As I was reading all of Philippians 2 it was as though I was being asked questions by God. The conversation goes something like this.
Ed have you gotten anything at all out of following Me? Ed if My love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then Ed... do me a favor: Agree with others, love others, be a deep-spirited friend. Ed, don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Ed forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand.
Ed I want you to think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus My Son thought of himself. He had equal status with Me but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. Ed, when the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. Ed.... it was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Ed, because of that obedience, I lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before My Son Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of Me the Father.
Ed I want you to think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus My Son thought of himself. He had equal status with Me but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. Ed, when the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. Ed.... it was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Ed, because of that obedience, I lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before My Son Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of Me the Father.
Humbling Process....... Ed... it is not in your own strength, for it is Me Who is all the while effectually at work in you (humbling you), both to will and to work for My good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
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