Daily devotional · February 24
The Mind of Christ
“Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form 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 above all names, 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.”
Paul asks the Philippians to complete his joy by being united in love, doing nothing out of selfish ambition, and counting others as more important. Then he points to Jesus, who had every right to hold on to his glory but emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself to death on a cross. The path of Jesus goes down before it goes up: God exalted him and gave him the name above every name. This reverses how the world measures greatness. Humility here is not thinking poorly of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less and of others more. Today, look for a chance to serve someone in a way that no one will notice or applaud. Let someone go ahead of you, do a chore that is not yours, or listen to someone without steering the conversation back to yourself.
Prayer
Jesus, give me Your humble heart, and let me serve quietly and gladly. Amen.