5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2)
Thoughts: The greatest character of Christmas is Jesus. While God is one, if it was possible to divide the emotions of the Godhead: the Father loved the world and gave His Son; The Spirit loved the world and overshadowed Mary; the Son loved the world by humbling Himself. It would be humbling for any man to be born in an animal stall. It would be humiliating for any king to be born that way. But Jesus is God come down. He came down in the most humbling way to understand, empathize, to understand and to show us that God cares about the pains and heartaches of life.
Perhaps the most humble thing God did was to be born- with all the risks and vulnerabilities of a baby. Some find it so humbling that they cannot believe it was real. But that was the miracle. Babies are so helpless- and that is the opposite of God the Almighty and helpful One.
Perhaps the most humble thing God did was to be born- with all the risks and vulnerabilities of a baby. Some find it so humbling that they cannot believe it was real. But that was the miracle. Babies are so helpless- and that is the opposite of God the Almighty and helpful One.
His life was full of humility- he had no home (foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head).
His death was most humbling. He was rejected by the people (all of us) He came to save. He was mocked, tortured, and died on a displayed painful torture mechanism now outlawed everywhere.
Our passage above notes that since Jesus humbled himself- we should humble ourselves- in our relationship with each other, and bowing our hearts before the God who showed love in His humility. Christmas is Merry only because God humbled Himself to show His love.
His death was most humbling. He was rejected by the people (all of us) He came to save. He was mocked, tortured, and died on a displayed painful torture mechanism now outlawed everywhere.
Our passage above notes that since Jesus humbled himself- we should humble ourselves- in our relationship with each other, and bowing our hearts before the God who showed love in His humility. Christmas is Merry only because God humbled Himself to show His love.
Prayer: Lord, let me embrace humility. Let me hold fast to your example.
(Nativity Giorgione 1527)
No comments:
Post a Comment