Day 2 - monday, March 17

Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from prison, and he is encouraging the church to keep straining forward towards what God has ahead of them. Straining forward to keep loving their neighbor, straining to maintain unity, straining to advance the Gospel. In order to help them strain forward he calls to mind Jesus’ example for us. Paul talks about Jesus' humility to show how Jesus strained forward to show us also how we ought to strain forward.

Read Philippians 2:1-11 twice. 

Make 3 observations about this text. The observations can be about God, Jesus, us, the Philippian church, etc. 

Ex. “Jesus did not count equality with God even though He was in the form of God.”

Take some time to consider what Paul wanted the Philippian church to understand in verses 6. How does Jesus model this for us? 

How can you follow the example of Jesus and count others more significant than yourself this week? How can you serve people in your van? How can you serve staff? How can you serve your roommates? How can you serve spring breakers?  

Jesus came to serve and not to be served. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. And Paul says that it is because of his humility and obedience to the utmost degree that qualifies Him to have the name that is above every other name. The name at which every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Jesus’ example teaches that the way down is the way up. To be low is to be high. To humble oneself is to be exalted. To be last is to be first. To be the least is to be the greatest. 

Read and pray this old Puritan prayer:

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly
You have brought us to the Valley of vision.
Hemmed in by mountains of sin 
And suffering we behold your glory.
So let us learn by paradox,
That the way down is the way up. 
That to be low is to be high. 
That the broken heart is the healed heart. 
That the repenting soul is the victorious soul 
And that the valley is the place of vision. 
So let us find your light in our darkness,
Your joy in our sorrow,
Your grace in our sin
And your glory in our valley.

Amen.