When I see myself as a representative of Jesus to my street, my company, my friends, neighbors and friends, it changes my priorities and choices.
[Philippians 2:3-4]
“ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
- Good advice but it’s like saying, “just get better”
- “Don’t be selfish”, is easier to say than to do
It’s like Paul anticipated my frustration with what he’s saying so he unpacks this for me by saying that I need a new attitude and new way of doing things to be a healthy representative of heaven.
- A heavenly attitude will change the way I see things
- Changing the way I see things will bring me to a place where I choose different actions
- HEAVENLY ATTITUDE
[Philippians 2:5-8]
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
[Matthew 20:28]
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
It seems sometimes as though we carry a sense of entitlement around with us
- “I’d better get mine”
- “I deserve better than this”
- “You best not disrespect me”
- “Nobody can treat me that way”
“Entitlement ROBS you of contentment!”
Want to be like Jesus?
- Treat others better than they treat you
- Take an interest in their success and it will lead to yours
- See yourself as a solution to the problems of others rather than others as a solution to yours
- THAT will get you to the place of contentment and happiness
2. HEAVENLY ACTIONS
If you can change the way you think about yourself and others, it will change the way you live.
[Philippians 2:14-16]
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”
When you change the way you see everything and everyone, it changes the way everyone sees you and everything about you.
The cool thing is that I’m not the only one trying to make this happen.
[Philippians 2:13]
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
That is a HUGE relief!
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Application Questions
1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?