our example

Our pastor on Sunday rearranged these verses from Philippians 2 to show how each of the requirements in verses 3 and 4, are then exampled in Christ Jesus in verses 6 through 8. Verses 6 through 8 are italicized...

"Do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"

And then the following verses....... just because they're so beautiful....

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus evey knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and evey tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father."

I know

a scripture passage from church this morning...

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:25-27

by night

"I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work."

Nehemiah 2:11-16

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By night...... then, as now, that seems the time for examining the deep things of cities.... the walls.... the gates......... as well as a time for examining the deep things of our lives. Maybe the dark obscures the details that so often bog us down.... leaving us more free to see the bigger picture. And maybe in the quiet of the night, we can better hear God's voice..... leading, guiding, and encouraging.