Some thoughts between the Father and me on this passage of scripture:
Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Make your attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11)
Here are some of my musings as I meditated on this passage:
Do nothing from a motivation of rivalry or conceit. Be unselfconscious:
- humbly
- consider
- others as better
- as more important
- than myself
Look out for one another
Jesus did not consider equality with
GOD
as something to be used for His
own advantage
Instead, He poured Himself out — emptied Himself
and became a human being –
the second Adam, in whom He gathered together
all who would call on His name to be saved
from the wickedness of this generation.
As man; as the second Adam; He obeyed perfectly –
even to death
- His Love for Us
- Highly Exalted
So . . . these are my word pictures; my musings on these few verses. In case you haven’t noticed, I just purchased a graphics pad for my computer. So these aren’t photos of my journal; just re-drawings. They may get better over time; who knows? 
The bit that particularly spoke to me here was that we are to consider others as more important than ourselves, particularly that we aren’t to allow any rivalry or conceit to sneak into our relationships. This is always a challenge, but I think even more so when you’re a member of an organic church in which every member is welcomed and desired to contribute to the gathering. It’s our job to share whatever God has given us through the week — every one of us. So it’s always going to be tempting to wonder what others think of us, or whether we did as well as this brother or that sister. We need to look to Jesus alone for our approval, and He’s always loving and merciful, judging the heart rather than the outward appearance or the apparent result.
Tomorrow I’ll put away the graphics pad — promise. Well, mostly.
Love in Him, Cindy
