Saturday February 20 – First Saturday of Lent

Yesterday we read Paul’s words in Romans about being a living sacrifice and being humble.  Paul talks about humility and self-sacrifice all through his letters and nowhere does it take more concrete shape than in the book of Philippians.

Philippians 2:1-8 NRSV

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that wasa in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death–

even death on a cross.

Read through this scripture passage a few times.  Think about the extend that Jesus humbled himself for us break it down line by line and read it slowly.  Take some time to thank Jesus for his humility and sacrifice.  Ask him to help you to have the “same mind” that he had so that you can truly be a living sacrifice.

Prayer of Response:

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.  We have failed to be an obedient church.  We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.  Forgive us, we pray.  Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

– Communion Prayer of Confession, United Methodist Book of Worship