Philippians 2:5-15

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.