Jesus Emptied Himself
Devotions on Philippians 2:1-13
Monday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“Make my joy complete” (Philippians 2:2a)
Amy was frightened. After being groomed to take over a four generation family business, she was going to tell her father that she wanted to pursue another career. Taking a deep breath, Amy knocked on the office door, sat down across the desk from her father and told him the news. Her father’s reaction was different than what she expected. He came around the desk and embraced his crying daughter. “It’s okay Amy,” he said. “Of course I’m disappointed, but all I really want is for you to be happy.
Paul makes it clear to his friends, the church in Philippi, what would make him joyful. His words might have come as a shock to some of his readers. He didn’t want a fast growing church, nor did he want people to concentrate on the do’s and don’ts of pleasing God. What would give him the greatest joy would be a group of believers united in their attitude of love and service.
Following Jesus is more than a belief in the afterlife or a concentration on being a good person. Following Jesus is a celebration that we are people loved by God and the acceptance of our calling to share that love with others.
Lord, enable us to live in ways that bring joy to you. Amen.
Tuesday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“Be of the same mind, having the same love” (Philippians 2:2b).
Christians used to think that being of the same mind and having the same love meant that the church would consist of homogeneous congregations. Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Latinos would all have their own worship communities. (Unfortunately, this is still too frequently the case.) This was not Paul’s vision of the church.
Paul worked to enable both Jew and Gentile Christians to worship and serve together. He wanted Jewish Christians from Judah to be able to worship together with Jews of the diaspora—the Hellenists. Paul envisioned a church where believers from Asia Minor would worship together with their brothers and sisters from Greece and Rome.
Paul realized that what unified the church was not religious backgrounds, nationalities or skin colors. Instead it was the truth that was commonly expressed in the words, “One Lord, one faith and one baptism. Followers of Jesus are a diverse group of people who are united by the fact that we are all children of God, who seek to conform our lives to the teachings of Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to use our words and actions to share God’s love and grace with everyone around us.
Lord, empower us to celebrate and live out our diversity, unity and love. Amen.
Wednesday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit” (Philippians 2:3)
Paul’s words shock us and are difficult for us to imagine. We are so used to fighting to get our own way, that we can’t picture what it is like not to do so. In our mind’s eyes we picture ourselves becoming Christian doormats—acquiescing to whatever anyone else wants. The other image is that of a group of people trying to decide what to do when no one has any desire to anything. They go around the circle endlessly asking the question, “I don’t know what to do. What do you want to do?”
Such situations couldn’t be further from Paul’s desire. Paul’s instructions are based on the hope that the community of believers will come together with the same love—united in their devotion to God and their desire to continue the ministry of Jesus. When the community comes together, they will also have the same servant attitude. With the common ground of a unified love and purpose, they will work together, sharing their deeply felt desires and passions while at the same time seeking the best course of action. The purpose changes from getting our way, to finding the common good.
It sounds easy, but it is only possible when each of the followers of Jesus who gather are determined to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.
Forgive us Lord, when we selfishly seek to have our own way. Move within us so that we work together to serve others and honor you. Amen.
Thursday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“Look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
The city was experiencing a growing homeless population. The mayor and council decided that something had to be done and directed the city staff to develop programs for the homeless. At the next council meeting the staff presented several proposals, which the council adopted. A year later, the council was surprised to learn that the programs it adopted were not successful. An investigation of the situation was ordered and it was discovered that no one had ever had a conversation with the homeless themselves in order to discover their needs. The staff had assumed that they knew what the homeless needed.
Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian community was to look to the interests of others. In order to do this, it is necessary to establish relationships with others and discover what their needs are. Carlotta took this to heart, when several Millennials moved into her neighborhood. She met some of them at the local Target, struck up a conversation and begin to build a relationship with them. Carlotta was amazed at the different perspectives that the Millennials had and the different needs that they shared. Through the relationships that she developed, she and her friends were able to share God’s love and grace in a way that was meaningful and helpful to their new found friends.
Open our eyes and ears, Lord, so that we can see and hear the needs of others and respond in an appropriate and loving manner. Amen.
Friday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“He did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited” (Philippians 2:6).
Being godlike can sometimes become our goal. We work on our outsides, polishing them up so that we begin to look holy. We worship regularly, give generously and attend a small group Bible study. Our tempers are controlled and we don’t curse or look at porn on the internet. We are kind to others and work hard in our vocations. The people around us view us a good people and we value there respect.
None of these actions are bad in and of themselves. As followers of Jesus, though, our goal has never been to be sinless—such a goal is unattainable. We have been commanded, however, to love. Love is sometimes messy. For love, we sometimes go against social norms and mores. Love may drive us to angry outbursts at injustice and inequity. Fighting for others and standing with them against the system may cause others to say that we are not “good” people. That’s okay. Jesus didn’t consider equality with God—being considered good and holy—something to be exploited either.
Lord, forbid that our holiness be judged by our self-righteousness, rather than by our loving actions on behalf of others. Amen.
Saturday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“But emptied himself taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7).
We are amazed by the depth of God the Father’s love when we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son (John 3:16). Perhaps it is even more amazing to read that the Son, “Did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself taking the form of a slave.” Jesus voluntarily shed his godliness and became human.
The extent of God’s love continued to be revealed as Jesus touched the unclean, set the captives free from their demonic possession, included the women, healed the sick and fed the hungry. The only proper response to such love may have been expressed by Isaac Watts’s beloved hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The last line goes, “Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Lord, we are amazed by the depth of your love for us. Thank you. Amen.
Sunday–Jesus Emptied Himself
“Therefore God has highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:9).
Though Mother Theresa did not seek the fame, her acts of love were noted throughout the world. Heroic acts are not done for the praise of others, but receive such praise because such acts are so uncommon. Acts of kindness are meant to be expressions of love and celebrations of our common humanity. Still, such acts are deeply appreciated by those on the receiving end.
As followers of Jesus, our words and actions that share God’s love and grace are not meant to place us in the limelight. Their real purpose is to “highly exalt” the Lord. When God is lifted up, the Holy Spirit is able to work powerfully in the lives of people and all are able to experience the blessings of God’s kingdom.
Lord, like the prophet Isaiah recorded (Isaiah 6), may you be high and lifted up and may your presence fill the world. Amen.