1-3 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
(Holding the other person in greater esteem than you do yourself. Honoring the other person. Thinking of the well being of the other. Considering the other person of more importance than yourself. Lowliness of mind toward self. Making yourself of less importance.)
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
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Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made HIMSELF of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted HIM, and given HIM a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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* But made HIMSELF of no reputation
Jesus did not try to be something in the eyes of other humans.
Most of us have tried to be something in the eyes of others, desiring a reputation among men, seeking to be held in esteem.
I spent several months focused on this scripture, eliminating those things that made me appear good and special in the eyes of other people. One day a woman said to me, "Joan. You are really much nicer than you seem to be." I considered this a great compliment showing I was not try to impress others with what I said or did.
There was one woman who majored in gaining others. She would carefully listen to you and if she heard anything that you found interesting, she would bring you a catalogue or somehow try to cater to your interest. She was voted as "most friendly" at her club because of this. One man said to her, "How many asses did you have to kiss to get this."
Often hypocrisy is a big part of those who try to please men. They can't show others what they really think about a matter but have to make a pretense when they really feel otherwise about the subject. They live in lies.
Galations 1:10 Paul said of himself: For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
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Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
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Philippians 2:14-30 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
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