Philippians 2:1-11

Many of us experience the joy of having a younger brother or sister.  It is not unusual for the younger sibling to want to hang out with the older one.  It is also not unusual for that little brother or sister to imitate the actions of the one they are looking up to.  Often they will try to copy a hair style or a mannerism.

It is likely when you would complain about this 'stalker' to your parents they say, "He/She just want to be like you.  It is a compliment," or "imitation is the truest form of flattery."  As we get older and wiser, we might change our mind about those who copy us; we might look forward to mentoring someone and help them along in life.  As we mature, the way we look at things in life matures too.

I love how the Message Bible puts it:
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—
then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Philippians 2:1-2 (MSG)

When we were kids, we didn't look at the situation as a compliment so much, but as a bother or an invasion of privacy. But, our lesson today is encouraging us to be imitators, to follow Jesus' lead and live a life of humility as He did.  We are encouraged to be united with one another, working and serving on an equal plain; side-by-side.


Read Philippians 2:1-11 here.

Listen to Philippians 2:1-11 here