Sharing Life and Christ

  But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. Philippians 3:7 Not long ago, I wrote on humility being the chief Christian virtue and the fountain head of all the virtues.   I made my argument from the book of Philippians in which Paul uses Christ’s humble obedience at the cross as the supreme example of an attitude and action of sacrificial humility.   It’s interesting to consider humility with respect to/toward particular relationships.   My last writing was speaking of humility toward others…counting them more significant than oneself (Phil. 2:3-5).   Paul also addresses humility toward God, with whom we are to cooperate in sanctification with fear and trembling .   The one who is humble toward God is grateful, generous, prayerfully dependent, and repentant (among other things).   It’s worth spending more time reflecting on how humility ought to manifest itself in our relationship with God through Christ. ...

Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ…standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel…in humility consider others as more important than yourselves…Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…   Philippians 1:27-2:11 Anyone who has read anything I’ve written or has talked to me for longer than 5 minutes knows how much I love the book of Philippians.   I think it is the most important document ever written as it pertains to Christian virtue (other than the Sermon on the Mount).   Many have spoken of Philippians as a letter that calls for joy in all circumstances, but at its heart, Philippians is a letter that exalts and commands humility for the Christian and for the Church.   If you miss how Paul showcases humility, you miss the melody of the letter.   There’s plenty of wonderful harmony still, but the book loses its zing.   I argue this with conviction becau...