If you read carefully the first four verses of Philippians, Chapter Two, there is an obvious attempt for Paul to bring discipleship to a new level.

If His love has any difference in your lifeDSCN2015

If being a community in the Spirit means anything to you

If you have Heart, if you care

Then do me a favor.

Agree with each other

Love each other

Be deep spirited friends

Don’t push your way

Don’t sweet talk

Put yourself aside; Help others get ahead

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand

That’s some pretty strong stuff.  Paul seems to draw us into this deeper level of discipleship.  His methodology is to lay it out there once and then come back a little stronger the second time.  And watch this!  He now uses an example to reinforce everything.  What a lesson in communication.  Of course, his example of how all this should work is Jesus Himself.

He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of Himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

When the time came He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave.  He became human!

It was an incredibly humbling process.

He didn’t claim special privileges.

Instead He lived a self-less life, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death, and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.  Because of obedience, God lifted him and honored Him far beyond anyone or anything.

We live in a world of politics and power.  Jesus would not fit in today’s world.  His calling to us in Philippians Two is a better way.

I have not arrived yet.  Join me in the journey.

Grateful

Scripture references from  The Message