Let this Mind be in You - Sermon 3!

Having the Mind of Christ in His Humility!

Philippians 2:1–18 (ESV)

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

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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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, 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. 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. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

A priest is driving home, when suddenly his car breaks down, Fortunately there is a nearby farm and so he he knocks on the farmhouse door and explains his situation to the farmer. No problem, said the farmer, I have a horse you can borrow but one thing to be aware of is that this is a HOLY horse, and to make it go, you have to say, "Praise the Lord" and to make it stop you have say, "Amen"! The priest thanks the farmer and is on his way. About a mile down the road, the horse gets spooked by a dog and starts galloping towards a huge cliff. "Stop!" yells the priest, forgeting the word that will make it stop. In a panic, he prays a long and eloquent prayer of repentance that he had learned by heart, but still the horse is hurtling toward a cliff. Suddenly it came to him, shout “Amen!” So he did and the horse stopped, at the very edge of the cliff. Now the priest is amazed and secretly pleased with himself that God had answered his prayer, so he raises his voice and shouts, "Praise the Lord!"

Now Humility is an easy subject to talk about but a difficult virtue to acquire, for as soon as we talk about our humility we can sound extremely proud of it!

“Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of self.” - T. S. Eliot

Some of you will know Mac Davis’ old Country and Western song, which has the lyrics:

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror cause I get better loking each day. To know me is to love me I must be a hell of a man. Oh Lord it's hard to be humble but I'm doing the best that I can.

We can smile, but there is something of Mac Davis in all of us at times, which is why Paul says in Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Proverbs 22:4, says, “Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.” The fear of the Lord is acquired as we keep out minds focused on God, hence C, S Lewis rightly advised people “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” and Paul’s approach to this was to say, when you are tempted to think more highly of youself than you ought, think of Jesus! “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

When we think of who Jesus is by nature and what He came to do, in terms of His self sacrifice, it truly is remarkable to read the words, “He humbled Himself”(2:8).

We want to BECOME LIKE JESUS in His attitude and mindset. We have already looked at His affection; and Determination and today we look at His humility!

This is our sermon focus - to express the mind of Christ by being willing to humble ourselves, as He did, leading us to be willing to sacrifice self-interest, position, comforts and even if called on, our very lives tso 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.”

We need a settled mind and clear determination on this, aiming to learn to be humble, not least because Scripture exhorts us, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”(Col 3:12).

And in the context of Colossians, 3, this virtue is needed in order to be at peace with one another in the Church, for the Apostle goes on to say: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”(Col 3:13-17).

We aim to glorify God, honouring the name of Jesus by becoming more and more like Him!

Our calling as disciples of Jesus is to strive to become more and more like Him, developing a Christ-centred lifestyle in which our mindset and behaviours are infliuened by His attitudes and actions, determined by whether or not Jesus would approve of them, as we have already seen in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

So, Paul says in Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

Express the Mind of Christ in Humility by allowing Jesus to be:

I. The Model which we Replicate.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.'

Paul helpfully outlines just what this looked like in practice as He is presented to us as one who made 'Himself nothing, taking a very nature of a servant' (Phil 2:7).

The Greek word for “humility is tapeinós which was used to describe those who felt or were seen to be “lowly,” “insignificant,” “weak,” and “poor.” So, when Paul says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility(Grk: ταπεινοφροσύνη - lowly-spirited) consider others better than yourselves” he is encouraging us to adopt a lowly spirit in relation to our brothers and sister in Christ, to resist pride and arrogance at all costs!

We should become like Jesus who “humbled himself”(Grk: ἐταπείνωσεν).

Christ’s humility is one of the startling and admirable and attractive characteristics of His Person:

Matt 11:28-29, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

And who can forget his humility in washing His disciples feet in John 13:13-15, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

His humility here is intended as an object-lesson on how to serve others in Christ's name. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” requires us to take the lowly place and be ready to serve the needs of others above out own! Hence Phil 2:1-4, says “if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

And this thought ties us in with one of the main purposes for which Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians which was for an entirely practical reason of encouraging his fellow Christians to resolve a dispute within the Church, as he explains in Phil 4:2-3

Philippians 4:2–3 ESV

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

And it is worth noting here, that Paul employs the richest Christology to inspire Christian living - “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Theology is meant to be practically applied!

Let’s note the theology first!

(i). There is a reference to Christ’s deity: "Who, being in very nature God..'

The word “nature” refers to the 'fundamental qualities or essential character' of a person or thing.

Jesus did not only act as God by manifesting divine characteristics, He actually was and is God 'by nature' - "He possessed everything that was constituive of deity"(McCleod c/f Jn 1:1;Col 2:9;Heb 1:3).

(ii). There is also a reference to Christ’s humanity: "Being found in appearance as a man..'

Comparing the word 'nature'(Grk: μορφη - form) with the word which translates 'appearance'(Grk: σχῆμα - structure; outer expression) we at once see an important distinction. Jesus was in the form of God but was also in the appearence of man, that is to say, while Jesus outwardly appeared to be merely a man, he was at the same time, inwardly 'by nature God'!(c/f Rom 8:4).

The Incarnation was the coming of God into the world, - “the word became flesh” - uniting His divine ’nature' with human 'nature', so that Jesus became and remains 'the God-man'(c/f Jn 1:14;1 Tim 2:5).

This makes the wonder of the statement that Jesus: "..did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.." (Grk: οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο) even more striking. Christ could have held tightly onto, 'grasped onto' His deity and refuse to humble Himself and become man, this was His right; his privilege! BUT rather than stand upon His dignity, He "made Himself nothing". He 'emptied Himself' (Grk: ἐκένωσεν) not of His deity(so RSV) but rather, he laid aside His Majesty and Glory in order for it to be obscured and hidden in the humble image of a ’man'.

This “emptying of Himself” was a volunttary act of submission, whereby He gave up the independent use of His divine attributes, instead making Himself wholly dependent on the Spirit of God and becoming subject to the frailities of humanity (“Tis mystery all, the immortal dies”) so that He could truly represent us - “for since by man came death, by man also came to resurrection to eternal life”(1 Cor 15:21) - Only when God, became a man, could the immortal die to rescue us from the guilt and penalty of sin.

Notice also that His humanity was not that of a high-born King, no He took, ‘the very nature of a servant'(Grk: μορφγ̀ν δούλου - lit ‘slave’ or ‘bondservant’ see Jn 13:1-17) - "The point here is that He left a state of inexpressible glory, and took upon Him the most humble form of humanity and performed the most lowly offices that He might benefit us"(Barnes).

But all to teach us that theology is meant to be applied!

as Donald McCleod states: "You have the..applicability of the profoundest theology to the most mundane..and common place problems" that face the Church, that of division!

it’s as if he is saying to them, “when you disagree in the Lord, and when others take sides and you threaten the very unity of the body of Christ, you should think of Jesus and all that He was willing to give up, in order to save us, to reconcile us to God. Like Him you should be humble; you should be willing to make the first move and put aside your differences and divisions for His sake!”

(Note: my visit to Ramsbotton Evangelical Church - preached on this passage and at end of service, just before communion I wached a one lady got up, approached another and after a brief conversation, they hugged and took communion. Afterwards, the Minister Ray Gregory informed me that the word of God had brought them under conviction and led this lady to act in this way! Fantastic application by people who were sensitive to the Holy Spirit ad open to the Word of God).

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

Express the Mind of Christ in Humility by allowing Jesus to influence:

II. The Sacrifices that we Make.

It is hard to be asked to act humbly when we are the persons who are wronged!

Everything in us wants to protest and assert our rights for justice and recompence, but Paul is not going to tells us whether Euodia or Syntyche are in the right, He is going to show them, and us that when tempted to be proud; when tempted to be stubborn or willful, we should seek to have the attitude of Christ in His humility and remember how He willingly sacrificed Himself and "Became obedient to death..even the death of the cross"(Phil 2:8)

Think of it! He who by nature is God, the King of glory; the Creator and sustainer of all things. The One, who according to Colossians 1:16,17 “by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.s before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The One who is worshipped by men and angels and has need of nothing with all the riches of Heaven, became a man, and for our sake “became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich”(2 Cor 8:9)!

He who will be “the Judge of all the earth” allowed Himself to be judged and misrepresented and lied about; and beaten by the hands that He made and cursed to die on criminal's gibbet, a 'cross', (Grk: σταυρός) which for a Jew was particularly humiliating, as it was considered a 'curse' to be 'hung on a tree'(Gal 3:13). But he did it to remove THE CURSE which afflicted the earth when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil! What love! What condescension! What amazing grace!

"Amazing love, how can it be,

That Thou my God, should'st die for me"

(Charles Wesley).

And this is the example that we follow (Phil 2:9-11).

His willingness to lay down His life for His friends; His motivation was thinking of the good of others not His own good.

And for this, His reward was an unsought consequence of His pure and loving motives! "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"(vs 9-11). He didn;t lay down His life for the glory of His Name; He lay it down for the good of those who would trust Him for salvation!

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”― C.T. Studd

So let us express the Mind of Christ in Humility by learning:

III. The Specifics of Humble Service!

Philippians 2:12–18 (ESV)

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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

a. Humility involves a recognition that we have not arrived yet!

Donkey in Shrek 2 Day Trip to “Far, Far Away” famously kept on asking, “are we there yet?” to which the answer repeatedly was “not yet!”

When Paul says, "..work out your salvation.." he is telling us that we have not yet received it all! There is work to be done!

Now some people might be confused at this point. Doesn’t Paul say elsewhere, that “salvation is not of works, so that no one can boast”(Eph 2:8-9) and doesn’t this sound like he is saying the exact opposite? It does but that is why you must interpret scripture by scripture and within its context. Paul is here, agreeing with James here that “faith without works is dead”(Jas 2:26)

It’s important to see the differnet ways the NT uses the word 'salvation.’ (see Rom 3v20-26;5v1-11,18).

It’s a big, comprehensive words that describes the healing of the soul and deliverance of men and women from sin and from the wrath of God, through the cross and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, leading them to the a place of justification and reconciliation with God and the adoption of them into the family of God and being filled with the Spirit.

We are formed into the image of Christ through sanctification(see Gal 4:19) and leading to a guarantee of ultimate glorification(see Rom 8v28-30;Phil 1v6), which provides with a “blessed hope” when Christ shall once more appear again to receive us to Himself!

Paul puts it like this in Romans 5, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

So, to be precise, salvation in the NT refers to Christians as...

(i). Those who have been saved - Eph 2:5-8

(ii). Those who are being saved - Acts 2:47;1Cor 1:18;2Cor 2:15.

(iii). Those who will be saved - Rom 13:11;Heb 9:28.

And when Paul says, "work out your salvation" he is thinking of the work of 'sanctification’, wherein we work out what God is working within! - “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Do it with fear and trembling, take it seriously because God…works in you - and Paul has already told us in Philippians 1:6 “that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Sanctification is a process that leads to personal holiness, without which "no man shall see the Lord"(Heb 12v14).

Unlike our 'justification' which is “an act of God's free grace “(Eph2v8-9), 'sanctification' involves our co-operation with God’s Holy Spirit in whuch God brings us to life and energises us through the Holy Spirit, placing all the resources we need at our disposal for a “life of godliness”(2 Pet 1:3)

To “work out” implies strenuous effort! It is after all a Gymnastic expression! - 1 Cor 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”(c/f Phil 3:12;Rom 4:19;1 Tim 6:12)

We, together with God are working out our salvation in accordance with “His good pleasure". That is not to say He forces us to do His will as opposed to doing our own, but rather, by His power at work within us the He produces within us the desire to 'will what He wills '(Rom 12:1,2).

‘Your sanctification' is “the will of God”(1 Thes 4:3). This remains His will for us until it’s completion when we are thoroughly “conformed to the Image of Christ" (Rom 8:29).

We can BECOME LIKE JESUS in His affection; determination and humility but in humility, we acknowledge that we are not there yet!

We are not there yet, but we are becoming....and we will continue to strive to become more and more like Jesus!

b. Humility involves gratitude and a commitment to serve God together, for all that God has done for us!

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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, 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.”

Thomas Brooks said, "Example is the most powerful rhetoric."

Paul puts flesh on the principles enshrined in the command by inviting us to see how it works out in his own life, as he modeled the kind of commitment needed in the service of Jesus. You want to know what it is to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”(v12)? Look at Paul, who looked at Jesus!

Paul is a model of what it looks like as he is in prison, and that unjustly but he is enduring it all “without grumbling or disputing” because he knows that it is for the greater good of advancing the gospel(Phil 1:12).

And so remember the Euodia, Syntche issue?

They have fallen out and disagreeing in the Lord, but Paul calls them to humility - you cannot take a proud, stubborn attitude to a brother or sister in Christ, and always be grumbling and complaining among yourselves, when Christ, who was 'by nature God', humbled Himself and took a lowly and self-deprecating attitude for your sake?

You cannot refuse to forgive a brother or a sister in Christ, when Christ 'gave Himself a ransom for many' upon the Cross?( c/f Mtt 6:15;Mtt 18:21-35).

So he would say, Romans 12:3 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

Don’t take sides, he would say but rather as Peter says in 1 Peter 5:5 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

And when we fall, as we most certainly will sadly, let us follow the adice of James 4:6-10 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Let nothing get in the way of our unity together! Let us be glad for eachother and repent of any attitude or sin that prevents us viewing one another as better than ourselves!

c. Humility involves a willingness to sacrifice yourself in the service of Christ and His people!

Philippians 2:17–18 (ESV)

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. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul is a humble, sacrificial rejoicer! He was very concerned that he did not “run in vain or labour(ed) in vain”(Phil 2:16). He was constrained out of love for Christ and concern for all the churches (see 2 Cor 5:10;11:28).

Paul ministered out of a passionate zeal for Christ and a compelling determination that unless he gave his all, his work and effort might all be for nothing! This is why he will say in Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for othe prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

F.B. Meyer once said : "It is certain...that before any service that we do for God or man is likely to be of lasting or permanent benefit, it must be saturated with our heart's blood. That which costs us nothing will not benefit others. If there is no expenditure of tears and prayer, if that love of which the Apostle speaks in another place which costs is lacking, we may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, may know all mysteries and all knowledge, may bestow all our goods to feed the poor but it will profit nothing. Let us rather seek to be poured forth as an offering, then to do much without feeling the least travail of soul.....No heart pangs, no spiritual seed,"

So, Paul agrees that his life is a sacrifice!

He does not feel used and abused by then, he is gladly offering his life and finding great joy in doing so for the sake of fellow believers in Christ.

And this sacrifical offering is not easy! He uses very vivid imagery here, which was so very familiar to ancient people both Pagan and Jewish. They were all familiar with altars and sacrifical animals and all the blood and suffering that went with it. Theyw ere also familiar with the pouring out a libation, or a drink offering which took place after the animal on the altar had been killed and was being burned up, where the offerer took wine, or sometimes water, and then poured it out on either the ground in front of the altar or on top of the burning sacrifice in which case it would vaporise immediately into steam and go into the air, symbolising the rising of that sacrifice into the nostrils of the deity for whom it was being offered. (see 2 Ki 16:13;Jer 7:18; Hos 9:4).

So Paul says I am now offering my life for the Gospel (not his death - see Phil 1:24) as this final act, a completion of his sacrifice. (The word translated “if” would be better translated “since” for in Greek it is a first-class conditional which indicates something that is so - i.e “if, as indeed is the case..”).

And he is not just enduring this, he rejoices in it and is determined to continue to rejoice in it! He is rejoicing because he is being poured out as an offering. He is rejoivcing because they also are sacrificing for the sake of the gospel. It is not joy in spite of the suffering and hardship, it is joy because of it!

The highest expression of Paul's life was to give himself as a sacrifice. That's why he said...if I live I live to the Lord, if I die to the Lord, either way I'm the Lord's. That's why he said, "I count not my life dear to myself, I just want to finish what the Lord gave me to do."

Paul also acknowledges their sacrifice!

He too has learned from their example and see himself as simply adding to what they have already sacrificed and are now suffering for - the “sacrifice and service of your faith” (The word for "service" is λειτουργία from which we get out word, “liturgy” which refers to sacred service, religious service, priestly service. see Phil 2:25, 2 Cor 9:12), a faith being exercised in a hostile and pagan environment (Phil 1:28-30), among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.

When we read the lives of great missionary servants who have lived under tremendous pressures we discover ironically that the greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy!

Often the reason why we know little of joy is because we know little about that level of sacrifice.

He is effect saying to the Philippians, "Don't worry about me, I've never been so happy." They were concerned, they sent Epaphroditus, they sent money, they want to meet his needs, they're burdened about him but he was fine! (see Phil 1:4, 18;4:1,10).

Paul lived a life of sacrificial joy. And we can learn from him:

Let me ask the question, what are you sacrificing in service to Christ? What amount of treasure, what amount of time, what are you sacrificing for the cause of Christ?

I’m sure like me you feel a long way from the Apostle Paul, How then can we know this kind of joy? How can we experience this level of living? Well, we can learn from the same place Paul did, from Christ who according to Hebrews 12:2 who endured the cross because of the “joy that was set before Him”.

Jesus is the perfect illustration of ultimate sacrifice and ultimate joy. Jesus in giving His life, enduring the cross, did so for the joy of offering to God the ultimate sacrifice that was well-pleasing to Him. “Here I am, and the children you have given me”(Heb 2;13). Paul learned it from Jesus. And so will we! c/f Phil 3:10

Our effectiveness as Christian people is directly related to the proximity in which we live in intimate fellowship with Christ.

We should examine ourselves to see if our attitude;outlook and behaviours are in keeping with living a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ”(Phil 1:27).

And we can do it! As we live in companionship with the living Christ - Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

And we can go to Him constantly for fresh supplies of strength, for "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus."

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”― C.T. Studd

So much is at stake for the world. We are called to “shine like stars, as we hold forth the word of life”

Let us pray and humble ourselves - 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Let us seek to do the will of God humbly - Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Let us express the Mind of Christ in humility!

it really is a beautiful Christlike virtue to learn, for as John Newton said, “I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.”