Jesus showed us what true humility is. It was such a huge event in time, such a life changing moment for all of us that we might forget to see the humility Christ demonstrated when He died on the cross for our sin. I find it very easy to just glance over the things that seem obvious in scripture without fully absorbing the truth behind the verse. In Philippians 2 Paul uses Christ’s example to help us see how humble He was when He gave His life for us.

Paul is trying to teach the Philippians to put aside their selfishness and look to each others interest. To consider others as better than themselves and to do nothing that stems from rivalry or conceit. Once he gives his instruction he helps them to understand at a deeper level by using Jesus’ example. He tells them to “have this mind among yourselves,” – that Jesus, though He was God, took on the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death.

“Have this mind among yourselves” (Phil 2:5) is a powerful phrase. Paul is saying don’t just know that Jesus humbled himself for you but you also have the same mind as Him. Be the way He was in the way you consider others. We need to do more than know about Jesus’ humility, we need to have His same mind of humility.

Later in the chapter (Phil 2:20-21) Paul gives another great example of humility, Timothy. He says he has no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for their welfare. Everyone else, Paul says, seeks their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Let’s love and genuinely care for those in the faith. Let’s not look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let’s have the mind of Christ and remember His example. And let’s seek the interests of Jesus Christ before anything else.