Philippians 2:1-30 CEB

[1] Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, [2] complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. [3] Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. [4] Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. [5] Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: [6] Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. [7] But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, [10] so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [12] Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. [14] Do everything without grumbling and arguing [15] so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world [16] because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. [17] But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. [18] You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me! [19] I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to see you soon so that I may be encouraged by hearing about you. [20] I have no one like him. He is a person who genuinely cares about your well-being. [21] All the others put their own business ahead of Jesus Christ’s business. [22] You know his character, how he labors with me for the gospel like a son works with his father. [23] So he is the one that I hope to send as soon as I find out how things turn out here for me. [24] I trust in the Lord that I also will visit you soon. [25] I think it is also necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. He is my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier; and he is your representative who serves my needs. [26] He misses you all, and he was upset because you heard he was sick. [27] In fact, he was so sick that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him—and not just on him but also on me, because his death would have caused me great sorrow. [28] Therefore, I am sending him immediately so that when you see him again you can be glad and I won’t worry. [29] So welcome him in the Lord with great joy and show great respect for people like him. [30] He risked his life and almost died for the work of Christ, and he did this to make up for the help you couldn’t give me.