Philippians 2:6 (ESV)
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
In 2026 we’re memorizing as a church family two wonderful passages about Christ. Philippians 2.5-11 & Hebrews 1.1-4 will inspire us to be captivated by Christ. Only then will be empowered to make him known to others.I hope to provide a devotional about each upcoming verse. These verses will fight doubt & discouragement. Lord willing these devotionals will inspire us to hide these words in our hearts.
THE MAJESTY OF JESUS
Jesus is infinitely majestic and astonishingly humble. Philippians 2.6 invites us to hold those two truths together in our hearts all month long until worship rises, pride melts, & open-handed obedience becomes a regular rhythm. Jesus is majestic because Jesus is God. Yet do we see his majesty? Do we faithfully affirm it? Do we magnify his majesty?
Just marvel at his majesty for a moment.
He is eternal. There has never been a moment without Jesus. And there never ever will be. He does not change. Therefore his love, grace, & kindness do not change. He is light itself. He has no need for sun or moon. There is no night so dark that Jesus does not shine brighter. Darkness cannot overpower his majesty. No matter how dark our world may become, his majesty shall shine bright.
Jesus is holy, holy, holy. He is wholly different & separate from the world he created. He is beyond comparison. Every artist. Every carpenter. Every sculptor. Every author. The heavens declare the wonder of his artistry. The great sequoias display the greatness of his construction. From the great whales of the ocean to the tender robins of the sky Jesus formed the great & small. Everything visible & invisible was crafted by his hand. The greatest story ever told is his story.
What comes to your mind when you you consider majesty? Stop for just a moment. “Jesus, open my eyes to your majesty.”
THE HUMILITY OF JESUS
And yet he is also humble. His humility was the expression of his divinity.
Jesus did not hold to the rights of his divinity like a toddler with his toy. Instead of clinging, he opened his hands to fulfill the great plan of redemption. Jesus did not give up his divinity; he took on humanity.
Though eternally equal with the Father, He opened His hands—releasing the privileges of heaven, embracing flesh, poverty, and a feeding trough. That first unclenching in Bethlehem set the trajectory of the whole Gospel story.
His ministry was marked by humility. We often think of his birth & placed in a manger for a crib. Consider this as well. He spent 30 years in obscurity. We have few details of his life. The Son of God was on earth but we don’t have a clue what daily life included. We can only guess.
Once his public ministry began he walked into the river to be baptized by John. Through this simple act he identified with those he came to save. He did not chase or cajole followers who turned away. He would kneel down to wipe away tears, to touch untouchables, & to wash the dirty feet of his followers. The Son of Man was mocked & ridiculed. He was given a crown of thorns instead of gold. He laid his life down on that cross. His humility did not end when he came to earth. Thirty hidden years remind us that heaven’s timetable, not Instagram’s spotlight, governs real greatness.
WHAT’S NEXT?
What is our response?
• Since Jesus is majestic, we worship & obey him.
• Since Jesus is humble, we follow & imitate him.
The rich young ruler from the Gospels is the antithesis of Philippians 2.6. What happens once he encounters Jesus? He wants to follow Jesus. And yet his possessions possess him. Jesus wanted his heart. Unfortunately, his grasp on his treasures was greater than his desire for Jesus. Where Jesus opened his hands, this one clutched them tightly.
Then there is Mary. Shortly before his death she brought her treasure – – pure nard – – to pour it all at Jesus’ feet. This disciple exchanged this treasure for true, lasting treasure in Jesus. Like Jesus, she opened her hands. Mary was not saved because she gave her nard. But because Jesus saved her, she wanted to demonstrate her devotion. She clung to Jesus more closely than her treasure.
Both of these people were changed when they came to Jesus. One found lasting joy. The other walked away sad even though he walked away with his treasure. Once you encounter Jesus you’re never the same.
God’s glory isn’t seen in what Christ held onto, but in what He willingly let go. We must hold everything loosely.