By Audrey Bauman

Before we begin today's verses in Philippians, I want you to read these verses in Colossians. As you read, look for all the characteristics and accomplishments that are given to us about Jesus.

Colossians 1: 15 - 20  NLT

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16 for through him God created everything

    in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see

    and the things we can’t see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

    Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else,

    and he holds all creation together.

18 Christ is also the head of the church,

    which is his body.

He is the beginning,

    supreme over all who rise from the dead.

    So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness

    was pleased to live in Christ,

20 and through him God reconciled

    everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Stop for a moment and think about what you just read. Isn't Jesus wonderful, amazing, awesome, marvelous .... !

Go back and read those verses again. Who is Jesus? What is he like?

Now we're going to look at the verses in Philippians today. I've isolated verse 5 so you can stop and think about what it says before you read the rest of this passage.

Philippians 2: 5 - 11  NLT

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

    he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

    he took the humble position of a slave

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8     he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

    and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Doesn't that stop you in your tracks? It

does me. Jesus was so amazing, so powerful, so sublime, so ...  there aren't any words to describe Jesus perfectly. Yet look what he did!

Reread verses 6 to 8.

I really don't have any comments to write about these verses. They say what we need to know/understand. I need to stop thinking about what I do well, why I'm a good person, why people around me should like me ...  Am I ready to do anything that will bring people around me to Jesus?

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."

Our song for today is I Will Follow by Chris  Tomlin.