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
Can we live into this paradox? Can we worship a God who pours Godself into the very finitude of human being? Can we find a way into the humility and faith and love that carries us beyond the plane of suffering and death? This God is not the God of any other faith tradition. This is the song that we sing when we can sing no more. This is the song that we sing when our hearts are breaking and we can see no path forward. This is the song that reminds us God so loved the world that God’s only child entered into our midst, taking on our brokenness and bringing it into the light of God’s overwhelming love.
Prayer
God of paradox, guide us into the creative tensions of the lives we lead. Help us to hear your voice in the broken places, lead us into the spaces where human power crushes us, that we might lean into your love, a love which draws us through death to new life. Amen.
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