Daily Devotional – July 3-9
July 3 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
Philippians 2:5-8, In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, as I live out my faith in relationship with other people, I need Your thinking. You are God and yet You chose not to use that to Your advantage when You came to us. Instead, You emptied Yourself of what was common in heaven by becoming a servant on earth, being made just like us. And as You became flesh and blood, You went so far to humble Yourself by being totally obedient to the Father’s plan to die for humankind- even dying the most excruciating death on a cross. The heights from which You came to the depths You descended I cannot comprehend but give You thanks and praise for saving me for all eternity. Amen.”
July 4 – Meditating on God’s Word
Philippians 2:5, In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words.)
“In your relationships with each other, think the same thoughts as Christ Jesus.”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
Paul gives practical teaching of what it looks like to relate with one another as followers of Jesus. In the previous two verses, he tells us to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” From there, he tells us that Jesus has perfectly modeled this for us so we need to get inside of His head and live in the same humble way.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
Jesus’ thoughts concerning healthy and holy relationships are not the common way. It goes against everything I feel I want to do or say when others aren’t responding the way I want them to. However, the more I actively think about the word and way of Jesus, the more I will be prepared to think like Him when challenged and tested in my relationships.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Jesus, please transplant Your mind into my mind. Give me Your thoughts that are so much higher than my thoughts. Take captive my thoughts and put them under your Lordship. Amen.”
July 5 – Meditating on God’s Word
Philippians 2:6, Who, being in very nature God…
Write out the Scripture.
“Who, being in very nature God,”
Observe what it is saying.
Christ Jesus is God. He declared that He and the Father are one. He is the second member of the Trinity. Colossians 1 says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” He always existed. He was not created. He is eternal. Creation was made in Him, through Him, and for Him. No person could have done what Jesus did because only God is sinless and perfect in nature. The sacrifice to bear the sins of the world had to be blameless. Only the Son of God was available for the mission.
Relate it to your life.
I need to have a right understanding of the nature of Christ before I can fully appreciate the message of this passage and the remarkable news of the gospel.
Do something.
“Jesus, I declare that my whole faith hangs on the truth that the person of Christ is God. Amen.”
July 6 – Meditating on God’s Word
Philippians 2:6, … did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Write out the Scripture.
“did not consider His status as God something to be used to His own advantage;”
Observe what it is saying.
Even though Christ Jesus is God as we saw yesterday, He chose in His descent into this dark world not to take full advantage of all His God powers. Instead, He chose to identify with us in all of our broken weakness. He didn’t call on the angels of heaven as Satan tempted Him to do. The mindset of Christ begins when we choose to diminish our entitlement attitude.
Relate it to your life.
If I have the mindset of Jesus, I need to consider when I can appropriately use the advantage of my position, possessions, and privileges. Just because I can, does it mean I should?
Do something.
“Jesus, give me the ability to not unwisely take advantage of who I am or what I have. Amen.”
July 7 – Meditating on God’s Word
Philippians 2:7, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Write out the Scripture.
“rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Observe what it is saying.
Instead of taking advantage of His divine position and power, Jesus chose to make Himself nothing. Those words are startling. He emptied Himself of His God privilege and chose to put on human flesh. He descended from the highest heavenly position on the throne to the lowest earthly place as a slave. The distance between the two is beyond imagination to conceive.
Relate it to your life.
I am overwhelmed with the thought that Jesus made Himself nothing. The infinite distance He traveled in His descent into flesh speaks of the deepest kind of love ever displayed for us.
Do something.
“Jesus, thank You for going an eternal distance to reveal the depth of Your love for us. Amen.”
July 8 – Meditating on God’s Word
Philippians 2:8, And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Write out the Scripture.
“And being found in man’s appearance, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!”
Observe what it is saying.
What Jesus did in making Himself nothing was to humbly enter into the most despicable and demeaning death known to man- crucifixion. He was obedient every step of the way to the Father’s plan for our redemption which cost Him everything in the most gruesome way.
Relate it to your life.
I mustn’t belittle or take lightly what Jesus did. If He was willing to go such a distance to offer love and forgiveness for me, will I not go a much shorter distance to show such love to others?
Do something.
“Jesus, I ask that You will give me Your mindset to humbly love others as You loved me. Amen.”