1.28.2026 - James Lee
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
This week’s devotions are written by Rev. James Lee. Born in Orange County, raised in the San Gabriel Valley, James desperately holds onto his SoCal roots while currently serving on the opposite coast as the lead pastor of Christ Community CRC on Long Island (about 60miles east of NYC). He has also had the privilege to serve in various capacities for the Christian Reformed Church denomination. James is married to his better half Jin-Young and together, they have three beautiful children.
Philippians 2:2-3
1 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 compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
As I reflect on my past several years in ministry, one of the most encouraging moments was when the church was united in Christ. God's power is strongly present when there is unity in Christ.
I daresay that Philippians 2 is one of the most important chapters in the New Testament. Through today's passage, we learn about the importance and effectiveness of humility and selfless love that was modeled perfectly by Jesus Christ.
Paul introduced chapter 2 with a testimony in verse 1 stating, "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ." Paul appealed to the believers to live in unity because true joy can only be found in the encouragement that Christ gives. This union with Christ leads to solace and comfort in His love. This union with Christ leads to a common encouragement and sharing of fellowship in the Holy Spirit that is filled with Christ’s tenderness and compassion. That is why this unity will never lead to selfishness, ambition, or vain conceit.
Verse 3 also challenges readers to, “in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” We can be easily tempted to interpret that as a call to think less of ourselves - but that’s not the case. This call is to think of others more. Putting yourselves down is not the selfless, Christian humility that Paul is talking about in his letter to the Church in Philippi. This selflessness is to reflect the interest of others in being unselfish to experiencing harmony in the body of Christ.
Churches will never flourish if members are full of selfish ambition and vain conceit. Rather, churches will thrive if members look to elevate one another, look to the interest and betterment of others, and above all, elevate Christ as the center of it all.
How can the comfort from the love of Christ lead us to a Christ-centered humility? How can we value others more in our church? What kind of joy do you experience in union with Christ?