Devotional on Philippians 2:5-11
by Tim Williamson
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As we face the effects of a pandemic (and the social and economic consequences that it brings), it is certainly easy to become discouraged. The normal rhythms of life have been upended in both small and big ways. Activities many of us take for granted, like going to school or work, shopping for groceries, or gathering together as God’s people have either become significantly more complicated or prohibited altogether. The effects of these disruptions range from minor annoyances to serious threats to our health and safety. In a very real sense, there is a substantial degree of suffering that we are enduring on a global scale.
Paul wrote to the church in Philippi during a time of personal suffering in his own ministry. He had been imprisoned (likely in Rome) for the sake of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote to a church that, likewise, was suffering persecution (1:27 – 30) for their witness to that same gospel. However, Philippians is often referred to as the “epistle of joy”. The term is mentioned 16 times in the letter.
How strange! What about imprisonment and persecution could possibly bring about joy?!
In a very unexpected way, Paul encourages the Philippians to be joyful because of their suffering. Paul causes the saints to understand that their union with Christ is first in his suffering and then in his glory. Our reflection upon Jesus in his humanity, is a reflection upon a life of suffering. Jesus laid aside the perfect bliss of his glory and took upon himself the burden and sorrow of humanity. Then he suffered not just the slander and revile of men, but the wrath of God against sinful humanity. There is no one who has ever experienced humiliation like Jesus.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Jesus’ obedience was rewarded by God with a glory that in every way surpassed his suffering. Not only was he raised from the dead, but he won the right to share this resurrection life with his people! Those who are united to Christ will suffer, but we also receive a share of Christ’s great reward! This is the encouragement. As Paul summarizes later in chapter 3:8b-11:
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
This is truly a reason to be joyful in the midst of suffering.
We must also be aware that there is a distinctly Christian way to suffer. That is, we do not suffer as the world does. The world remains under the wrath of God, and therefore curses Him in because of it. We can see evidence of this in the response that many have had to our present crisis. As Christians, however, we are to suffer in faith. Suffering is meant to lead us to patient endurance and trust in the God of our redemption. If God was faithful to Christ in the midst of the greatest suffering ever experienced, will he not be faithful to those of us whom he has united to Christ by His Spirit? He will!
Paul encourages us to have the same mind about suffering as Christ because it has been given to us by the Holy Spirit. I plan to spend some time today evaluating whether I am suffering in faith or unbelief. I would encourage you to do the same. If you find, as I often do, my faith is mixed with unbelief, I would further encourage you to look to Christ, trusting in his perfect obedience as your righteousness before our God.
May the Lord give us the mind of Christ in this matter, as he has promised in his word!
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne