Devotional

Philippians 2:5–8

The humility of Jesus Christ is the greatest example for us. Philippians 2:6 says that Jesus was “in the form of God.” He was equal with God. But He did not use that right for His own comfort. He “emptied” Himself and “took the form of a servant.” Though He was the Creator, He was born in the likeness of men. More than that, He was “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Death on a cross was the most shameful death of that time. Yet our King Jesus accepted this shame for our sins. He came down to the lowest place so that we might be lifted up. This self-giving shows us that true greatness is not in ruling over others, but in serving and sacrificing for them. He bowed low, and by that bowing He won the victory over the whole world.

John Dickson says that humility is not thinking little of your ability or your power, but the willing use of your power, your resources and your wisdom for the good of others. It is not a matter of despising yourself; it is “self-forgetfulness,” in which a person stops chasing praise and reputation and gives himself fully to serving others. True humility joins a person to reality and teaches him to recognise and honour the worth of others, and this makes leadership and relationships meaningful and effective.

Do you hesitate to serve others? Remember, your Lord and Teacher washed your feet and shed His blood for you. In Philippians 2:5 Paul says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” That is, in every situation be ready to rise above your own interests with humility, to serve others, and to stand firm even in hard circumstances.

Prayer: Humble and glorious Jesus, thank You for Your great sacrifice. Teach me also to serve others and to be obedient, as You were. Amen.

Philippians 2:1–4

When a church lays aside its small disagreements and centres itself on the love of Christ, it can defeat even the greatest darkness in the world. Today I want to tell you a story of remarkable unity and love inside a prison during communist rule in Romania. In that period, when Christians were put in prison because of their faith, a form of the church appeared there that astonished the world. Inside the prison, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and believers from many other traditions were held together. Out in the world there were small differences among these groups, but in the darkness and suffering of the prison they became one, like the parts of a single body. They made a rule: “No one inside this prison will go hungry.” The prisoners were given only a small piece of bread once a week and a little dirty soup, which was not even enough to keep them alive. Yet those believers decided to give a “tithe” even out of that small amount of food. Each one would save a portion of his bread over ten weeks and give it to the weakest, the sick and the elderly prisoners, no matter which tradition they belonged to. Once, when a believer was giving his last piece of bread to a prisoner who was near death, the jailer asked him, “You are dying of hunger yourself — why do you give this bread to another?” The believer answered quietly, “We are one in Christ. When one part of His body hurts, we all hurt. If my brother lives, I will live in him.” Because of this unity and selfless love shown in such hard conditions, the hearts of many communist officers and other prisoners were changed. They came to understand that the church is not a building or an institution, but a living family bound together in the love of Christ — where suffering and hardship do not separate people but bind them even closer.

Paul says that unity and love become possible in the church when we count one another “better than ourselves.” Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This sounds easy, but in practice it is very hard. Our human nature always wants to put itself above others and to look down on them. But the love of Christ turns our heart inside out. We must look not only to our own interests, but “also to the interests of others.” True Christian unity comes only when we lay aside selfishness and give ourselves to serving others. If we have known the comfort that is in Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, this humility must appear in us. Our heart must not beat only for itself, but for the good of others.

Do you count others better than yourself? Or are you always looking for your own praise and comfort? Look for a chance to serve someone today. Help to carry someone else’s burden. Only when we are humble do we become true disciples of Christ. May the love of Christ change our selfish hearts.

Prayer: Lord, set me free from my selfish nature. Give me a humble heart that serves others and honours others. Amen.

Philippians 1:27–30

In today’s passage Paul gives believers a serious call: “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” He says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (verse 27). This means our conduct and our faith must be one and the same. For the sake of the gospel we must “stand firm in one spirit” and struggle together “with one mind.” We must not be afraid when we face opposition. In verse 29 Paul says something surprising: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

We usually think of suffering as punishment or a curse. But Paul calls it a “gift.” When we suffer for Christ, we share in His sufferings, and this makes our faith stronger. This suffering is a sign of ruin for those who oppose us, and a sign of salvation for us. We are not alone; the whole church stands together in this struggle. In the battle of the gospel we have not been left alone — Christ Himself is our commander. Some time ago I read this account. Communist police planned to arrest a young believing woman from an underground church on her wedding day. When the police tried to put handcuffs on the bride, who was in her beautiful wedding dress, she smiled and held out her hands. She kissed the handcuffs and said, “I thank my heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus, who gave me this jewellery as a gift on my wedding day. I am blessed to be counted worthy to suffer for Him.” She spent five years in prison, and when she was released she was very weak in body, but her faith stood firm.

Is anyone opposing you today because of your faith? Do not be afraid. This opposition is proof that you are on the road of Christ. To suffer for the gospel is an honour. Stand firm today, and fight the fight of faith together with your brothers and sisters.

Prayer: Lord, make me courageous for the gospel. Give me strength to stand firm in times of suffering, and remind me of Your grace. Amen.

Philippians 1:18b–26

It is never easy to choose between two options. When both choices are equally attractive, or equally difficult, a person can feel confused, tense and at times anxious. Paul faces just such a deep dilemma. In verse 21 of today’s study he says, “… for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If he dies, he will be at once in the presence of Christ, which for him is the best thing of all. But if he goes on living in the body, he will be able to labour for the spiritual growth of believers and for the gospel. For Paul, death is not a defeat but a great “gain,” because he will see his Saviour face to face. Living for Christ was not merely an idea for him; it was the whole purpose of his existence. It mattered to him because the greatest desire of his life was the glory of Christ. In Philippians 1:20 he says, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death.” To go on living meant an opportunity to show the character, the power and the grace of Christ to the world.

Living for Christ mattered to Paul because his life was directed by Christ, given over to Christ, and centred on serving others. He placed the growth of the church and obedience to Christ above his own wishes. So Paul is not selfish. He knows that the believers in Philippi need him alive. He says, “… I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

The highest goal of our life is to give Him glory and to rejoice in Him. Christ must be lifted up in every situation — whether we are sick or well, whether we succeed or fail, our life must give glory to Christ. For Paul, life was an opportunity: an opportunity to serve Christ. He wanted to live in order to carry others forward “in the joy of faith.” Are you afraid of death? If Christ is the Master of your life, then death is gain for you. But as long as you are in this world, God has a great purpose for you. That purpose is to glorify Christ and to serve others. Think about it today: what does your living mean?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, be the one goal of my life. Whether I live or die, may You be glorified. Make me devoted to the service of others. Amen.

Philippians 1:12–18a

A prison, or a set of chains, speaks of limits and troubles. Paul is in prison, bound with chains, and yet he is not sad. In today’s passage he says, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” What a surprising thing! Because Paul was in chains, the whole imperial guard had the chance to hear about Christ. Seeing Paul’s courage, other believers also became bold and were stirred up to preach the Word.

God uses even the hard circumstances of our lives for His own glory. People put Paul in prison to stop him, but God turned that prison into a platform for preaching. Some truly preached out of envy and pride, wanting to cause Paul pain, yet Paul rejoices and says, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” He had settled it in his heart that Christ was being preached one way or another. For him, the preaching of Christ mattered more than his own comfort. He knew that the gospel cannot be bound by any chain.

What problem or “prison” is in your life today? Perhaps that very problem is the opportunity God has prepared for you to share the gospel with someone. Our obstacles are no great matter to God. He turns even chains into a means of blessing. Instead of complaining today, think about how God is using your situation. Even inside prison walls, the gospel is free.

Prayer: Lord, use my “prison” — my limits and my problems — for the sake of Your gospel. May I always rejoice in You and tell others about You. Amen.

Philippians 1:9–11

Most of our prayers are limited to our health and our financial needs. But Paul’s prayer was not only for physical health or material gain. In today’s passage he prays: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” This prayer teaches us an important truth — true Christian love is not merely a feeling. It rests on knowledge and understanding. If our love does not have the knowledge of God’s Word, it can easily go astray.

True love is able to tell what is “excellent.” We may be able to do many things, but not all of them are excellent in God’s sight. Paul wants believers to be “pure and blameless.” This is possible only when the “fruit of righteousness” that comes through Jesus Christ begins to grow in us. This fruit does not grow by our own strength; it comes out of a deep relationship with Christ. Jesus Himself said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” (John 15:4). To abide in Christ — to remain in Him to the end — means to live in a living, continuous and close relationship with Him. It means far more than knowing about Him. It means admitting our weakness moment by moment and depending completely on His strength, His grace and His love. It is a life in which the believer treats Christ as the source of his life, the way a branch clings to the vine, obeying His Word and resting in His love. In the end it means handing our will over to His will, and living a fruitful life by the spiritual food we receive from Him. Only such a life can bring “glory and praise to God.”

Is your love growing in the knowledge of the Word? Can you tell today what is right and what is best? The more we know God, the more mature and deep our love for Him becomes. Let this be our prayer today — that our lives may be filled with the “fruit of righteousness” that comes through Christ, and that God may be glorified. The goal of our prayer is not simply to receive blessing, but to bear fruit for the glory of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with the knowledge of Your Word. Give me a love that can tell what is best. May the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ always grow in my life. Amen.

Philippians 1:3–8

Whenever Paul remembers the believers in Philippi, he prays with joy. In Philippians 1:6 he gives a great assurance: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This verse is a strong foundation for our faith. It teaches us that salvation did not begin by human work or human effort, and that it cannot be kept going by human effort either. It is entirely the sovereign work of God. God Himself is the One who begins our faith and completes it (Hebrews 12:2). This was the source of Paul’s joy, and it is the source of ours as well.

We often become discouraged in life. We think God is angry with us because of our weaknesses, and that He has left us. But today’s passage says that God never leaves a work unfinished. He chose you, He called you, and He Himself will make you holy and carry you to the end. Paul says, “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel” (Philippians 1:7).

Your salvation is safe in God’s hands. If He has begun a work in you, He will bring it to completion. This does not depend on your own strength or ability, but on God’s faithfulness. When you fall, He lifts you up. When you lose your way, He shows you the path. The work of love He began, He Himself will carry to the end.

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank You for the promise that You will complete the work of salvation You began in me. Teach me to trust fully in Your hands. Amen.

Philippians 1:1–2

At the very beginning of this letter, Paul introduces himself and Timothy as “slaves” of Christ. The word “slave” carries a deep meaning. In simple terms, a slave has no rights of his own. Whatever he does, he does according to his master’s will. A hired worker works for wages or by his own choice, but a slave belongs completely to his master. When Paul calls himself a slave of Christ, he means that he is no longer his own master. Christ bought him with His precious blood and made him His own. To be a Christian is not only to follow Christ; it is to belong to Him completely. We have been bought by the blood of Christ. First Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, and who lives in you? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” In truth, those of us who are in Christ have no rights of our own. Our Master and Lord is Jesus Christ.

But we often try to be the master of our own life. We want to carry out our own plans and our own desires. Paul teaches us, however, that true freedom is found in being a slave of Christ. The world looks at slavery as something shameful, but to be a slave of Christ is real freedom. To be set free from slavery to sin and to become a slave of righteousness is the greatest blessing a person can receive. Romans 6:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get is holiness, and its end is eternal life.” When we accept ourselves as slaves of Christ, we receive a new identity. The Holy Spirit is making us holy from within. It is the master’s duty to care for his slave. So to be a slave of Christ means to live under the shelter of His protection, His provision and His love.

“Grace” means receiving kindness we have not earned, and “peace” means being brought back into friendship with God. Both are possible only through the work of Jesus on the cross. Who is the master of your life? Are you running after your own desires? Remember, the world will only give you weariness and a heavy load. But Jesus is a Master who gave Himself as a sacrifice in your place. To be His slave is the highest honour. As you begin this day, ask yourself: Am I obedient, like a slave of Christ? Am I thankful for His grace?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to be Your true slave. Today I place all my plans in Your hands. May Your grace and peace fill my life. Amen.