Day 50 - Philippians

66-DAY JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE

Day 50 - Philippians (The Meaning of Christmas)

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Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8)

I read the Christmas story in the text above which typically is not referred to when teaching about Christmas.  It is saying that Jesus Christ, who is God, humbled Himself and came into this world as an infant born of lowly parents in a manger among domestic animals and shepherds with the sole purpose of going to Calvary to die on the cross in order to save us from our sins.  That in a nutshell is the whole story of Christmas.

The commandment to believers in our text is for us to have the same mind which was also in

Christ Jesus.  Just as Christ did not consider His diety as something to be insisted upon but rather humbled Himself by becoming the lowliest of man, Christians also ought to have the same mindset of humility.  

The apostle Paul understood and practiced this true humility as he described it in the following chapter of the same letter to the Philippians:

 

“though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:4-7)

If both Christ and the apostle Paul did not think anything of themselves but humbled themselves to the point of death, I choose to do nothing else except to follow after their examples.  I will practice what the Scripture teaches and will consider others better than myself and will strive to become the servant of all and to have the same mind as Christ.  So help me God.