worship Jesus – Be Still…

Philippians 2:1-11 – Jesus’ Attitude

You can learn a lot about a person by observing their attitude and how they approach life. We tend to be drawn to those with a positive attitude, rather than those pessimistic, doom-and-gloom types. The apostle Paul describes Jesus’ attitude and challenges us to be more like Jesus.

We will always fall short, but it’s our attempts that matter. Paul gives us some clues to help us navigate life. We are to be tender, compassionate, and loving. We are to be humble and selfless. To disregard Paul’s counsel would result in very unattractive behavior. When you think of your actions and intentions over the past week, have you exhibited any of the positive qualities Paul suggests? What needs to change in your life to be more like Jesus?

Getting to know Jesus and how he relates to those he loves is a great place to start on our journey. Jesus wasn’t full of pride. Jesus didn’t force himself on others but encouraged unity of purpose. It makes sense that we can find support in the presence of other believers. We share the common purpose of loving God back and showing our gratitude for all that we have been given.

Jesus’ humility once again strikes me. A person with his power and connections could easily have been a tyrant, but Jesus never abused his power. He was able to set aside his majesty and “gave up his divine privileges” to embrace the human experience. That speaks volumes about Jesus’ character.

Jesus’ attitude pleased God, and He “gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” Jesus’ place of honor allows us access to the Father. Can you just imagine the place where everyone is bowing to Jesus? There is yet another picture we can cherish of who Jesus is. He is the one we worship.

What is our part other than trying to be more like Jesus? We need to bow and, as Paul said, every tongue should “declare that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? It means Jesus has ultimate power and control over all things. We trust Jesus to be our all in all. The more you get to know Jesus, the more you want to declare how he is showing up in your life.

Take time to worship Jesus today. Here’s a medley of worship songs to listen to, full of praise to our majestic Jesus as performed by Chris Tomlin, Brooke Ligertwood, Tyasta Pangalila, and Phil Wickham.

Let’s pray. Father, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to show us how to have a God-pleasing attitude. Continue to build my character to be more like Christ. May I do my best today to reflect you in an honoring way. I want my life and actions to bring you glory. May I open my mouth to give you praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christmas ? Matthew 2:1-12 – Wisdom

Read Matthew 2:1-12

These men were expecting a Jewish king to be born from prophecy. They must have been elated when they finally saw the star. We don’t know much about these men, other than they were wise. The text doesn’t say where they came from, how long they had traveled, or how many of them there were. Have we assumed three because there were three special gifts? (Fun fact: the Eastern church recognizes there were twelve wise men!)

Their wisdom had prepared them for this moment. You can imagine many people had seen that glorious star in the sky, but they had no idea what it meant. Somehow, these men knew it signified the birth of a future Jewish king, even greater than King Herod, the then current king on the throne.

John 12:1-8 – Extravagant Worship

Read John 12:1-8

We are approaching the beginning of Holy Week 2023. During this time every year, we remember the sacrifice and miracle that took place because of how much God loves us. Beginning with Palm Sunday, we’ll walk together with Luke and the other gospel writers through some of the events of Jesus’ last week. It’s our special time to reflect on the immense sacrifice Jesus made to pay for our freedom from sin and death.

Our reading today sets the scene for what is to come and challenges us in our own worship practices. The Passover celebration was about to start, and little did the folks attending this dinner party know these were Jesus’ final days. Jesus knew, and his startling words about his burial must have shocked his friends.