16th. November. 2020. Daily Devotion.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death –even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
In this passage, we learn about the voluntary submission of Jesus, the Son of God to his Father in heaven. He took a subordinate position of servitude and obedience throughout his incarnation. We do not always find obedience easy, because we have freedom to choose and we have very persistent human egos.
God’s call to us is to emulate Jesus’ willing subordination without fear of loss until such time as the process of salvation is complete. St Paul reminds us to die to self and live to God which is what Jesus accomplished perfectly. This is our daily challenge.
Interestingly, I was reminded this week that as people in hospices prepare to die, those who have learned to let go of ego and self are those who transition through death most easily. They disengage from the things of this earth and find peace. We can also do the same thing while we live by the grace of God.
Lord Christ, you are my God, and I give you my obedience. Amen.
Prayer for today
Hold me up O God and I shall be safe. Preserve my understanding from subtlety of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Your blessing, and in which I cannot invite Your inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings or prepare me for disappointments.
Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food suitable for me, lest I be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or be poor, and steal, and take Your name in vain. May every creature be made good to me by prayer and Your will. Teach me how to use the world and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom toward those without, and in kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially to my fellow Christians. And to You, O God, be the glory, Amen ~by Charles. Haddon Spurgeon.
“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboured to accomplish your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” ~ Victor Hugo
Dedication
All through this day, O Lord, by the power of your quickening Spirit, let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live. Amen.
Coronavirus Prayer
Jehovah Rapha, God who heals, I pray for all medical professionals dealing daily with the intense pressures of this crisis. Grant them resilience in weariness, discernment in diagnosis, and compassion upon compassion as they care. I thank you for the army of researchers working steadily and quietly towards a vaccine – give them clarity, serendipity and unexpected breakthroughs this week. May you rise above this present darkness as the Sun of Righteousness with healing in your wings (Malachi 4:2). May this be my prayer: “Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17) Amen.
