Humility is victory.
How can we change Newport?
What is the secret to city-wide transformation and salvation?
Here’s the secret: Humility. It couldn’t be more simple/difficult.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:5-11
When I recall these words from Paul’s [love] letter to the church in Philippi I always find myself focusing on the victorious ending. It is exciting stuff, more so than any song bellowed from the terraces as their team is winning.
But in doing this what I overlook is the key, the core of what Paul is saying. He is not just reminding us of our victory in Christ, he lays down a life altering challenge, that our ‘attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’
No wonder I try to overlook this!
So what was attitude Jesus had that we are called to emulate? It is to live a life of unswervingly victorious, history changing, life transforming, praise giving, enemy defeating humility!
I can’t live up to that surely! Can I?!
Humility, I was once told, is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. Now that is all well and good, but if we think of ourselves less with out filling the empty space with thoughts of others or God, then our humility is devoid of substance. Instead we should fill ourselves with Christ, focussing on his attitude. In doing this God’s grace in and through our lives could be seriously unstoppable! Jesus calls us to fix our heart and mind on things above and to love [as he loved] those around us.
It’s worth a shot, surely :o)
What is the secret to city-wide transformation and salvation?
Here’s the secret: Humility. It couldn’t be more simple/difficult.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:5-11
When I recall these words from Paul’s [love] letter to the church in Philippi I always find myself focusing on the victorious ending. It is exciting stuff, more so than any song bellowed from the terraces as their team is winning.
But in doing this what I overlook is the key, the core of what Paul is saying. He is not just reminding us of our victory in Christ, he lays down a life altering challenge, that our ‘attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’
No wonder I try to overlook this!
So what was attitude Jesus had that we are called to emulate? It is to live a life of unswervingly victorious, history changing, life transforming, praise giving, enemy defeating humility!
I can’t live up to that surely! Can I?!
Humility, I was once told, is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. Now that is all well and good, but if we think of ourselves less with out filling the empty space with thoughts of others or God, then our humility is devoid of substance. Instead we should fill ourselves with Christ, focussing on his attitude. In doing this God’s grace in and through our lives could be seriously unstoppable! Jesus calls us to fix our heart and mind on things above and to love [as he loved] those around us.It’s worth a shot, surely :o)
posted by Andrew at 8:58 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home