Philippians 2:1-11: in context

Paul urges the Philippians to unity and humility, to count others better than themselves and to look to others' interests. And to move them to this, he points to the mind of Christ. Have this in your mind, he says, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Christ's self-emptying humility is held up as the pattern for our own.

The humility Paul describes in Christ is staggering in its descent. Christ was God, existing in the form of God, equal with him. And yet he did not cling to his status or use it for his own advantage; he emptied himself, took the form of a servant, became human, and humbled himself even to death on a cross, the lowest and most shameful of deaths. From the highest height to the lowest depth, Christ descended in humility, not grasping his rightful status but pouring himself out in humble service and obedience. This is the mind Paul calls us to have. And this staggering humility of Christ is held up not merely to admire but to imitate. Have this mind among yourselves, Paul says, which was in Christ Jesus. The humility and self-emptying of Christ is the pattern for our own life together: counting others better than ourselves, looking to their interests, serving rather than grasping, humbling ourselves rather than exalting ourselves. If Christ, who was God, humbled himself to the point of a servant's death, how much more should we, who are not God, humble ourselves in service of others. The Son of Man, Jesus says, came not to be served but to serve; and the servant is not greater than his master. Christ's humility is the model for ours. This searches our own pride and self-seeking. We naturally grasp for status, look to our own interests, exalt ourselves, count ourselves better than others. The mind of Christ is the opposite: not grasping, not self-seeking, but self-emptying, humble, servant-hearted, looking to others' interests. And we are called to have this mind, to let the humility of Christ shape our own, counting others better than ourselves and serving rather than grasping. Clothe yourselves with humility, Peter says; for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This calls us to the humility of Christ. He, though he was God, emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself to death on a cross; and we are called to have this same mind, humbling ourselves in the service of others, counting others better than ourselves, and looking to their interests rather than grasping for our own status. The mind of Christ is self-emptying humility; and we are called to let it shape us, following the one who, from the highest height, humbled himself for us, and who calls us to the same humility toward one another.

Do I grasp for status, look to my own interests, and exalt myself above others, or can the mind of Christ, who though he was God emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself to death on a cross, move me to the same self-emptying humility, counting others better than myself, looking to their interests, and serving rather than grasping, following the one who from the highest height humbled himself for me and calls me to the same humility toward others?