The Church - Part 4

Philippians 2v5-11

As we saw last week, Paul sets a very high standard for our attitude:

Philippians 2v5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

I find that really daunting. Of course my attitude is not the same as Jesus's. But it should be. All I can do is study Jesus's attitude and then pray that God helps me to develop a similar attitude.

Paul goes on to show us Christ's attitude. He says:

Philippians 2v5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature 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!

The study of these wonderful words belong more properly in an appreciation of Jesus Christ than in the consideration of our attitude to the church, but we will look briefly at what it says to us about how we should understand our relationship to the church.

Jesus did not keep hold of his position. He gave up his authority and his comfort for us. And we should give up what is ours, our position and our comfort zone, for the church.

Jesus made Himself nothing. And we should give all we are, as well as all we have, for the church.

Jesus became a servant in very nature. And so should we.

Jesus humbled Himself. And we should deliberately humble ourselves.

Jesus gave up His life for the church. And so should we.

My attitude is not the same as that of Christ Jesus! May God forgive me, and may God form Christ's character in me. And may God be patient with me.

And with you.

Paul then writes:

Philippians 2v9-11
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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.

Hebrews 12v2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross "for the joy set before him". That is, Jesus died because He was looking forward to the day when you and I and billions of others would be adopted into His family, as His chosen people. And because of Christ's humility and sacrifice, God exalted Him to the highest place there is, and He will rule for ever and ever.

And if you want God to exalt you, then don't exalt yourself. Rather, humble yourself as Jesus did, and God will exalt you.

In the Kingdom of God, the way up is down.