March 27

Emma Conrick was a camper and S.W.i.M. volunteer at Camp Fowler, and this summer will be her first on staff as a wilderness guide.

Philippians 2:5-11

In the verses just before this passage, Paul says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, any fellowship with the Spirit, any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Jesus made himself humble, and even though he was God, he “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped [achieved].” So how can we? How can we possibly meet those standards if Jesus did not consider it possible for himself?

The answer? We do as Jesus did. Paul draws a parallel between “servant” and “human likeness,” between “man” and “humbled.” If we claim to be Christians, our actions and our attitudes should reflect to others the spirit of Jesus Christ. To serve is to love and to serve is to be loved. If we work for others, if we set aside our own desires and attitudes, then we truly bring that love to the world around us. We live for God.

And this is not just in vain hope. We will be recognized in the final days, for as “God exalted [Jesus] to the highest place,” we too will know the love of God and the reward he has for each of us. We will “shine like stars in the universe” and be raised from the death of the earth.

Prayer: May we learn to accept the help God has offered through his Son and his Spirit, and humble ourselves in front of God to become servants just as Christ Jesus did. May we trust in the Lord and give him our souls so that his light may shine through us, even in the darkest of days, until he comes for us and we may leave.

The 2015 Lenten reflections were submitted by staff, volunteers, board members, campers, and friends who have spent time at Camp Fowler in New York.

For this year’s Lent devotions, the days follow the Common Lectionary texts. Each author was invited to: 1.Read the passage.
2.Read a couple passages before and after the assigned day.
3.Do something else for the day, keeping the passage in mind.
4.Find a word/phrase/concept that connects with your own experience. Reflect on that.
You are encouraged to do the same.