The pursuit of glory is often at the core of our motivations.  Even if we don’t dream of making it big and becoming a celebrity, we still pursue glory.  Maybe it’s the praise of your co-workers that you covet.  Maybe it’s the praise of your parents that you crave.  Maybe it’s a simple recognition that you are capable, competent, and mature.  We often see glory and recognition as validation of our worthiness and value.  Look at me and what I can do/have done.  Isn’t it important, special, or worthy of recognition?

And yet we heard from Dr. Dave last week that the Bible wants us to be humble, to think of ourselves less.  It seems to go against every natural inclination that we have.  We tend to look out for number 1 and climb the social ladder, looking to elevate ourselves.  So how does Paul expect us to be humble?  Well, in our passage for this week, Philippians 2:6-11, we get Paul’s response to this question.  And it’s not what we would expect from a theologian like Paul.  I sort of expected a reasoned, weighted argument that points to the Gospel truths that Jesus taught.  But instead, we get a soaring hymn of Jesus’s humility and exaltation.  In some ways, it feels like Paul is holding up Jesus to be our role model.  Be like Jesus.  He was humble, so you go and do likewise.  The only problem is that I’m not Jesus.

And so, the question that we have to ask ourselves is, “How does looking at Jesus enable us to be humble when we are not?”.  How does looking at the author and perfector of our faith enable us to become humble?  That’s what we will be considering this Sunday.  And so, come ready to see how the Gospel transforms us through the power of the Holy Spirit that we might be humble like Jesus.  See you then.

-Frank