Do Nothing Out of Selfish Ambition

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, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11

Many of us are obsessed with fame – either with being famous ourselves or with following every detail of famous people’s lives.

Yet Jesus was never concerned about obtaining celebrity status. When He was here on earth, He never sought fame – although fame found Him all the same as news about Him quickly traveled throughout the region of Galilee.

Wherever Jesus went, crowds soon gathered. The miracles He performed drew people to Him. But when they tried to make Him a king by force, He slipped away by Himself. United in purpose with His Father, He repeatedly deferred to the Father’s will and timing. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.

Fame was never Jesus’s goal. His purpose was simple. As the Son of God, He humbly, obediently, and voluntarily offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus came not to be famous, but to humbly offer himself as the sacrifice for our sins.

Our Daily Bread – November 23, 2016