Live Humbly
Posted by Karah
PAUSE
To prepare your heart for today’s devotion, ask yourself this question: In what ways am I becoming more like Jesus in my attitude and actions?
“For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” —Philippians 2:13
Read Philippians 2:1-13 in your Bible and explore the following.
• In verses 1-2, Paul reminded the Philippians that they were one in Christ. List the ways Paul said believers could be encouraged in that oneness.
• According to verses 3-5, how do people treat each other when they live humbly?
• The world tells us to live for ourselves. However, Jesus’ teaching was counter cultural and He perfectly modeled a humble life. Using verses 5-11, describe Christ’s humility.
• Living in full obedience to God isn’t easy. In fact, without Jesus’ presence in our lives, there is no way we can follow His example for living. In what way does verse 13 encourage believers?
When you become a Christian, God gives you new life, changes the way you think and act, and gives you the power to live out all He commanded you to do.
• How should these verses challenge believers?
RESPOND
• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you examine your heart. Typically, what is your attitude toward serving God? Do you live in constant obedience to Him? Journal your thoughts.
• Do you live in full obedience to God? Talk honestly with Him, confess any disobedience in your life and ask Him to help you obey His commands no matter what.
• Journal some ideas of different ways you can show Jesus’ love to others. Under your list of ideas, name a few people who need to know His love. Using both lists, choose a way to show Jesus’ love to one of those people this week.
• For further study on how Christians should love, read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
BEHIND THE STORY
In verse 12, the phrase “work out your own salvation” does not imply that works save people. This phrase instructs people to bear the fruit of their faith. (See Gal. 5:22-23.) Put simply: Paul encouraged the Philippians to live out their faith in their daily lives. As James also said, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Faith and works combined demonstrate the saving grace of Jesus Christ in our lives.
THE POINT
Jesus lived in humility and obeyed God. We should also obey God and model Christ’s attitude toward serving Him.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from EC magazine. @ 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Weekly Devotions