Imitating Christ's Humility.

Philippians 2:1-11
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Paul has certainly been through a rough time, including imprisonment and beatings. Still, Paul's spirits remained as high as he could keep them.

In this chapter of Philippians, Paul tells us what motivates him...what makes him tick. He explains that Jesus gave up everything to become a human, and he's not just any 'ole man, but a loving servant who gave up his life for others. Paul follows this trait of Christ.

Occasionally, the reader of this passage may think that Paul is going to give up at a certain point, but also mixed in there are descriptions of what what keeps him from doing the expected..."God elevated him to the place of highest honor" (verse 9). God provides him with joy and that can happen in your life as well.

How can you "consider others better than yourself" (verse 3) without lowering your self-esteem?

Paul's spiritual style can be summed up this way: "I pray as if all depends on God; I work as if all depends on me." ~Saint Teresa of Avila