How Are You Living?

Philippians 2:1-11

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 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,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

I would ask myself and anyone else the questions in verse 1 on a daily basis. Amy I encouraging others who belong to Christ? Am I comforting those I come into contact with each day with His love? Am I fellowshipping with others in the Spirit? Is my heart tender and compassionate towards all? If I can't answer yes to those questions then I am probably operating in the flesh and not relying on my spirit to guide and direct me.

I truly believe what makes God happy with our actions is what verse 2 says. Agree wholeheartedly with each other, love one another, and work together with one mind and purpose. There are many examples of what happens when people adopt this concept. There is nothing that can stand in their way of accomplishing their goals.

Verse 3 really hits home for myself. My flesh wants its way and it wants it now! My flesh wants others to think I am something special and it thinks more highly of itself than others. Being humble, thinking of others, taking an interest in them and showing them God's love is the path to happiness for anyone. This is the attitude exhibited to us by Christ Jesus Himself.

Verses 6-8 really show us what Jesus did for us. When He was on earth He was not God nor did He have any of His prior Divinity. He had to experience everything we do as humans in order to fully redeem us from everything the devil had destroyed. What allowed Jesus to fulfill His mission was by living in the Spirit.

Because of His obedience to the plan of God for Him verse 9 tells us that God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and His name is above all other names. There is no name under heaven that can make the devil shake like the name of Jesus. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as Lord and Savior. What an awesome assurance we have in serving Him because we know that in the end, He is victorious. We win, the devil loses! Thank You Jesus!

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved