Finding Joy in Philippians
Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world.
Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Today's Reading: Philippians 1-4 Focus Passage - Philippians 2:5-8
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah 19-20, Ephesians 3, Psalm 114, Proverbs24:23–25
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: A Hymn of Humility
Don't you love those old hymns?
For several years, the fight between those who loved older hymns and those who preferred modern music raged. Perhaps that fight has settled down a bit, though it still boils up from time to time. The fact is that every song we consider an old standard was once new. In church history, Amazing Grace is relatively contemporary - written in 1779, when the church was established almost 1740 years earlier. How Great Thou Art? That is 100 years newer - 1885. Most of our "old" hymns are 150 to 250 years old - basically "contemporary praise and worship" when you consider the 2000 years of church history.
(A few of you are really triggered right now, aren't you? - sorry!)
We actually know very little about worship in the early church, but our verses today (and verses 9-11, which we will read tomorrow) are believed by many to be an early Christian hymn. They are clearly set in a poetic form and may have been sung when the Philippians and other churches gathered to worship Jesus.
Like most of what we believe is early singing, it seems to focus on the Crucified and Risen Christ. Having admonished the people to follow the attitude of Christ, he recounts the work of Christ. He was "in the form of God" - Jesus was divine in nature - but instead of exploiting, or grasping, or making the most of his divine nature, he emptied himself to come and serve lost humanity. He "was in" the form of God but "took on" the form of a servant. That is significant. The Divine Son became a servant. When he came to earth it was not as a celebrity or a king, but as a lowly servant, obeying the Father and seeking the good of those who had rejected him.
"This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long" - that's what the contemporary hymn, Blessed Assurance, by Fanny Crosby from 1873 said. A truly old hymn like ours today is our story and our song. That is why we sing, whether it is truly old hymns such as Philippians 2:6-11, contemporary hymns such s those we've discussed today, or modern music that is so popular today. We sing about Jesus, who left heaven and came to earth to die for us.
What else is there to sing about?
Thank you, Father, for your Son, and his story, which gives me a reason a to sing.
Think and Pray:
Take some time today to reflect on the work of Christ for you, his love and mercy, "his story" - and sing praises in your heart to Christ.
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