Erin Pacheco 0:10
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. Today is April 5. It’s the season of Easter, and we’re walking the Emmaus Road with Jesus. I’m Erin Pacheco, the new Director of Worship here at Elmhurst CRC. It’s Friday, and Sunday is coming! As we prepare for worship — and as we continue to celebrate the resurrection — I’m drawn to these words in Philippians 2:5-11.
Erin Pacheco 0:38
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, Rather, he 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 by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 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.
Erin Pacheco 1:24
Paul here gives us a vision of the worship of heaven. One day, we will join with all of heaven and all of creation to worship Jesus as Lord. Our eyes will be opened and we will see him as he is right now—risen, and exalted, and glorious! And we won’t be able to help but fall on our knees. Maybe this feels far away. Maybe that’s why we need a taste of it every Sunday. It’s interesting to me how worship in this passage is so deeply anchored in the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Paul starts with Jesus’ humility, his obedience, his self-emptying love. His willingness to make himself nothing for the sake of others. Jesus goes from the glory of heaven all the way down into the humiliation of death, even death on a cross. And that’s why he’s glorified. That’s why we worship. And, as followers of Jesus, this is our pathway too. Paul invites us to have the same mindset as Jesus. To set aside privilege and power. To choose, each day, the way of the cross, the path of selfless love. And to let God be the one who vindicates us and resurrects us and brings us into glory.
Erin Pacheco 3:00
Let’s pray. God, open our eyes today. Help us to see Jesus – not just walking with us, but also risen in glory and worthy of all honor and praise. Help us, even now, to bend our knees in worship. And help us, in humility, to follow Christ’s example of love and service to every person we meet today. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.