Philippians 2 ~ He was in the form of God

Philippians 2


So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[ bondservant] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Fridays are one of the days we feel the encouragement of God. And in October, you can feel the good weather soak into you and feel the blessing God gives us. Jesus is the LORD.  The Mercy of God.

And we can sometimes take a detour, in this marvelous, marvelous, encouraging passage and think about Jesus as the Highest Name upon the earth, above every name. We are His shining lights. Jesus, John told us, did so many things all the books of the earth could not contain what He did.

The Passage goes on to tell us Jesus passes into Heaven. And we know Jesus was seen by hundreds of people in the Book of Acts. Bodily. Philippians tells us something concrete, by Paul who knows a man who was caught up in the levels of Heaven. This bodily form we live in is the image of God. Today and in Heaven.

Yesterday we read the First Chapter of John about God being the LIGHT. This passage carries this thought along and proclaims we are lights shining for God.

comfort 
love
full accord
servant 
knee shall bow
work out your own salvation
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good 
children of God
genuinely concerned


Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Being Humble is not what we are taught in the get ahead world of today. And in the Roman Empire humility was not really sought either. So in the Word living and active, we are not talking about worn out Scripture. When I clean my house I feel less than humble or glad to clean the mess my loved ones leave me. However when I do Youth Ministry or volunteer work, I do see Father God loving us as unique people. So I guess we play to our strengths and confess some Scripture is less comfortable.

I have the misty eyed glory of remembering my maternal GRANDMOTHER Anita. She loved to do dishes for our family. And she left a quote people have asked to have framed in their kitchen. Grandmother Anita said when she did dishes for her loved ones, she felt the gratitude of having provided for them. She went on to say that in the quiet of cleaning up, she felt valuable ideas and convictions form. And I will go on to say, I loved to have her pray for me for the Spirit moved with her abiding, living, moving as she had her being. 

Thank You, Father God, for the joy of knowing such a woman as Grandmother.  One of the happiest people on earth, who lived this passage in every breathe she took. This passage ~ the world would have us believe as being completely irrelevant. And I can tell you with joy, Anita was one of the happiest people who lived here and now LIVES in Heaven..



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