but I still enjoy a little gossip or criticizing others. It feeds something in me that is insecure and wants to get the love of the person with whom I am dishing.

Then there’s the complaining. Yes, I can complain too. I don’t think I complain about my personal life as much, I can can certainly join in the griping about politics or others I know in the community. Then there are the friends who complain to me about others (and they often have legitimate complaints) and I sometimes just join them in their pity party instead of helping them find their way out.

Father, help me to live up to the words and spirit of this verse. Help me to move through my day without complaining or arguing. Help me to be an instrument of your peace. And if an argument comes my way, help me to meet it calmly and deal with it gracefully.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 

Dear God, we just got back from a weekend at Fort Davis and while we were there we drove through Marfa. We saw the hotel that was involved in the movie Giant. My wife and I have never seen the movie and then, last night, it happened to be on TV when we got home. We watched the first half of it and recorded the rest to finish later. I bring all of this up because there was only one character–the Elizabeth Taylor character–who seemed to have any interest in living out this passage. The conflict between her and Rock Hudson was largely built around the fundamentals of this passage. 

So the admonition of this passage is to “let nothing be done…” So when I see my wife first thing this morning I am to live out this passage. When I encounter people at work, at Rotary, etc., I am to live out this passage. When I drive down the road, buy something at the store, call someone on the phone, or whatever I might do, I am supposed to esteem each person as better than myself. 

Father, be glorified in me and through me. Love others through me. Help me to remember to be more evangelical in my interactions and be more intentional about leading others to you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

Philippians 2:1-4 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 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. 

Dear God, I love this exportation from Paul: “…value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” When everyone in a community is doing that then I don’t have to worry about looking out for my own interests because the others will have my back. 

I read a great marriage book about 15 years ago called Sacred Marriage. The subtitle was, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” The author basically took our pursuit of our own happiness through our marriage off of the table and pursued the idea that, even in strife we should submit ourselves to our spouse and let God use the relationship to draw us closer to him. Ultimately, if both spouses are following this philosophy then they will be having their needs met by the other, or the other will encourage their needs being met beyond what they themselves can give. And if one spouse just never submits in that way, outside of things you just can’t live with like emotional/physical abuse and adultery, you can just use that relationship to perfect your own relationship with God. 

Father, make me the husband, family member, boss and friend that I need to be within this spirit. Be glorified through me, but also make me the worshippers of you and the servant of you that you need me to be–for my sake as much as yours. 
In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen