Imitating the Messiah's Humility
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Messiah, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Mashiach Yeshua: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Yeshua Ha-Mashiach is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
Paul corresponds with those congregations which, in his time, he
started or in which he taught. He knows their problems. And the most common
problems that were then are no less relevant today - disagreements.
Disagreements that turn into disputes, resentment, strife. Paul
admonishes believers to have a DIFFERENT standard of conduct. Unanimous,
unanimous!? What, does Paul suggest that we should all be the same and have the
same idea of how to walk before God? Are we supposed to be graduates of the
same seminary/Beit midrash? Unanimity and unanimity in the concept of Paul is
something secondary, which comes after brotherly love and the importance of
respecting the other.
I am sure that the Jew Paul did not even know other methods of
studying the Scriptures, except for the Jewish / Pharisees, and from the
beginning, they assumed reflections, disputes, proofs, and some
non-principles regarding unambiguous arguments.
The wise know that opinions on various topics, especially
concerning THEOLOGICAL analysis, can change in a person from time to time. We
all change experience circumstances and grow. But what remains unchanged is
respect for the brother/sister, his personality and opinion, and the ability to
worship God together, through the Messiah, in joy, and with desire. This is the
power of the NEW TESTAMENT.
Those who can boast of this
are usually used by the Lord as peacemakers, and this is a separate blessing and
commandment. Paul says that it was precisely for the sake of this brotherly
love, which is usually not simply achieved in human society, that the Messiah
suffered. For you should have the same feelings as the Messiah Yeshua.
Or, in other words - to unite you, to make you a group of people/family,
experiencing brotherhood in the Congregation, the Society of the Children of
the Lord, the Messiah and went to the cross! It was the desire to unite the
scattered people, through the Atonement, and through the granting of the Forces
of God for their correction, that raised the Messiah in a “humiliated, human
form” above any Forces, Authorities, Principalities. The Creator turned on
Correction in Heaven, thanks to the Power of God, which unites even quarreling
people.
God cares about our good relationship with each other! And this is
more important than many understandings.
Sincerely, Leon Mazin
You can support or learn more about our mission here: www.shaveitzion.org
Thanks Leon. Great reminder
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