Philippians 2:1-11 - "O To Be Like Thee!"

Philippians 2:1-11…

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

I woke up this morning singing the old hymn "O To Be Like Thee!"…

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. 

    O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
    Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
    Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
      Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. 

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand'ring sinners to find. 

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save. 

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th' anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine. 

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve. 

The story behind this song was that the writer, William J. Kirkpatrick, was saddened over seeing a young man who was leading the singing at camp meeting and leaving before the preaching.  He feared the young man truly didn't know the Lord.  He prayed for the young man and the Lord gave him this song to have the young man sing.  The song spoke to the young man so much that he stayed for the preaching and then responded to the altar call.

The desire of our heart should be to be like Jesus.  We need to strive to be like Him in order to spend eternity with Him.  In order for Him to "...Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;…" we first must be ready for Him.  We must be willing to surrender everything to Him.  "Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine…" must be our way of living.  When we surrender everything to Him, we live a life in His Presence.  Living in His Presence means living in His Peace...living in His Joy…living in His Will.  Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this song this morning.  I am so grateful for the reminders that come along with it.  Thank You Jesus for Your Presence which includes Your Peace and Your Joy as I live in Your Will.  Lord, I pray for more of You and less of me.  Thank You Jesus for being The One I Surrender To.  Amen.