In their own words: Day 30

Phil 2.6-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi was written while he was in prison, facing an uncertain future. Despite this, it is full of faith and hope. It includes this hymn- like mediation on the humility of Jesus which may have been used in worship. Paul uses it here to encourage the Philippian Christians to develop the same humble and open attitude to one another as Jesus had, to have the “same mind that was in Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever felt powerless, as Paul did when he wrote this, and Jesus did when he “took the form of a slave”? How did you feel and react?