Today's Verse - Philippians 2:9

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name...

—Philippians 2:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For Jesus, the formula for saving grace was tough!
graciousness + faithfulness + sacrifice + suffering = True Glory

Yes, salvation's math doesn't make much human sense in our selfish, self-promoting world. However, from the perspective of faith, salvation's math is powerful wisdom. Jesus came to our world because of God's graciousness. Jesus was faithful and left heaven to face the hardships of humanity. The LORD was willing to sacrifice himself to serve all humanity, even though it required his suffering and humiliation on the cross. Because he faithfully lived salvation's math, the Father crowned the Son with all glory and honor, which has been rightfully his since before creation. The apostle Paul reminds us in this passage (Philippians 2:5-11) that God doesn't forget our sacrifices, hardships, persecutions, or service. He honors them with his pleasure and glory because people who choose this way walk the path of their LORD, Jesus, as they live with others.

My Prayer...

Holy Father and LORD God, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, my Savior and LORD. I surrender my heart and want to have no rival to the lordship of your Son in my life. I want to serve and bless his disciples as he served and blessed me. I want to live my life passionately, as I seek to reach the lost people of my world. Continue to mold my heart and mind to be more like Jesus. I pray this to honor him in thought, word, and deed. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Philippians 2:5, 7-8

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who... made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

—Philippians 2:5, 7-8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Christianity is not for wimps or the faint-hearted. Our example, Jesus, "made himself nothing... taking the very nature of a servant... humbled himself... and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" That's tough stuff. What's more, he is our example of how to live and sacrifice for others. The story of Jesus may begin with a sweet child, a tender virgin girl, and a loving, strong man who protected them. However, it also starts with his crib being the trough where animals ate their food, while an evil king was plotting to murder him. The birth stories of Jesus are precious and powerful. They are not, however, saccharine-sweet fake sentiment. Jesus' way of life is about servants who are willing to pay the price to redeem the ungrateful and undeserving, and disciples who are different because they know their Redeemer and are determined to become like their Teacher, Savior, and Lord (Luke 6:40).

My Prayer...

Almighty God, loving Father, thank you for placing the gospel story in the real world where I live. Jesus, thank you for being a Savior who has come into my world and faced its toughest edges and worst ugliness. Help me, please, as I learn to be sacrificial, obedient, redemptive, and humble so that I can be used to help others find your grace. I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Philippians 2:5-6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped...

—Philippians 2:5-6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus did not cling to his heavenly glory but surrendered it to save us. He was born in a stable, made his first bed in a manger, and was welcomed to this world by lowly shepherds. His adoptive dad, Joseph, had to flee to Egypt with Mary to protect young Jesus. The LORD made his boyhood home in despised Nazareth, apprenticing in Joseph's carpenter's shop. Paul uses Jesus' surrender of his heavenly glory as an example for us. Paul, God's apostle to the nations, expended his human energy so Jesus would come alive in those who followed Jesus as LORD (Colossians 1:28-29). He reminded all disciples to focus on Jesus, to obey his teaching, and to follow his example. As we do, the Holy Spirit transforms us, with increasing likeness, into our Savior's sacrificial character. Now, we must serve each other as Jesus served. We must think of others' needs before our own comfort, preferences, and rights. Jesus' incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were revolutionary. Now it is our turn to join the revolution and turn our fallen world upside down - a revolution we give our lives to help come to pass!

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My Prayer...

O Father, please mold me through the transforming power of your Holy Spirit as I pursue becoming more JESUShaped. May my thoughts be JESUShaped thoughts. May my heart's desire reflect the passions of the Son. In Jesus' name, I choose to relinquish my sense of self-importance to serve others as Jesus did. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.