Daily Dose of the Word of God - Philippians 2: 9-13

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Transcript

Gregg DeMey  0:07  

Good morning and welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. It's Thursday, May 14th This is Gregg DeMay. It's still the season of Easter and we are living it forward in Jesus name. Today's scripture reading is from the book of Philippians chapter 2, verses 9 through 13. Earlier in this passage, Paul was mentioning Jesus humility in the incarnation and obedience and becoming human like us.

Gregg DeMey  0:33  

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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

Gregg DeMey  1:13  

There was a book years ago called, "Descending into Greatness," which explored the spiritual paradox that as we serve and saccrifice ourselves away, we become our truest selves in Christ. Jesus demonstrated this truth fully and perfectly. We often say we want to be more like Jesus, but the truth is, we're never more like Christ than when we are lowering our egos and serving. I can't explain to you exactly how it is that Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine at the same time. It's not as if Jesus divinity was deluded when he was born in Bethlehem. There was no decision to stop a being or become less divine. Rather, Jesus' obedient decision to become a human being was a decision about what it really meant to be divine. Jesus didn't stop being equal with God when he was born - he simply refused to exploit that reality and humbly chose what it means to embody being divine: He served, he gave, he forgave, he sacrificed, and because of all that, God has exalted him to the highest place. This passage about Jesus ends with an exhortation from Paul for us to do similarly - to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. But then Paul adds, "Because it is God who is at work within you."

Gregg DeMey  2:52  

Let's pray about that. God today, give me the desires and the courage to follow Jesus' humble example. Show me the moments when it's time for me to humble myself and simply serve. I trust that as I do so, I will find something better than worldly or material success - I will find more of you. May it be so for Jesus sake, Amen.