January 27th, 2021

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The Big Picture

[Excerpt from Ligonier Ministries}

The Apostle gives us this instruction in verses 3–4 when he calls us both to avoid rivalry and conceit, and to practice humility in our dealings with others. Instead of jockeying for position or attempting to make a name for ourselves, our motivation for ministry must be love for God and His people, a desire to see our brothers and sisters in Christ flourish.

Such requires that we, in an attitude of humility, “count others more significant” than ourselves. What Paul has in view here is not a negative estimation of our own self-worth or a refusal to be honest about our own abilities, for elsewhere he demands that we think of ourselves soberly and properly, recognizing our own dignity without thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. We are not, as it were, to see other people as inherently better than we are because of their talents or position; rather, we are to count others as more significant than ourselves insofar as we consider their needs before our own.  Simply put, within the body of Christ we seek greatness by serving others (Mark 10:35–45).

How To Pray

• Pray today that the habit of daily prayer and devotional will continue past January and well into the new year.

• C.S. Lewis “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.” Thank God today for the example of His Son. Philippians 2 is all about the humility of Jesus coming to earth in humility.

• What a joy to be living today! Thank God for your breath and life and ask Him to use you today to make someone else’s day!