Recently, I had someone ask me to walk through Philippians 2:1–11 with them. I’ve read that passage many times before, so when they asked if I got anything new out of it, I replied honestly: “Not really. I’m familiar with the scripture and I agree with it 100%.”
Their response caught me off guard.
“Do you have a pride issue?” they asked.
I said no and asked why they brought that up. They quickly backed off, saying, “No reason. Just keep reading it when you have time.”
That moment sat with me. Not because I felt convicted, but because it made me wonder what they saw—or thought they saw—in my response. Was I being dismissive of the Word? Was I missing something? Or was I just confident in a passage I’ve grown to understand over time?
The Truth About Familiar Passages
Philippians 2:1–11 is powerful. It’s a call to humility, unity, and Christlikeness. There’s no theological mystery here. It says what it says—and it says it clearly.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: even when Scripture is familiar, it’s still alive.
Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is “living and active.” That means it’s not just about knowing the truth—it’s about staying open to how that truth wants to shape us, again and again.
Sometimes, it affirms what we’re already doing. Other times, it highlights something we didn’t even realize we needed to see. And occasionally, it simply waits in the background, quietly reminding us: stay soft, stay open.
Was I Wrong to Say “I Got Nothing New Out of It?”
No, not necessarily. Not every scripture reading will blow your mind or uncover a hidden sin. Sometimes, we read and simply say: “Yes, Lord. I agree. Keep me aligned.” That’s not pride. That’s maturity.
But I’ve learned that when someone gently pushes back—especially with scripture—it’s an opportunity to check my posture, not just my answer. Was I too quick to speak? Too sure I had nothing more to learn?
Even if the answer is still “no, I’m good”—it’s a healthy pause. A spiritual check-in.
Letting the Word Examine Us (Even When We Know It)
Here are a few reflection questions from Philippians 2:1–11 that help me go deeper, even when I think I’ve “got it”:
- Unity (v1–2): Am I contributing to peace and like-mindedness in my relationships, or quietly holding onto offense or pride?
- Humility (v3): Do I truly value others above myself—or just treat them as equals when it’s convenient?
- Selflessness (v4): Is there someone whose needs I’ve been ignoring because they don’t serve mine?
- Christ’s Example (v5–8): Is there an area of my life where I need to “make myself nothing”—letting go of titles, expectations, or ego?
- God’s Elevation (v9–11): Do I trust God to lift me in due time—or am I still trying to lift myself?
These aren’t accusation-laced questions. They’re heart checks. And they remind me that even when I understand scripture, I still need scripture.
Final Thoughts
That conversation reminded me that humility isn’t just in doing what Jesus did—but in remaining open when someone asks if we really are.
So no, I don’t believe I have a pride issue. But I do believe in checking. I believe in rereading. And I believe that Scripture, even when it says the same thing over and over again, still has the power to shape how I, we think, love, and lead.