Be Like Jesus

May 1, 2011

Background Scripture: Philippians 2:1 – 11
Lesson Passage: Philippians 2:1 – 11

Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is replete with admonition for the church to continue to walk in the joy they receive from being in fellowship with Jesus Christ. The letter doesn’t have much to say about changes or corrections needed by the church but instead makes an appeal for the church to grow in the Lord Jesus. This is one of the letters Paul wrote from prison. In it he expressed gratitude to the church for sending him a gift after they learned of his imprisonment. The salutation suggests that the church was well established seeing that reference is made to the bishops and deacons that were there. Today’s lesson passage is taken from chapter 2 of the letter. I was once inspired by God to preach a sermon from this passage of scripture. The sermon was entitled “Give What You Get”. This passage encourages believers to reflect the same spiritual blessings that God imparts into our lives back into the lives of others. If you have ever been encouraged spiritually, then you should in turn encourage others to be strong in the Lord. If you have been comforted by the presence of God’s Spirit in you so that you experienced true fellowship in Him, then comfort others and have fellowship with them when they find themselves in need of the same. The Apostle Paul experienced joy from knowing that this was happening in the lives of those he had bestowed his labor upon as part of his ministry. Paul admonished the Philippians to let the mind of Christ be in them. We must practice being as concerned about the affairs of others as we are about our own. All of this is an example of Christ’s attitude. Jesus demonstrated a life of humility and service to others. All things were made by him in heaven and on earth yet he did not allow possessions to possess him. He had true enemies that were determined to destroy him but he did not destroy them. Instead, he reached out to them in love. Jesus was not humbled but rather he humbled himself. He made the ultimate sacrifice when he allowed wicked men to crucify him and then he laid his life down. He could have destroyed all of them but he chose to allow them to try to destroy him. For his self-humility, God rewarded him greatly. He has been given a name that is above all names. At his name, all will bow and pay homage. Demonic spirits tremble at the name of Jesus for they understand the power and authority that are in his name. One day every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord of all both in heaven and on earth. The world often rewards the proud and insensitive. The world runs after the “top dog”. The world seeks after the self-confident to be their leaders for them to submit themselves to and follow. The world idolizes those that are often arrogant and self-absorbed in material things. What the world idolizes and follows after, mirrors those things in the bible that God refers to as an abomination or detestable thing. God’s desire for believers is that we would all be like Jesus.


Robert C. Hudson
April 19, 2011