Philippians 2:1-11 New International Version
Imitating Christ’s Humility 2 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Thursday - July 1
Americans are incredibly generous! We are also extremely selfish. Want proof? Walk into Walmart or go on Amazon.com and notice that suddenly you “need” a whole lot of stuff! I am as guilty of this as everyone else. When I am doing Christmas shopping for others I often find myself suddenly shopping for things that I want, too. It is amazing how our hearts are easily distracted and tempted. Paul says that we should “value others above ourselves.” This is one of those “easier said than done” things in life. But then the Apostle Paul shows us how to do this: focus on Jesus! Jesus “came down” to fill a void in our hearts that nothing else can. Jesus calls his infinite grace a spring of living water “welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). And that living water wells up in us so abundantly that we can give it away to others, just like our Lord gave it to us.