Let go

Don’t grasp

Clinging to your rights

And your “dignity”

Clawing for respect

In a world of scorn

Your King

Jesus

Emptied Himself

Humbly living a man

Beaten battered

Dying for you

He rose

Glorious

Living forever

Reigning with Father

Sharing life with all

True followers

Scripture

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

Observation
For Paul the choice between living and dying is equally weighted. To live means achieving more for Christ. To die means to be with Christ.

He encourages the Philippians to live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel. They are to be united in mind and spirit, contending for the faith.

God has granted them the privilege of believing and also suffering for Christ.

Application
The high point of faith is to have the attitude of Paul that whether we are in this life or the next, Christ is all in all.

Too many christians can only see what is happening in this life and so become discouraged or confused when things don’t work out the way they expect.

For Paul this is all in God’s hands. He desires to be with Christ, but in the meantime he will do all he can to serve Christ.

It is this attitude of Christ at the centre of all we do that makes for a person of faith and maturity.

Prayer
Lord Jesus. It is so easy to take my eyes off you and become distracted by the world. Please help me to put you at the centre of all things. Amen.

Scripture

At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Observation

Paul says that we should have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. He was God but did not hold onto the rights of that status. Instead He became nothing, a servant in human form.

Because He was obedient, even to death on the cross, God exalted Him to the highest place so that every part of creation will honour Him as Lord.

Application

Jesus was the eternal pre-existing Son of God. He chose to put aside that place of glory to become like us and to die for the salvation of everyone who puts their trust in Him.

Paul tells us that we need to have that attitude of self-sacrificial service.

Humility is the path to honour. When we lower ourselves God is able to raise us up.

Human nature drives us to fight for our rights, stand on our pride and exalt ourselves.

God’s nature leads us to relinquish our rights and let God get the glory.

Prayer

Lord help me to step aside from my selfish nature to let you shine through me today. Amen.