Bible Studies for Life
May 24, 2020
“Yield”
Philippians 2:1-5, 13-15
Becky Brown

Our current progress in this unit on healthy relationships can be summarized in a few sentences. We witnessed love on the center cross standing on a hill called Mt. Calvary. We found encouragement in the life of a man appropriately named Barnabas, the son of comfort. We discovered forgiveness in the actions of a compassionate master. We improved our serve as we helped to bear the burdens of others. This lesson will show us that humility is nurtured in our willingness to yield. We are to yield ourselves first to the Lord in allegiance and obedience and then to others in genuine, sincere service.

True humility is modeled perfectly for us through the life of Jesus Who was willing to leave the glory of heaven to dwell in the gory of earth. He was willing to confine Himself to the empty womb of His earthly mother on His way to the borrowed tomb arranged for Him by His heavenly Father. The One Who created us became one of us so that He might provide the one and only way to save any of us. The Second Person of the “TRI-UNITY” was marked by humility. Just as Jesus stooped down in the Upper Room to wash the feet of the disciples, He ultimately and actually stooped down out of heaven to make it possible for us to be cleansed from the inside out.

In Philippians two, Paul writes to folks he deeply loves who live in the city of Philippi in Greece. In verse one, Paul appeals to what he knows to be true about them: they encourage one another in Christ, they console one another in love, they fellowship with one another in the Holy Spirit, they show affection and compassion for one another. In verse two, Paul calls on them to complete his joy by making Philippian GLUE: Stick together in unity. Stick up for each other in fellowship. Stick to the point in joint, united purpose. Stick around for the long haul with intentionality.

In verses three and four, Paul calls on them to put aside all of their selfishness and empty conceit and to replace those with humility of mind. Humility begins with a choice which is made in the mind. A Cajun friend of mine used to say, “Dah-lin’ dah closer you git to God, dah less of yah-seff you can take wit-chu.” Paul challenges them to be self-less and others-centered. Division plus humility yields harmony.

Humility is not weakness to be taken advantage of. Humility is not being a doormat for people to walk on. Humility is best depicted by example. I remember a witnessing tool we used way back in my Vacation Bible School days. We made a little craft called The Wordless Book. Made of felt, it had color pages of black, red, white, blue, green and gold. Black, the darkness of sin. Red, the blood of Jesus. White, the beauty of cleansing from sin. Blue, the waters of baptism. Green, the excitement of daily growth in Christ. Gold, the streets of a place called Heaven.

Just like humility, that little wordless book told its own story. Jesus humbled Himself…all the way to the cross. He did that for you and for me. I hope we NEVER get over the wonder of that gift!

Humility fosters “compassion” which is the word for Holy Spirit. Humility encourages “fellowship” which is the same word for two fellows in the same ship. Humility increases “affections” which is the word for inward parts (guts and bowels), the deepest part of the heart and the will that love like Jesus.