The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There’s some good theology in this passage, and it has to do with “attitude.” Would you be surprised to know that there are some fine, good, reliable men who failed to get that “superior job” because they lacked the right attitude? They knew they were not immediately equal to the boss but believed in their heart of hearts that they were on track to being equal, if not superior, to him!

The problem was that thought was not concealable! It showed through in the lining.

Jesus “…did not regard His equality with God” as something to be tightly grasped, as with retention! Rather, He viewed Himself as a mere “bond-servant,” whose appearance and humanity, despite His eternal affiliation with Almighty God, was precisely like those He came to rescue! We must never forget that ourselves! We are, by faith, affiliated as sons of the Living God. We are not our own. We are but laborers in the vineyard of humanity, seeking to initiate others into that eternal relationship of which only Christ Himself is Lord!

Thus, when anyone would occasion to say that they are seeking to be like us, they should be rebuked and realigned with the truth: Jesus alone is LORD and Savior! All glory and praise must always be directed toward Him. Do you know Him? Do others know that you know Him? That is His (and our) eternal desire!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need, Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom