Day 29: Peacemaking Church

Daily Devotional

Philippians 2:1-11

1 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The path to glory is humility. When Jesus came to Earth, he did not come to demand worship (though he could have) but came to serve and give his life on the cross. Though he himself was in need, Jesus thought of us and our needs. We needed a ransom for our sins, and he met that need by humbling himself to die on the cross. Therefore, because of that humility, the name of Jesus is exalted as the greatest name, the name above all other names.

So if we have found encouragement in Christ, if we believe in his name that saves, then let us also walk that path of humility. We can do this by considering others more significant than ourselves. We all have needs, but let us also remember the needs of others and pray for them. That is simply the life of a Christian, not putting ourselves first, but putting others before us. Then, we will soon join Christ in all of the wonderful rays of his glory.

Weekly Application

Peacemaking is more than just clearing out conflicts in our relationships. It seeks to build up relationships and have them thrive. Think of the relationships that you want to see deepen and grow. Then, think of ways you can serve them. They can be as small as sending a kind text message, helping out with house chores, or buying a meal. Also, pray for them, lifting them up to God that he may bless them. Let’s build up our relationships and be a peacemaking church.