He Took On The Status Of A Slave
– Today’s Community Scripture – 9/18/2025
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1–11 (MSG)
– Reflection:
The truth here is that genuine faith in Christ changes how we relate to others. It shifts us from self-promotion toward a posture of service, reflecting the humility of Jesus Himself. Although He had every right to cling to divine privilege, He chose instead to humble Himself, to serve, and to suffer for others. This radical humility is not weakness but the path to exaltation, as God honored Christ’s obedience above everything. In a world that often rewards ambition and self-interest, this passage reminds us that the way of Christ is different—it is the way of surrender, compassion, and unity. Living this way not only honors God but also makes us living reflections of His grace to the world.
– Where do we go from here?
We move forward by choosing to live like Jesus. That means being kind, helping others, and not always trying to be first. We don’t need to show off or try to be better than others. Instead, we can listen, care, and work together. Jesus gave up everything to love and serve people. We can do the same in small ways every day—by being patient, sharing, and putting others first. When we live this way, we show God’s love to the world. And that’s a powerful way to make a difference.
– Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for loving us so much. Please help us to become more like Jesus. Teach us to be kind, care about others, and prioritize people over ourselves. Show us how to help, share, and forgive every day. Give us hearts that listen and love. We want to live like Jesus, filled with love, peace, and joy. Amen.
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1–11 (MSG)
– Reflection:
The truth here is that genuine faith in Christ changes how we relate to others. It shifts us from self-promotion toward a posture of service, reflecting the humility of Jesus Himself. Although He had every right to cling to divine privilege, He chose instead to humble Himself, to serve, and to suffer for others. This radical humility is not weakness but the path to exaltation, as God honored Christ’s obedience above everything. In a world that often rewards ambition and self-interest, this passage reminds us that the way of Christ is different—it is the way of surrender, compassion, and unity. Living this way not only honors God but also makes us living reflections of His grace to the world.
– Where do we go from here?
We move forward by choosing to live like Jesus. That means being kind, helping others, and not always trying to be first. We don’t need to show off or try to be better than others. Instead, we can listen, care, and work together. Jesus gave up everything to love and serve people. We can do the same in small ways every day—by being patient, sharing, and putting others first. When we live this way, we show God’s love to the world. And that’s a powerful way to make a difference.
– Our Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for loving us so much. Please help us to become more like Jesus. Teach us to be kind, care about others, and prioritize people over ourselves. Show us how to help, share, and forgive every day. Give us hearts that listen and love. We want to live like Jesus, filled with love, peace, and joy. Amen.
