Ripple Effects Reading Plan – W1D4

Check out all the previous Ripple Effect readings here.

Ripple Effect Reading | Week 1 | Day 4

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Read these verses three times slowly.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, 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 Christ Jesus:

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 Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection & Questions

This week in our Ripple Effect readings, we are looking at Jesus, the ultimate ripple effect-er. The last few days we looked at John 13, and the story of Him washing the disciples feet. Today and tomorrow we are going to reflect on this amazing section in Philippians 2, that explains what Jesus was willing to do for us. Today we’re going to look at the second half, and tomorrow we will look at the first half. Paul writes about Jesus’ incredible choice and how he humbled himself. Notice where Jesus starts and finishes in this paragraph:

“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!”

It is a shocking sequence. We would never expect that. It is like you deciding that you want to save the worms in your yard from something. But the only way to do it was to become a worm. How much would you have to love worms for you to become a worm? Under what circumstances would you be willing to humble yourself to such a level? Well, Jesus did that for you. That is the kind of God and servant He is! Tomorrow, we will reflect on the first half of this passage – and how Paul applies it to us.

1. Picture for a moment what Jesus put aside when He came to rescue you. What does the extent that Jesus went for you show you about His love?
2. ”You’ve never met someone that Jesus didn’t go to the cross for.” How does that fact change the way you treat and serve the people around you?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?