Posted on by Wade McRoberts

Selfless

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:3-8, NASB)

In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul uses Jesus as an example to us of how we should treat others.  As we continue to Resurrection Sunday, we remember Christ ‘s ultimate sacrifice, when He died in our place.  His was the highest form of selflessness, and one which Paul says we should emulate. 

Paul says we should “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than [ourselves].”  Further, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Paul is calling us to be selfless. Then he uses Jesus as our example. 

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Philippians 2:8 image.  Found at Lightpaul on Twitter, https://twitter.com/light_paulz/status/1118473665933398018.

Jesus, “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.”  He came to the earth “in the form of a bond-servant.”  What other god would do that?  But our God did!  He came to the earth to die, to love us into His Kingdom.  To what extent would He go to win us over?  “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Yes, Christ Jesus loves you and me so much that He endured the punishment and death that we all deserve. 

Paul’s point is that Jesus is the example we should follow in how to treat other people.  He was humble, and even though He’s God, He treated others as more important than Himself.  He loves you and me so much that He was willing to die for us.  On this journey through life, we are to learn to become more like Jesus.  Paul gives us a glimpse here of how to do this. 

Worship: “At the Cross (Love Ran Red),” by Chris Tomlin

49 Replies to “Selfless”

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