Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,
being one in spirit and of one mind. 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.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be
used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature
of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to death — even death on a cross.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
Dear Father and Holy God
You have given us in your beloved Son, Jesus, the perfect example of how we should be and why. In response to the love, tenderness, and compassion we have received from him, as well as the gift of the in-dwelling Spirit, we are to demonstrate the same love and compassion that he has shown us. Jesus put others above himself and gave his life for us, so great is his love for us. He did all this as a humble, obedient and suffering servant. We cannot fathom this sacrifice when we consider that he left his heavenly home in glory to come down to us and live as a poor and humble man and give his life as an atonement for the sins of his unworthy people. LORD, you are so good and gracious. Help us to emulate Jesus so that others can see him in us and be drawn to you and recognize that Jesus alone is the way and the truth and the life. He is the only way to salvation and a life of meaning and joy.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.