Becoming More Like Jesus: Reflections on Phil. 2Sample

“Humility and Humanity”

(Phlippians 2:6-8)

Humanity’s deepest problem is that we think equality with God is both our right and our responsibility.

Being our own reigning King or Queen sits well with us — surely we should have this. 

Reigning over others entices us — surely we should do this.

Yet these are the very reasons Christ came: to undo the disorder and destruction that results from humans playacting as God.

The only human who could rightfully cling to equality with God was Jesus. And yet he willingly gave this up in order to rescue every single other human who foolishly, childishly, selfishly and unrightfully clings to their perceived divine privileges.

We have surely made a mess of things (over and over and over again).

We have surely behaved like fools (over and over and over again).

We have surely donned self-deification (over and over and over again).

But Christ (once and for all) dealt with this on the cross, where he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death.

Do not miss this: 

Jesus, the Messiah and King and Creator, humbled himself in obedience to God.

True humility is lived out as obedience to God. This can be alluring when the obedience involves something Big, something Important, something Significant, something Noticed, something Seen, something Praiseworthy, or something Game-changing.

But obedience mostly involves the day-in-day-out dying-to-self that can grate against our sensibilities and that only the Lord himself sees.

Is that enough for us? Are we joyfully content to humble ourselves in obedience to God when no one else will ever see or applaud? When it is costly in ways that no one else will ever realize or acknowledge? Or when it doesn’t highlight our own sense of grandeur?

Put another way: is God himself enough for us?

REFLECTION

Copy out Philippians 2:6-8 for yourself.

What privileges of self-rule do you cling to? Why? In what ways?

How is Jesus’ example of “emptying himself” a guide for our life of discipleship?

Ask the Lord to reveal areas of your life that are still “full of self.” How will you begin to surrender those?