Philippians 2:1-11, The Message
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
Such a sweet relationship.
A small girl,
an older male cousin.
They picture for me
what the Body is
to be like.
Warm, affectionate,
open, loving, kind.
‘Deep-spirited friends.’
That’s an important piece
of this journey we’re on.
Becoming more sweet-spirited.
And opening to more friends, too.
This photo is absolutely precious, and it does say it all, Diana.
Blessings!
I love this picture, too. I was sad when Lilly outgrew that sweet arm-touching-under-the-sleeve that she did as a toddler. It was such a gentle, loving thing to do. It’s a good mental picture to hold as a touchstone.
“Having become human, he stayed human…He didn’t claim special privileges.”
Exactly. A great line.