Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Allison.

Today's scripture offers us a wiser way of being human as we step into the day.

As we close out this week, we're landing on one of my all-time favorite passages, one that has stayed with me through so many seasons of my adult life as a countercultural reminder of what

strength actually looks like. Because so much of the air we breathe tells us the opposite.

Look out for yourself, secure your position, build your brand, win the argument, protect your

image, don't lose, don't soften, don't stoop, and then scripture quietly, powerfully offers

a different way. Today's reading comes from Philippians 2, 1 through 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 love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness

and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one

in spirit and of one mind, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility,

value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests,

but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another have the same

mindset as Christ Jesus, who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God

something to be used to his own advantage.

Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human

likeness and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death,

even death on a cross.

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledged that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

This is not sentimental language. This is a radical blueprint for maturity. Paul isn't giving us a personality preference. Be a nicer person. He's describing

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