OUR DAILY BREAD : COUNTRY DOCTOR

[cimi]

June 25
Tuesday


COUNTRY
DOCTOR

READ:
Philippians 2:1-11
______________________________________________________________________________________

Let nothing be done
through slefish
ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem
others better than
himself. __Phil. 2:3
______________________________________________________________________________________

Sinclair Lewis' novel Main Street tells the story of Carol, a sophisticated city woman who marries a country doctor. She feels superior to others in her new small-town environment. But her husband's response to a medical crisis challenges her snobbery. An immigrant farmer terribly injures his arm, which needs to be amputated. Carol watches with admiration as her husband speaks comforting words to the injured man and his distraught wife. The physicians' warmth and servant attitude challenges Carol's prideful mindset.

In all of our relationships as Jesus' followers, we can choose to think we're superior or we can humbly serve the interests of others. Paul, the apostle, tells us, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4).

We can learn to consider others' needs more important than our own as we focus on Jesus' example. He took "the form of a bondservant," and gave Himself up for us (vv.5-8). When we fail in valuing others, his sacrifice for us shows us the humble, better way. __Dennis Fisher

``````````````More like the Master I would ever be,``````````````````
`````````````More of His meekness, more humility;``````````````````
```````````More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,``````````````
````````More consecration for work he bids me do. __Gabriel``````````
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Joy comes from putting another's welfare
ahead of your own.

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 2:1-11***************************

1 Therefore if there is any
consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, If any
fellowship of the Spirit, if
any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being
like-minded, having the
same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. 3 Let
nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better
than himself. 4 Let each of
you look out not only for
his own interests, but also
for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, being in the
form of God, did not
consider it robbery to be
equal with God, 7 but made
Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in
the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled
Himself and became
obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the
cross. 9 Therefore God also
has highly exalted him and
given Him the name which
is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of those
in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under
the earth, 11 and that every
tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of god the Father.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Philippians 2:5-11 is a key declaration of Christ's deity and
humanity. Christ did not replace His deity with humanity, but added
humanity to His deity (vv.7-8). While not ceasing to be God, Jesus
set aside His preexistent glory (John 17:5) and the independent
exercise of His powers, subjecting Himself to the will of the Father
(John 5:19,30; 6:38, 7:16; 8:28; 12:49).