Stephan Hoffman

... who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,by becoming obedient to death –even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2: 6-11

Read Philippians 1:27-2:11 to get the full story.

Paul and the church of Philippi knew Greco-Roman society well. Indeed, we read in Acts 16 that Paul himself was a Roman citizen. They also knew the Roman military and soldiers. Because Philippi was strategically located as the passage to the rest of Macedonia, there was a strong presence of Roman soldiers. Paul now uses the metaphor of war and the battle that soldiers fight to describe the struggle that the believer must fight every day.

Just as a soldier must be worthy and of one mind about Roman culture, so too should Christians be worthy and of one mind about the gospel. Christians must not be put off by their enemies, but strive together for the faith. The motivation for their struggle is not selfishness or self-interest, as in the case of in war or conflict between nations and people, but rather the comfort, encouragement, love, community and compassion of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

This love of God also binds Christians together as a unit where everyone is not only focused on their own individual interests, but also on one another. In this struggle against our own selfishness, we consider others higher than ourselves. Paul sums it up by saying that we have to reveal the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus.

Read Philippians 2:6-11 again. This is a beautiful song in which Paul rejoices that Jesus Christ became man and humbled himself to suffer and die for us. Jesus fought the good fight to the end, and conquered death so that we may also share in his victory and testify that "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Today, take up the weapons of comfort, love, encouragement and humility and fight the good fight. There are so many attacks from within, from selfishness and self-interest, but also from outside. We can fight the battle with the knowledge that we already have overcome in Christ!

Prayer: Almighty God, thank you that you have already won the good fight against the selfishness, sin and death already through Jesus Christ. Help me by the power of your Holy Spirit today to fight the battle against my own interests and selfishness. Please make me a good soldier of one mind who stands firm and proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen