Reading from the middle

Philippians 2:5-11

     Usually we read a book, or a passage of scripture, from beginning to end. But sometimes it is actually best to begin in the middle and work outward to the edges. What do I mean? Well, if I am giving advice to a new Bible reader on where to start reading, I often tell that person to begin with the Psalms, which are in the middle. Another approach would be to start with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world..." Put an anchor in John 3:16, which is the center of the Gospel, and then move outward to the letters, or to the Old Testament, but always holding on to the rope that is attached to the anchor. That way, as we learn our way around the Bible, we always know that the Bible is about God's love for the world, and God's gift of Jesus his son, and not primarily about dietary laws or the wars with the Caananites. Stay in the middle, and then work out to the edges.

     What if we read Philippians ch.2 from the middle? Let's see what happens.

The middle - v.8 "(he) became OBEDIENT to death, even death on a cross."

Then we step back one line, "he HUMBLED himself (found as a man)"

and we step ahead one line, "God EXALTED him."

Now back to verse 7 "(he) made himself NOTHING"

and ahead to verse 10, "at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should BOW."

Then go back to verse 6, "did not consider EQUALITY with God something to be GRASPED"

and ahead to verse 11, "every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD"

     By reading from the middle, we see how much Jesus trusted the Father, to be obedient even to death. Then God was faithful to uphold and exalt Jesus.

 I often struggle with obedience to God, mostly because I want to stay in control, to stay on top. But this passage shows us that obedience is rooted in trust. When I trust God with my life, that is when I am able to obey God.