Philippians 2:1-18.
Philippians 2:1-18 (GNT)
1Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have
fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one
another. 2I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same
thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. 3Don't do
anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be
humble toward one another, always considering others better than
yourselves. 4And look out for one another's interests, not just for your
own. 5The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
6He always had the nature of God,
but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with
God.
7Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,
and took the nature of a servant.
He became like a human being
and appeared in human likeness.
8He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death-
his death on the cross.
9For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
10And so, in honor of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below
will fall on their knees,
11and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 12So then, dear friends, as you always
obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me
now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to
complete your salvation, 13because God is always at work in you to make
you willing and able to obey his own purpose. 14Do everything without
complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be innocent and pure as God's
perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You
must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, 16as you offer them
the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you
on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work
have not been wasted. 17Perhaps my life's blood is to be poured out like
an offering on the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so,
I am glad and share my joy with you all. 18In the same way, you too must be
glad and share your joy with me.
fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one
another. 2I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same
thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. 3Don't do
anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be
humble toward one another, always considering others better than
yourselves. 4And look out for one another's interests, not just for your
own. 5The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:
6He always had the nature of God,
but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with
God.
7Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,
and took the nature of a servant.
He became like a human being
and appeared in human likeness.
8He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death-
his death on the cross.
9For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
10And so, in honor of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below
will fall on their knees,
11and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 12So then, dear friends, as you always
obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me
now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to
complete your salvation, 13because God is always at work in you to make
you willing and able to obey his own purpose. 14Do everything without
complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be innocent and pure as God's
perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You
must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, 16as you offer them
the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you
on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work
have not been wasted. 17Perhaps my life's blood is to be poured out like
an offering on the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so,
I am glad and share my joy with you all. 18In the same way, you too must be
glad and share your joy with me.
God bless you.
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