This morning I was listening to a sermon by Tim Keller as I got ready for work, and he said something that knocked me on my face. God used what he said to reveal to me just how selfish and self-centered I have been lately.
The text for his sermon was Philippians 2:5-11.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)
He was talking about how the text calls us to have the mind of Christ in being willing to give up our own comfort in order to benefit others. He spoke about how too often we serve others not to benefit them, but we serve in order to benefit or use others to get what we want. He said this is often seen in how we react when we don’t get what we want. If we find ourselves getting angry or offended when we don’t get our way, this is a sign that we are exalting our own needs above the needs of others. This probably seems obvious, but we all have blind spots. And God used this sermon to reveal to me that I have been especially selfish lately. When things don’t go the way I want them to, I literally pout and brood like a little child. It is pretty ridiculous, and I end up hurting those closest to me more than anything.
I’m so thankful for God’s sovereignty in leading me to listen to the sermon that I did, and the work He did/is doing in my life. He is so good, and I’m reminded in these moments that I am truly His child because He is lovingly pursuing me and seeking to grow me!
The text for his sermon was Philippians 2:5-11.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)
He was talking about how the text calls us to have the mind of Christ in being willing to give up our own comfort in order to benefit others. He spoke about how too often we serve others not to benefit them, but we serve in order to benefit or use others to get what we want. He said this is often seen in how we react when we don’t get what we want. If we find ourselves getting angry or offended when we don’t get our way, this is a sign that we are exalting our own needs above the needs of others. This probably seems obvious, but we all have blind spots. And God used this sermon to reveal to me that I have been especially selfish lately. When things don’t go the way I want them to, I literally pout and brood like a little child. It is pretty ridiculous, and I end up hurting those closest to me more than anything.
I’m so thankful for God’s sovereignty in leading me to listen to the sermon that I did, and the work He did/is doing in my life. He is so good, and I’m reminded in these moments that I am truly His child because He is lovingly pursuing me and seeking to grow me!
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