Greetings. This morning I had a very distinct word from God that permeated my mind during the last hour of my night’s rest. The word: YIELD. I don’t know about all you all, but when I think on this word, usually when I am driving, I think one of two things depending on my mood. I am either going to gun my engine and fly out in front of the car approaching me from its lane, or I am going to stop and wait, letting the car in front of me. Has anyone else ever been there? I know you have! But as I think on this word “yield” in relation to our faith, in relations to disciples of Jesus, my mind travels to Paul’s words to the Philippians:
“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 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!’ (Philippians 2:1-8 NIV).
Now, you might ask how does this relate to the word “yield”? Quite simply this, we must yield ourselves to others. That is we are not to gun our engines to elevate ourselves over others ; instead, we yield to the “others” to the point of placing them first and valuing them above ourselves. Wow…does this fly in the face of human nature. However, this is exactly what Jesus did for us and his Word encourages us to be united with him in this way. We are to “yield” our minds to take on the mindset of Christ too and if we do, we humble ourselves to serve others, again, as Christ has done for us.
Can you imagine our relationships, our country, and our world if we followed these words and yielded ourselves to others in this respect? If we truly lifted others above ourselves, not to benefit us in anyway, but for the express purposes of respecting and honoring others and their interests? What a different world we would live in.
When we gun our engines to “get ahead” of others, selfish ambition and vain conceit rear its ugly heads and sews nothing but discord. I believe we are seeing this play out in front of us right now in our nation in many ways. Definitely in the constant struggle for power between the political parties of our country. Rioting and looting in the streets so that one feels a sense of empowerment and importance. Senseless killing that deludes one’s thinking that one skin color is superior over another. Discord abounds everywhere. The answer to these problems…found in the above scripture text. Even we pastors need to tend better to these words so we can live into the mindset of Jesus and be better witness to those he has called us to serve.
When we slow down and let the other go first, so to speak, and unite in this mindset, of working together and caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, and tending to them in the spirit which we are called, then we live into Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience the unity called for in this scripture text.
Equality is great, but the challenge I present to us all today is this: let us not consider ourselves equal but instead humble ourselves and serve others with compassion and tenderness for their good. I believe when we reach the pinnacle of these verses, we arrive with the same love of Jesus, connecting us with him in one Spirit and one mind. Jesus humbled himself to his death, we are not called to that extreme so this should be easier for us to achieve.
Loving and merciful God, Creator of all there was, is, and will ever be, we exalt You this day for the gift of Your Son Jesus, the Christ. The One who not only taught with words, but lived out our example of how we are to be in relationship with others. Fortify us this day to live into the call to humble and yield ourselves so as to put others interests above ours. To help where it is needed. To stand in support of those who need extra strength. To love beyond ourselves. To live as Jesus who put us before himself. Loving God, we pray this for ourselves, and especially for those who lead we in our nation, and for those who seek to destroy our nation. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Blessings,
PT
We are not people of fear, we are people of faith.
Greetings. This morning I had a very distinct word from God that permeated my mind during the last hour of my night’s rest. The word: YIELD. I don’t know about all you all, but when I think on this word, usually when I am driving, I think one of two things depending on my mood. I am either going to gun my engine and fly out in front of the car approaching me from its lane, or I am going to stop and wait, letting the car in front of me. Has anyone else ever been there? I know you have! But as I think on this word “yield” in relation to our faith, in relations to disciples of Jesus, my mind travels to Paul’s words to the Philippians:
“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 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!’ (Philippians 2:1-8 NIV).
Now, you might ask how does this relate to the word “yield”? Quite simply this, we must yield ourselves to others. That is we are not to gun our engines to elevate ourselves over others ; instead, we yield to the “others” to the point of placing them first and valuing them above ourselves. Wow…does this fly in the face of human nature. However, this is exactly what Jesus did for us and his Word encourages us to be united with him in this way. We are to “yield” our minds to take on the mindset of Christ too and if we do, we humble ourselves to serve others, again, as Christ has done for us.
Can you imagine our relationships, our country, and our world if we followed these words and yielded ourselves to others in this respect? If we truly lifted others above ourselves, not to benefit us in anyway, but for the express purposes of respecting and honoring others and their interests? What a different world we would live in.
When we gun our engines to “get ahead” of others, selfish ambition and vain conceit rear its ugly heads and sews nothing but discord. I believe we are seeing this play out in front of us right now in our nation in many ways. Definitely in the constant struggle for power between the political parties of our country. Rioting and looting in the streets so that one feels a sense of empowerment and importance. Senseless killing that deludes one’s thinking that one skin color is superior over another. Discord abounds everywhere. The answer to these problems…found in the above scripture text. Even we pastors need to tend better to these words so we can live into the mindset of Jesus and be better witness to those he has called us to serve.
When we slow down and let the other go first, so to speak, and unite in this mindset, of working together and caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, and tending to them in the spirit which we are called, then we live into Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience the unity called for in this scripture text.
Equality is great, but the challenge I present to us all today is this: let us not consider ourselves equal but instead humble ourselves and serve others with compassion and tenderness for their good. I believe when we reach the pinnacle of these verses, we arrive with the same love of Jesus, connecting us with him in one Spirit and one mind. Jesus humbled himself to his death, we are not called to that extreme so this should be easier for us to achieve.
Loving and merciful God, Creator of all there was, is, and will ever be, we exalt You this day for the gift of Your Son Jesus, the Christ. The One who not only taught with words, but lived out our example of how we are to be in relationship with others. Fortify us this day to live into the call to humble and yield ourselves so as to put others interests above ours. To help where it is needed. To stand in support of those who need extra strength. To love beyond ourselves. To live as Jesus who put us before himself. Loving God, we pray this for ourselves, and especially for those who lead we in our nation, and for those who seek to destroy our nation. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Blessings,
PT
We are not people of fear, we are people of faith.