Philippians 2:1-18

1You belong to Christ, and he makes you brave. His love makes you strong. You are able to help one another because his Spirit is in you. You can be kind to each other, and you can forgive each other.

2Because of that, this is how you can make me completely happy: In your mind, think about things in the same way as one another. Love one another completely. In your spirit, agree with one another. And work together for the same purpose.

3In the way that you live, do not just try to help yourself. Do not be proud. Instead, respect other people. Think about other people as more important than yourself.

4Do not think only about the things that you want to do for yourself. Each of you should think also about how you can help other people.

5You should think about things in the same way that Christ Jesus thought:

6Christ had the same nature as God. He was completely equal with God. But he did not try to keep hold of that.

7Instead, he chose to leave heaven. He took for himself the nature of a slave. He became like a human.

8And when he lived as a man, he made himself even less important. He obeyed God completely, so that he died. He even died on a cross!

9Because of that, God then raised Jesus Christ to the most important place. God gave him the name that is greater than every other name.

10As a result, when people hear Jesus' name, they must worship him. Everyone will have to go down on their knees in front of him. That includes everything that is in heaven, everything on the earth and everything under the earth.

11Everyone will have to agree that Jesus Christ is Lord. When they say that aloud, they will show that God the Father is very great.

12So, my friends, you must continue to obey God. When I was with you, you always obeyed. Now that I am not with you, that is even more important. God has saved you. You must always live in a way which shows that is true. Respect God and obey him. Remember that he is great and powerful.

13It is God himself who is working in you. Now you want to obey him, and he makes you strong to do that. When you obey him, that makes him very happy.

14Whatever you are doing, do not complain. And do not argue.

15Then you will not be guilty of anything that is wrong. You will be clean inside yourselves. You will be living in a completely good way, as God's children should. In this world, you are living among bad people who have turned away from what is good. But you must bring light into this dark place, like stars that shine in the night.

16Tell people the true message that can give them life with God. Then I will know that my work among you had good results. Because of that, I will be very happy on the day when Christ returns.

17You believe in Christ, and you are his servants. That is like you are offering yourselves as a sacrifice to God. Perhaps I will soon have to die. Then my blood would be like drink that I am pouring on your sacrifice, to please God. So, if I have to die now, I will be happy. And we should all be happy together.

18Yes, it is right that you should be happy, and I will also be happy with you.