November 20 2023
Php 2:4-11 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Have you ever thought what it might be like to be completely emptied of your worldly goods? Imagined a destructive fire raging through your home, destroying everything you hold dear? Feeling completely EMPTY? I woke up this morning with a feeling I have never known before; a feeling of complete emptiness, of being completely in a black VOID of space. It was a bit frightening to say the least.
Then as my day opened up, and thins began to be in a state of reality, I began thinking about the possibilities of a reasonable meaning. This beginning season of the Christmas holidays put me in the path of spiritual thinking; what did it mean that Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a man?
To my understanding, Christ was the Word of God. And that Word left the heavenly glory to come among men, walk this earth as a man, learning the feelings and desires of a man, in order to serve the purposes of God's plan of redemption. He emptied Himself of all His heavenly glory to become susceptible to all the temptations of this world. He learned the Jewish ways, and was familiar with the scriptures. And at the age of 33 He humbled Himself and began His work serving the God of Heaven in obedience to God's purposes.
This is the Day that God has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Heaven came down and Glory shone all around ! Glory be to God on High ! God's reconciliation - Peace on Earth - it is God's good Will toward man !
