Day 192 | Sunday, 27 September 2020

Day 192 - Audio Version

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​Day 192  |  Sunday, 27 September 2020

COVID-19 update – 654 cases, 154 in zip code 14701

 The assigned Scripture readings for this the 17th Sunday after Pentecost are: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Philippians 2:1-13 and Matthew 21:23-32.

 Philippians 2:1-13, The Message – Imitate Christ
  1 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care -
2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.
3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves – from the CEB)
4 Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.
6 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.
7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.
9 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever,
10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth - even those long ago dead and buried - will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ,
11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
12 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.
13 That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

.Wesleyan Core Term – Mind of Christ
 “Wesley desired for Christ to be understood as the common head of all believers, as God is the common Father and as all drink from one Spirit.  The fruit of this recognition is that all are unified into one.  Every pastor and teacher has struggled with a lack of unity, maturity, and humility in the body of Christ.  Although Paul is filled with joy concerning the body at Philippi, he struggles with those around him who preach Christ out of envy and rivalry instead of goodwill.  To solve this issue, he encourages all to allow the mind of Christ to be their minds.  This mind does not remain individually focused but is other-centered, striving for unity.  Our rigid mind-sets need the softness of Christ’s mind.  Our confident minds need Christ’ humility to leave behind what is un-necessary so that we will serve others.  This transformed mind, in Christ, confesses Jesus Christ as Lord.”  Wesley Study Bible, CEB page 1496.
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 Holy God, we come to you today seeking the mind of Christ.  We confess that sometimes we are selfish, and we do not put others before ourselves.    We need the softness of Christ’s mind.  We need Christ’s humility.  Lord, hear our prayers.  Amen.