Introduction
There are many fairy tales about knights in shining armor. But we have a real hero who is our shining example. Jesus Christ is our shining example to live a new kind of life on this earth to also become shining lights in a dark world. The second chapter of Philippians gives us clear steps in Paul’s discourse on ‘Christ our Shining Example’ so that we can imitate Him.

Tender appeal
He starts off with a tender appeal to the believers to be one-minded and reminding them to regard each other higher than themselves. Then he describes Christ’s way of humbling Himself to give a clear example of how we can also emulate such a worthy life style. Spiritual concepts are often vague and out of reach, but through revelation knowledge we can understand the mysteries of Christ and find practical ways of participating in the divine plan and purpose of God.

Humility precedes exaltation and God is always ready to promote the humble, but resists the proud. Once we find how to do everything without murmuring or dispute we become blameless and shine like lights in the world. A church that follows Christ’s example is a joy to the one that planted the church and the elders. They know they have not labored in vain when they see the things Paul describes for the Church in Philippi.

How the Church was planted
Remember how that church was founded: Paul & Silas attended a riverside prayer meeting of women and then drove out a fortune telling spirit from a young girl. This caused the businessmen that owned that girl to have Paul & Silas arrested and beaten and thrown into prison. But at midnight Paul & Silas sang praises to God and an earthquake broke the prison doors open and the chains fell off their hands and feet. The jail warden wanted to commit suicide by falling on his sword but Paul prevented him and led him to believe in Jesus Christ. Then they took them to Lydia’s home where their wounds were washed and they gave them something to eat. Paul & Silas preached Jesus Christ to them and they accepted the Lord as Savior. Paul & Silas were like shining lights to the people seeking the truth in Philippi.

This is how the church was started. The people who were there never forgot Paul but whenever they could they supported his travelling ministry to other lands. That is why Paul decrees that the Lord will provide all their needs (see Philippians 4:10-19). They were like shining lights to Paul in his struggles to spread the Gospel abroad.

Let us follow the steps Paul gives in his discourse about how Christ humbled himself and how God finally exalted Him.

Steps in Paul’s discourse about Christ our shining example:

Step one: unity of spirit
The same mind, the same love and being in one accord (Phil 2:1,2). Minds that have been enlightened and loving hearts create a wonderful atmosphere of unity in spirit. Kindness towards each other is seen in how we treat and forgive each other as Christ also forgave us. Remember the reason why all of us turned to Christ is because we were all needy and were looking for a Savior. He is our shining example in all these matters. Love is the bond of perfection that binds us together. We are shining examples to the world around us. Where there is love there is symmetry in life – everyone doing what is possible in prefect harmony with others.

Step two: no factions or vainglory
In a Church where Jesus is Lord, we learn to count others better than ourselves. A spirit of strife and a spirit of vainglory or pride are the two main elements that bring division. The antidote is lowliness of mind and mutual respect for each other. Pride scatters, humility gathers. We learn to look at each other through the prism of the Cross of Jesus. We are on the lookout for Christ being formed in each other. In the end that is God’s purpose: to conform us to the image of His dear Son. (Romans 8:29, 30)

Step three: empty out self by becoming a servant to all
This is the mystery of Godliness: Christ became flesh!
Although Christ was in the form of God and did not count it robbery to be equal with God, yet He emptied Himself (of all divine privileges) and took upon Himself the form of a servant. That word ‘form’ implies Jesus at the top of his form, like a sportsman at the height of his career. We say, ‘he is in top form!’ When Jesus was ‘in top form’ he stooped down to our level and took upon Himself the form of a man. And among men he took upon Himself the form of a lowly servant. Then he took our sins upon Himself and was crucified in a shameful way. Even his own disciples forsook Him. No one wanted to stand with Him anymore. People turned away from that awful scene. He reached the bottom of the ladder in humility to demonstrate: ‘Greater love has no man than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends.’

Step four: He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
Most of us will obey if it suits us or brings benefits into our lives, but Christ obeyed when it did not suit Him and even though He was humiliated He still obeyed even to the death of the cross. It was in His humiliation that Christ conquered sin and death for us. The highest honor follows the greatest humiliation. That is why Peter encourages us to put on humility and to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God that in due time He will exalt us. That is why we can cast all our care upon Him for He cares for us. (I Peter 5:5-8) I learned to write down all my cares on a sheet of paper and then draw two lines through all my cares after praying to God about them and write in capital letters: ‘cancelled in the Name of Jesus Christ!’ I would tear up the sheet of paper and throw it in the dustbin! Then I try to forget about all those cares that choke the Word in me! I learn to obey the Word of God.
In His earthly life His wisdom was scorned, His teaching was denounced as blasphemy and His supernatural power was ascribed to demons. His enemies lied about Him to get Him crucified and out of the way, but God raised Him back to life after three days! Now the man of sorrows is the King of Glory! He is seated at the right hand of God!

Step five: God highly exalts Christ
As low as His humility brought Him so high did God exalt Him, far above all principality and power that at His Name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! Isaiah 55:23: ‘unto me every knee shall bow and every tongue swear!’
God states: ‘this is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased! Hear what He has to say!’ Jesus obtained divine approval! He laid down everything that made Him equal with the Father and now God gives everything back to Him!

Step six: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who is at work within you both to will and to work according to His good pleasure. Divine energy helps us to sort out own problems! The power of God transforms and reforms our lives according to His great design. We are able to do all things through Christ that strengthens us! He always causes us to triumph! We become shining lights in this dark world full of violence and corruption.

Step seven: alter the course of your life by cutting out murmuring and disputing from your conversation. You become an example to others that follow you – like lights that shine in the darkness of this world. James says he that controls his tongue is mighty. Solomon says a man that controls his emotions is stronger than one that conquers a city! Murmuring causes division and disputing weakens leadership and causes factions. There is no joy where there is constant murmuring. There is no progress where there is disputing. There cannot be unity where murmuring and disputing are at the order of the day. Learn to control that tongue of yours! Then you will become a shining light, a beacon at sea for the lost sailor!

Story from my life
When I was lost at sea with a pastor that took me fishing off the east coast of Brisbane, we struggled for almost 3 hours against the storm, but realized we were hopelessly lost at sea. The boat was filling up as waves crashed over us and as the torrential downpour continued. We finally gave up the struggle and committed our souls to the Lord fearing the worst. But then in the storm I spotted a little light. It was a beacon. When we reached the beacon I spotted another light. That led to another and yet another one that brought us safely into the harbor of a small island. When we coasted onto the sandy beach we had no more fuel left in the tank of the one-motor fishing boat! We just made it to the shore. We spent the night there with some old people and bought some fuel the following day and sailed home on perfectly calm seas!

As we follow Christ our lives become shining beacons that might just save a lost soul somewhere and lead them to a safe harbor in Christ Jesus. He will save them and change their lives completely and give them a place of shelter from the storm.