Devotionals for August 25, 2023
See you at church this Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30am!
READ
Philippians 2:1-8
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
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!
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
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!
REFLECT
What a calling to love! Paul gets so specific about how to love others: Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who laid His entire life down for our restoration. True friendship loves through trials, mends when you’re torn, forgives when wronged, and offers charity freely. If compassion means loving like Jesus — that’s a lifelong calling and mission, the hardest and most beautiful thing you can do.
APPLY
Q: Why is it important to value others above yourself even though our culture expects self-love first?
Q: How can you lay your life down today like your King did?
Q: Think about your relationships: How can you have more of the mind of Christ in how you love?
Q: How can you lay your life down today like your King did?
Q: Think about your relationships: How can you have more of the mind of Christ in how you love?
SING
PRAY
"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Lord, it’s so tempting live for myself, to be complacent and selfish. Wake me up, Lord, and show me your light. Help me to love like you love. Help me to have your mind when I serve and love others. I praise your merciful amen! Amen.
Lord, it’s so tempting live for myself, to be complacent and selfish. Wake me up, Lord, and show me your light. Help me to love like you love. Help me to have your mind when I serve and love others. I praise your merciful amen! Amen.