October 1 Philippians 2:1-13 No reputation   

Jesus gave up His reputation and gave His to us.

Psalter reading Psalm 25:1-9

A Psalm of David.  1To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. 3Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. 5Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. 6Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. 7Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. 8Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.     Psalm 25:1-9 NKJV

1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.                   Philippians 2:1-13 NKJV

R-E-S-P-E-C-T is not just a song but a cry of so many.  Some are afraid of being dised or disrespected.  We want so much to be seen as important.

But in what to me is one of the most amazing parts of Scripture we are shown a view of Jesus who though deserving the respect and honor of God came to us as a servant and in human form.  Then as a human with all the fears and pains of humanity Jesus humbled Himself not only to die but to die the most shameful and painful death of being crucified on a cross!

We have no right to demand respect!  But through the lovingkindness of God Jesus became our savior and

enables us to come to God and receive respect as a child of God!  Now it is up to us to live out our salvation and respect with “fear and trembling”!