Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Humility is not an automatic happening for humans. We tend to want our
needs met before anything else. Generally speaking, we are prone to have the
"me first" approach to life. God's Word teaches us to "let this
mind be in you." This state of mind requires exercising the mind
toward humility and thinking of others first.
As Paul speaks of this, he has one in particular he uses as an
example. Let "this" mind is pointing us toward the mind of Christ
Jesus. His leaving heaven to come to this earth is a greater act of humility
than we will ever be called upon to perform. Being the Son of God, He had every
right to have first consideration as He came into the earth. At His birth, there was no room for Him in the inn. Kings and
priests tried to kill Him. People rejected Him. Yet, He maintained this mind of
humility. He humbled Himself as a servant. He became obedient unto the Father
even to the point of laying down His life on the cross of Calvary. He
submitted Himself to the most excruciating painful execution that has ever been
devised by man. He did it for you and for me. Oh what a Saviour!!
Paul is pointing us toward the path of contentment and completion. I will
repeat the verse we used recently. "Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:4)
Today's devotion is considerably shorter than usual, but the point made
is just as important. We are to exercise humility by putting others first.
There is an acronym that is often used for the word JOY: Jesus first. Others
second. Yourself last. Such is the formula for joy in our lives.