Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 2:5-11 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Verse 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, Verse 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, Verse 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Verse 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, Verse 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Verse 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Devotion
I wonder sometimes if we forget within our own tradition that we are made in the image of God. Yet it says so in Genesis. We have been created in God's likeness—male and female. I think that changes how we look at living a life of humility, sacrifice and obedience. It's not simply what "good little Christians do," but rather, such a life is what it means to live as one made in God's likeness and image. Such a life is to live as one in mind with Christ Jesus. Such a life confesses and points to what God is like and where God is present to all those around us. In a world where the number of people who don't know God is increasing, it is this likeness and image we have been created in—one fashioned in humility, sacrifice and obedience—that confesses and shares Christ.
Prayer
Gracious God, help us live in your likeness, in the mind of Christ, so that all may know you in the powerful ways we have known you. Amen.