¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“Neighbor Braves Flames to Save Family”; “Hundreds of Volunteers Protect Homes from Flood”; “Unknown Man Stops Assailant.” When ordinary people do extraordinary tasks, we sit up and take notice. These are the kinds of newspaper headlines that inspire us and give us hope.

But beyond the headlines and beyond the sight of most people are other individuals who also inspire hope. Thousands of people make a career out of putting others ahead of themselves by following the call to full-time Christian service occupations. These people follow the example of Jesus Christ himself, who “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of the servant.” (v.7)

In one of the most profound passages in the Bible, Paul describes the journey Jesus mad for us. From the glory of heaven to death on a cross and back again to heaven, Jesus mad the ultimate sacrifice to save us from our sins. Paul says that even though Jesus was God, he gave up his heavenly status to save a rebellious and sinful human population. As you read this passage again, absorb the wondrous and amazing nature of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice.

As followers of Jesus, we’re called on to put others’ interests before our own. While such sacrifice may be difficult at times, no amount of human difficulty will ever rival the sacrifice may be difficult at times, no amount of human difficulty will ever rival the sacrifice Jesus made for u. Following this call could be as simple as giving up a prime parking spot to an elderly couple or as difficult as giving up a lucrative career to follow Jesus’ call to a ministry position. However, we live out Paul’s call to servanthood, we need to continually “consider others better than (our)selves” as part of a life that’s devoted to Jesus Christ, who gave us the ultimate example of selflessness and servanthood.