Philippians 2:8-11

Hello Everyone!

Here is a great reminder about the Fireproof movie coming up
Friday, September 26!
Click on "Watch Videos" and you will be amazed. I think that the PG rating must come from some of the intense scenes with the firemen's traumatic rescue scenes. There is ABSOLUTELY no bad language or intimate scenes that your children should not see. It is about marriage and "Never Leaving Your Partner Behind". How do I know? Read my left sidebar about the movie for more details. I know Bob and I are going to go that Friday night or Saturday matinee or evening. Anyone here in the Franklin area want to go with us and get lunch or dinner before or after the movie...? Or make this a date with your spouse...you will never regret it!!

Now we are continuing with Philippians 2:8-11,

where we are discussing how we are to imitate

Christ's humility.

Or as I said last week, "Rejoicing in Christ as the Pattern of Our Life".

I noticed in my New International Version Bible

that the verses from 6 through 11 were indented

and were typed with more space between the lines

with no reference that would indicate that these

verses were found in another section of the Bible.

Did anyone else notice that?

After dutifully reading in the front of my Bible

in the Preface, (read boring) I saw where these

verses are in a poetic form.

This "poem" is beautiful!!

Speaking of poems...

in my research on these verses,

I was blessed to come across "poems" by

Ruth Harms Calkin.

I say "poems" because

they are more like "prayer poems" ~ w.o.w.

They are powerful, thought provoking, showing her

transparent feelings and "being real" feelings.


Our topic this week::::::::::Servanthood::::::::::!!!

Get ready...fasten your seat belt...here is Miss Ruth's "poem" on servanthood:

“You know Lord, how I like to serve You with great emotional fervor in the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for You at Women’s Clubs. You know how I effervesce when I promote a fellowship group. You know my genuine enthusiasm at Bible study....
... But, how would I react, I wonder, if You pointed at a basin of water?
And asked me to wash the calloused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman?

• Day after day

• Month after month

• In a room where nobody saw and nobody knew.”

----Ruth Harms Calkin (Added bullets for emphasis, are mine.)

Gulp...as my daughter says on her blog...Yelp....

Here is a link to a short autobiography about Miss Ruth:



Here is a link to more of Miss Ruth's "prayer poems":

My mom enjoyed reading Helen Steiner Rice poems and I

"kinda" liked them. But Miss Ruth's "poems" really touch my soul

and.make.me.think.

Are there any other of you precious readers out there in blog world

that have read and enjoyed Miss Ruth's work before now?

Please comment and tell us what you think of Miss Ruth's "poems".

OK...now let's get to the Word of God!!

Verses 8-11:

(8) "And being found in appearance as

a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to
death-
even death on a cross!
(9) Therefore God exalted Him to
the highest place
and gave Him the name that is
above every name,
(10) that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and
under the earth,
(11) and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

(Some capitalizations are mine)

Did you notice that from verse 5 (last week's post) to 11,

there is a building of honor and emotion?

It reminds me of one of my most favorite

chapters in the Bible ~ Romans 8 ~

I appreciate how there is a cresendo of praise

at the end in both passages.

Now...let's see (again)...who wrote Romans 8? ~

oh yeah...Paul (again!)

Verse 8 ~ "He became obedient to death" ~

a servant.

The best leader has a servant's heart.

As Christians, we have the best Leader ever,

because He was the best Servant for us.

Servanthood=Meekness=Humility=Teachability.

I pray that I never move out of the sphere of teachability.

May we have submissive acceptance of the will of God

as it comes in the hour's event of each day.

Not one of us knows if we will be alive in the next minute.

We have this present moment.

(Hmmmmm....sounds like someone who is chained

to a Roman guard and not 100% sure he will make it

out of that jail.)

Verse 9 ~ "God exalted Him to the highest place." ~

On earth, Jesus was crowned with thorns. (Matthew 27:29)

In heaven He is crowned with glory and honor. (Revelation 5:12-14)

In heaven, He is given a Name that is above every name! (Revelation 19:16)

The first time He came to earth, He came as a humble, innocent and may I say

"vulnerable" baby. (Luke2:1-20)

The second time He comes to earth,

He will come as our Warrior King,

sitting upon a white horse. (Revelation 19:11)

Here is a link to look up Scriptures not printed out.


Here is a link below for a hymn that celebrates these verses:

(No fancy music at cyberhymnal, but maybe you will recognize the song.

Friendly reminder: you will have to turn off my Playlist to listen.)


Verse 10 ~ "...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..."

Verse 11 ~ "...every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..."

Every tongue shall profess openly that Christ is Lord.

In a manner of speaking, the tongue confesses that to which the knee bows.

(This passage does not teach that ultimately all the lost will be saved,

as taught by some "groups".)


"Again we see the vindication of servanthood. Christ was willing to make others more important than Himself and now God has made Christ eternally more important than anyone else."
(Dwight Edwards)

It is interesting to note that when a ruling dignitary approaches his subjects, they all rise in respect. One day as a British king entered a room and everyone stood, he said,

“Please take your seats, gentlemen. I’m not the Lord, you know.”

“No, Your Highness,” replied one of the group. “If you were, we would have dropped to our knees.”

"And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever'. And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen'. And the elders fell down and worshiped." (Rev 5:13-14)

Amen.

Practical Application:

If you are a family with children or teenagers "under your wing", plan to talk to them around the dinner table about this subject of servanthood with Jesus as our Example. Make a tradition to have each family member say who they served that day. Give examples. Talk about this being the antidote for being self-centered ~ w.o.w.

If you are single or empty nesters, ask God to bring someone your way each day to serve. Ask for Divine appointments. Write them down in a journal. Or when you lay your head on your pillow each night, make a habit of reviewing your day and remembering who you served that day or share with your spouse.

Until next week, go with God and worship Him every day and see who you can serve today!

Debbie G.

(Resources used: http://www.preceptaustin.org/
blueletterbible.org/commentaries)