Though we hate to admit it, we have a tendency to think of ourselves as being more important than we really are.  A while back I read a slogan for a certain type of insurance that read, “For the most important person in the world…you.”  We are constantly being exposed to these types of messages and think of ourselves in this way.

Though the Bible is clear that we are special in so far as we are created in God’s image, Scripture is also clear that we are not nearly as great and as important as we think we are.  We need to have a correct view of ourselves, and in Philippians 2, Paul puts things in perspective for us.  He says in vv. 5-6,

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Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

‎Paul explains in this passage that Christ has the highest status in all existence—He is God.  In v. 6, the NASB says although he existed.  Paul is speaking of a time before Christ came to earth, which tells us that Christ is eternal—he has always existed.  Paul goes on to say, in the form of God, meaning Christ is divine.  What Paul is saying here is, “Before coming to earth and before taking on flesh Christ existed as the eternal Son of God equal in person with God the Father.” 

Yet, though that’s the case—though he was equal in nature, essence and form with God, Paul tells us that Christ refused to selfishly cling to his equality with God.  Instead, he tells us he emptied himself by becoming one of us.  Now this does not mean he gave up his authority or his title or his essence as God.  It just means that he did not cling to all the advantages that come with being God.  Now what’s ironic about this is that Christ who is in the very nature, form and essence of God who could have clung tightly to the advantages of being God, chose to humble himself, while we, who are not even close to being in the position he is in, refuse.

Paul wants his readers to realize that if Christ, who is infinitely greater than us did not consider his status as something to cling to then neither should we.  If he humbled himself for us, how much more so should we for others?

To hear more from Philippians 2:5-11, click HERE and listen to WE ARE ALL ABOUT SERVING.

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." -C.T. Studd

OUR NEED FOR ONE ANOTHER

A while back I was given a book written by George Barna entitled Revolution. For those of you not familiar with Barna, he is a Christian stats guy and he and his group have reported a lot of helpful statistics about the state of things within the church and with nonbelievers in the world.

In this book, what Barna does is he reports on a group of believers that they have studied that he calls “revolutionaries.” He explains that their main focus is on their relationship with God and that they really don’t see the church as necessary.

Now like I said, the stats that Barna reports about the rise in this group of people and their mentality is very helpful to pastors and church leaders. The problem with this book is that the prescription Barna gives is not. In fact, I would say that Barna’s prescription is worse than his diagnosis. What Barna basically says in this book is, “No big deal." He even makes a push for Christians to accept the fact that people are seeking to follow God outside the church walls.

There is a major issue I have with this prescription. It’s just not biblical. What we discover as we read God’s Word is that one of the key ways for us to grow in Christ—one of the key ways to mature in our faith is through valuing relationships and connecting with God’s people in His church.

The phrase “one another” is used over a hundred times in almost every book in the New Testament. How can we be obedient to God by "loving one another, submitting to one another, encouraging one another, building one another up, exhorting one another, showing hospitality to one another, praying for one another, not speaking evil against one another" if we do not associate with one another?

Truth is we can’t. Living in community with God’s people is not optional, it's essential if we want to be like Christ.

"Congregational life (is) the very means whereby believers are shaped into Christlikeness and Christian maturity." -Albert Mohler

When you hear the word worship, what often comes to mind? Maybe it’s a place of worship like the church or a person of worship like a worship leader or maybe even a style of worship.

Truth is all of us have certain ideas that come to mind when thinking about worship. Though that’s the case—though all of us think and talk about worship and feel as if it is important—though we have strong opinions about how it should look and be done, too few of us have been equipped from God’s Word with what He has said about Worship.

In Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 Solomon gives us great insight on what true God honoring worship should look like. He says,

To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

Several times in this passage Solomon talks about the importance of worshipping with an open heart and a closed mouth. The reason why is because our worship is to be based on the truth of God’s word.

Many think, “Worship is all about me singing and shouting praises to God—Worship is all about what I say about Him and to Him.” God’s word says “NO.” True God honoring worship takes place when our hearts are open and our mouths are closed. Worship is just as much about what God says to us as it is about what we say to Him.

Many take part in worship in the church week in and week out not just because they are participating in singing the songs or giving an offering (though that’s a part of worship), but because they are being attentive when the Word of God is being preached—because they are listening with open hearts and closed mouths and because they are open and ready to receive and apply God’s message.  

That's what true worship is.  True worship is focusing on and responding to God.

"Quote" of the Week

"I believe a local church exists to do corporately what each Christian believer should be doing individually--and that is to worship God. It is to show forth the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." -A.W. Tozer

BEING THE BODY BETTER

When little babies first learn to walk they are pretty awkward aren't they? Not being mean, just honest. They fall down a lot, it takes them a while to figure out they have joints so they often walk around stiff legged and can’t get anywhere too quickly. But their little bodies don’t stay that way, do they? They eventually grow and mature and function properly.

In Ephesians 4, Paul explains that the church is to be doing the same thing. Though the church is often referred to as the “Body of Christ,” right now at present many of our churches are not being the body very well. In fact, we could all be the body better. Many churches, like a toddler, lack maturity and are not functioning properly. Paul says what we are to be doing in response is growing in godliness individually and collectively so that we can better represent our head—the Lord Jesus.

If we as a church body would make a commitment to gather together for the purpose of getting equipped to grow in Christ, then we will be a better body.  We will start worshiping God better, connecting better and will become unified and mature together.

"Quote" of the Week

"The concept of the Church as the body of Christ...is a tremendous idea. Nothing, surely, is more stimulating to our faith, nothing more encouraging, nothing more stimulating to our practical holiness, than the realization of this wonderful and exalted truth about ourselves. I say once more that I am increasingly convinced that what chiefly accounts for the low state of spirituality in the Christian Church is the failure to grasp (this) doctrine. We think so much in subjective terms, and we spend so much time in trying to work something up, that we fail to see that the way to become holy is to understand the truth about ourselves and to realize our high calling and our privileged position." -Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Let me come closer to Thee, Lord Jesus,
Oh, closer day by day;

Let me lean harder on Thee, Lord Jesus,

Yes, harder, all the way.

Let me show forth Thy beauty, Lord Jesus,

Like sunshine on the hills;

Oh, let my lips pour forth all Thy sweetness

In joyous sparkling rills.

Yes, like a channel, precious Lord Jesus,

Make me and let me be;

Keep me and use me daily, Lord Jesus,

For Thee, for only Thee.

In all my heart and will, O Lord Jesus,

Be altogether king;

Make me a loyal subject, Lord Jesus,

To Thee in everything.

Thirsting and hungering for Thee, Lord Jesus,

With blessed hunger here.

Longing for New Jerusalem’s fullness—

No thirst, no hunger there.

Let me come closer to Thee, Lord Jesus, Lyrics by J.L. Lyne  

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33