Reflection on Philippians 2:5-11

Scripture
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Observation
The marvel of the christian story is the humility of God. I think this is one trait of God that many find it hard to get their head around. The divine son emptied himself of all ambition, all desire, all claims to divinity and made himself vulnerable to us.

He allowed himself to be killed as a nobody by the lowest of the low, the most shameful of deaths.

Then God raised him up to the highest place that a the name of Jesus every knee will bow.

Application
If God, who is higher than any created being, can be humble, becoming a servant, then surely I can live a life of humility.

If the divine Son of Man can so empty himself of all ambition other than to serve the Father, then surely I can.

Jesus despised the cross- even though it brought with it, uniquely for him, a taste of hell- because he knew that there was a greater goal to be won.

He is therefore qualified to command his followers to die to self, to take up their own cross and follow him.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, you don't ask me to do anything you have not already done yourself. I find it hard to die to my own desires and ambitions, much less to my selfish sinful nature. I ask today for the grace to die, the grace to follow you to the cross. Amen.