PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)

TO PONDER

 I am sure we all remember the Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020, a widespread panic to buy a product that was not in shortage, at least not until the hysteria inspired people to buy multiple months worth of toilet paper. 

Exposing a society looking out for oneself, a me-first culture revealed by a product not in short supply, an item that, to be honest, we could live without (70% of the world go toilet paper free).

Today’s verses speak directly to today’s “live your best life” culture, a culture that promotes “being true to yourself” as a virtue, the way to find happiness and fulfilment, the way to “find your truth.”

Paul was writing this letter to the church of Philippi, a church he had planted in a Roman Colony in Macedonia (modern day Eastern Greece), a church likely made up of primarily Gentiles known for their patriotic nationalism (think “Make Rome Great Again”).

The Philippian church was being pressed on three sides by the patriotic nationalism (me-first) culture of Rome as well as the Judaizers culture of law (religion) and the culture of Christ.

The culture of Christ today continues, as it did back when Paul penned his letter as a counter-culture standing in contrast to a me-first ethos, standing against a religiousness and  standing against a society of toilet paper hoarders.

The counter-culture espoused by Paul in Philippians was an echo of the words of Jesus when He gave the new command to, “love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The command of a self-sacrificial life, an ethos of unreasonable hospitality, putting the needs of others ahead of our own needs.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as we journey towards Holy Week and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice for a lost world, help me live a self-sacrificial life for others, help me to reflect your image to a lost world. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside