Sermon Info
Summary
So often we think that life is just about us. We are born selfish. First, we want to be right and then seen. And, we wonder why we are so frustrated, tired, and unfulfilled. Yet, God invites us to have the same mindset as Jesus - to love, to serve, and to put others before ourselves. When we do this, joy comes in our life. As we mature in our humility and Christlikeness, our life is fulfilled and others around us are better. Does your life look more like Jesus or culture? Will you make the goal of your life to know and be like Jesus. As you live this way, you will find peace and joy.
Content
Forward: Christlikeness
Culture vs. Scripture
We are living in a world that tells us it’s all about self. Our culture tells us that you are the star of your own movie. It’s all about you and what people can do for you. When we make our lives all about our own selves like the world advises us to do, we are not taking on the mind and attitude of Christ. Actually, we’re doing the opposite of what Christ calls us to do.
The book of Colossians tells us that all things were created “through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16) Contrary to what the world preaches at us, Scripture clearly states that it’s all about God. Everything in all of Creation was created through God and for God, including our very own selves. We were created for God.
Because of this truth, we have a renewed sense of purpose. As Christ-followers, we are called to not only bring Him glory in our lives but to also reflect Him in the person that we are becoming. The ultimate goal of our lives is to become more Christlike; this both brings God full honor and glory and shows others who Jesus is.
What the Bible Says about Christlikeness
Before coming to Christ, Paul was considered to be what the world deemed “successful.” He had financial stability, he had a high standing in society, and he was a “good person” through the eyes of non-believers. If anyone had any reason to boast in his abilities and life circumstances, it was Paul. Then, we start reading the book of Philippians, and we see that Paul comes to Christ and has his entire world flipped upside down.
Paul is writing the book of Philippians from prison after being imprisoned for sharing the Gospel. At this point in his life, he’s been beaten almost to death, imprisoned, and severely persecuted for being a Christian – and what he chooses to talk about in Philippians 2 is humility.
He writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) In spite of all the persecution that being a Christ-follower has brought, he chooses to admonish and challenge the people in Philippi to be humble because that is what Jesus was.
When our culture tells us to inflate ourselves and to act pridefully, Scripture commands us to lower our own self to raise up others. When the world tells us it’s all about ourselves and our needs, wants, and desires, Scripture challenges us to look to the interests of those around us and look for ways to actively serve and love them. When society screams “me, me, me,” Scripture prioritizes God and others over ourselves.
Paul goes on to describe Jesus’ humility in more detail, writing, “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8) What more could our perfect Jesus have done to represent His humility and His love for us than die a sinner’s death? Jesus modeled what it looks like to live a life that is blameless, righteous, and above reproach, and the Bible teaches us how we can walk as He did.
Making the Choice
Though none of us will ever be perfect, the goal for our life is to look more like Jesus. Paul points us to Jesus because He was the ultimate example of how our life should look. We can learn from Jesus and begin to develop the characteristics of Jesus and become more and more like Him.
It will be a constant fight to confront the lies that the world tells us and exchange those for the truth that is found in the Gospel. Rather than revolving our lives around ourselves, we will have to make a daily choice to take up our cross, humble ourselves, and live like Jesus. We may not face the tangible consequences and difficulties that Paul faced, but we will face hardship when we choose to follow Christ. Jesus says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” When troubles do arise, we can take heart and trust that the process of us becoming more like Christ is worth the trials because we are living out the purpose that God has created us to do.
Consequently, these questions remain: Has Jesus moved from Savior to Lord of your life? Does your life reflect that Jesus is your Lord?
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