Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11
Journal: How is God asking you to empty yourself this day and this season? What about for the year ahead?
Reflection: Your attitude should
be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to
death--even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though he
was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even on a cross. (ESV)
But made
himself of no reputation, and took on the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men. (KJV)
But stripped
himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being
made a mortal man. (JBP)
Gave up his divine
privileges. (NLT)
Set aside the
privileges of deity. (MSG)
He poured
himself out. (The Voice)
No matter how you look at
it, what Jesus did by coming to earth is simply beyond comprehension. We
can't even begin to fathom a descent of that magnitude; especially in a world
that is hell-bent on ascending. Yet, that is the mystery of the season;
God became man and made his dwelling among us. God lowered, emptied,
stripped, gave up, let go of, or poured out, depending on your
translation. And all of those words together do not really even begin to
scratch the surface.
But God did not just stop
there. Now he calls each of us, his people, to do the same. He
calls us to be more and more like him. He tells us that our attitudes,
and our practices, should be the same as his. He tells us that somehow,
some way, in our daily lives, we must practice the art of emptying ourselves,
because that is what he did. Because that is who he is. We, his
followers, must constantly be seeking how and where and when and to whom he desires
for us to pour ourselves out for the sake of Love. What will that look
like for each of us in the days and weeks and months--and year--ahead?
That is the real question of the season.
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show us how you desire for us to
pour ourselves out for the sake of Love.
Amen.
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