Family Bible Study

There are two references to obedience in chapter 2.  First, in verse 8, Paul talkes about Christ’s obedience to death.  Now, I think there are two implications of this.  Christ was obedient to death in that he obeyed death’s wishes (and here death can be thought of as connected with Satan) by allowing himself to be killed.  He was humble enough to allow that to happen.  But Christ was also obedient to his Father in heaven.  He obeyed his Father no matter the cost – even unto death on a cross!

The second reference to obedience is in verse 12 where Paul praises the Philippians for being obedient (probably to him and to God) during his presence and his absence.

I think there must be a connection between these two references of obedience.  Here is Christ’s example of the ultimate obedience and here is how our response should be.  Just as Christ was obedient, we should also be obedient.

Obedience isn’t a popular word today.  It can often denote a sense of complacency or maybe being a push-over.  But when I think about Christ, he was so passionate and so righteous and so just!  He loved what was right and yet he humbled himself to let what was not right be done because that is what the Father desired.  It is an act of the absurd, as Kierkegaard would say, but it is what we must put our faith in.  And it is the act we must emulate – just like the Philippians did!