Week 17 · Day 4: Humility
He Emptied Himself
Philippians 2 describes humility in the one who had most to lay down.
What the labels mean
- Scripture explicitly says
- This states what the biblical text itself says, in the passage being read.
- Direct quotation or allusion
- One part of Scripture quotes or clearly alludes to another. The citing reference is named so you can check it.
- Canonical theme
- A connection across the whole Bible. The passages develop the same theme; one is not quoting the other.
- Interpretive conclusion
- A conclusion drawn from the text. The reasoning is given so you can weigh it against the passage.
- Application
- A step, prayer or question for the reader. Not a claim about what the passage states.
Today’s verse
Loading Philippians 2:6-7…
Philippians 2:6-7
Today’s focus
The truth of the day
Paul places this hymn in the middle of a very practical appeal: do nothing through rivalry or vainglory, but in humility count others better than yourselves (2:3). His argument for that behavior is not a rule but a person. Christ's own movement, from the form of God to the form of a servant, is the pattern.
Notice the direction of the motion: downward, and voluntary. Nothing forced this emptying. It was chosen, for the sake of others, and it went all the way to a servant's form and, as the next verse says, to death on a cross.
Today’s reminder
Scripture explicitly says- Christ's humility was chosen, not forced upon Him.
- The pattern for our humility is a person, not a principle.
- True humility moves downward toward service, not just inward toward modesty.
Deeper insight
What the passage says in its own setting
The Greek word behind emptied, kenoo, does not mean Christ stopped being God. It means He set aside the full display and exercise of His glory and prerogatives to take on genuine humanity. He did not grasp for equality with God because, being already fully God, He had nothing to grasp for; instead He gave up glory that was rightfully His.
The structure of the hymn moves down and then up: emptying, humbling, death on a cross, and then in verse 9, God highly exalting Him and giving Him the name above every name. Paul's readers are meant to see that the path to true honor runs through voluntary lowering, not around it, exactly as Proverbs had already said.
Christ connection
Where this leads to Jesus
Canonical themeThis passage is itself the christConnection for the whole week: Christ's self-emptying in Philippians 2:6-8 is the pattern and power behind every call to human humility.
Reflection
ApplicationWhat would it look like this week to give up a right you hold in order to serve someone else?
Today’s action
ApplicationDo one act of service today that is beneath your usual role or status, and do it without mentioning it.
Today’s prayer
ApplicationLord Jesus, You had every right to hold Your place and did not. Teach me to let go of the rights I cling to, and to take the form of a servant where You call me to serve. Amen.