Philippians 2

Wow ... ok where to begin!

If we have all of these great things in Christ ... belonging to Jesus, comfort from His amazing love, fellowship together IN the Holy Spirit, and our hearts are even a little tender and compassionate toward one another ... If we can say yes to these things - yes this is true and I know it even a little then....

We need to be unified in vision, unified in purpose, overflowing with love, giving, pouring out, speaking only from the Spirit, recognizing our place as a humble slave - where everyone else is better and more important, we need to recognize our sinfulness - our smallness ... and give everyone our utmost and genuine care. This should be the results of the above ... is this what is true in my life?

Father - let me confess right now that this is not true of me. Even knowing what humility means was hard for me. I am very focused on me still ... what will I get - what do I need - grabbing for myself - taking anything just to have... It is a protection - I guess I really don't believe that you will exalt me ... and that instead I have to do it for myself that I have to take it for myself. It is not just about things but recognition - being seen - being important - being heard.

Lord - this doesn't even feel real yet - I hear myself saying this - but I haven't even owned it fully yet - I do not see the pain that this causes you - I do not feel the weight of the sin. I want to ask for forgiveness but it feels so premature. It would feel so fake. Awaken me - stir my godly sorrow. Help me to recognize my sinfulness.

And then we see Christ ... we are called to be like Him. Jesus let go of everything - and held onto us.

Jesus let go of His God-ness ... His equality with God. He let go of the infinite, He let go of seeing and knowing everything - and planning all things, His biggness. He had perfection and He let go on purpose!

Jesus let go of His divinity ... His king-ness. He let go of being worshipped and seen. He let go of being exalted and above all.

Instead -

Jesus put on slavery. He became one who obeys, who has no will - who is not seen. He became the body that does the work. The Master speaks - and He listens and does.

Jesus put on human skin. He became finite. He became small. He humbly obeyed everything God commanded. And He died as a misunderstood criminal.

What is humility? I asked again again during these 2 hours? I at first thought it was understanding my sinfulness... perhaps that is a part. Is it being a slave - obeying a master having no will of my own? I looked up other verses to get an idea - pride seemed to be the opposite - one who is puffed up and thinks too much of themselves. Didn't I just describe pride to someone as complete self - absorption ... so then humility is completely others focused - nothing of me - it must all be about others. I become small - they must become much. I must be less, He must be more. I must decrease - He must increase ... but also He increases my love for others - as I love Him more ... the first commandment and the second is just like it... hmmm.

He let go of all of that ... and He became nothing - and then God...

Elevated Him to the place of highest honor ... and gave Him the Name above all names
- so that every knee will bow - all will be humble slaves before the ONE true KING
- and every tongue confess - all will understand His true nature and speak and worship Him as He deserves!!!!

We will not only know how low we are - we will want to become lower. We will not only know Jesus' name but His name will BE the ultimate worship. His name will be recognized and awed by all! His place was restored - and made even higher. His name is restored and made even greater!!!!!!

Luke 14: 7-11

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”


Oh - don't forget the fly! The fly taught me about my absolute smallness. As he was flying again and again at the window and failing again and again to find the outside. And in that brief moment pretending to be 'God' of the fly ... I could see how wrong and small he was - and how much help he needed. Humility is knowing my smallness in comparison of the incomprehensible God. Humility is knowing my insignificance in comparison to the great abundant riches of Jesus!