The Christmas message was humility. Did you get it?
Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus came to earth. He was born in a humble barn, into a lower middle class family in a lowly town. What an incredible story. Heaven came down to earth but when it did, it came in humility. Why wouldn’t God have come in power and glory, in a king’s castle, and into a rich family’s home? Why wouldn’t God be born in a powerful country that ruled the world? In the book of Philippians 2:5-11 we read, “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.”
The beginning of this verse says, “Let this mind be in you.” This means have this same attitude that Jesus had. And what might that be? Well, He knew who He was, yet He was willing to humble himself and take the position of a servant so that He could serve others. This is a big part of the Christmas message. Paul says all those who follow Jesus ought to have His same attitude about life. Jesus’ decision to come as a humble servant is our example to follow. He came to be our Savior, but He also came to show us the face of God, the nature and the heart of God. Our God honors those who are willing to humble themselves and serve others. Jesus said He did not come to this world to be served but rather to serve us.
The reason Jesus was so comfortable in His servant’s position was because He was secure in who He was in God. In verse 6 we read, “Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.” The words “Form of God and form of a servant” in the Greek are “Morphe” which means the essential form that never changes. It means the inward existence, the nature. The phrase “Being found in fashion as a man” in Vs. 8 in the Greek is schema which means the outward form, which changes from time to time, like from baby to child to adult.
Jesus knew who He was. He was in fact God, He wasn’t ashamed of this, yet He was also man. He willingly set aside His godhead and became a man. He didn’t have to go around proving Himself to others. He didn’t have to grasp His godhead, or hold it tightly for fear of losing it.
We can be like this. First we need to discover, “Who are we?” We are children of God. We can call Him father or dad. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Once we are secure in this we don’t have to be going around grabbing it, trying to prove to ourselves that we are really forgiven or that we are accepted. We must come to the realization that nothing we do today will make God love us anymore tomorrow as well as nothing we do today will make God love us any less tomorrow. That is security.
Most people’s problems stem from lack of security in God. People who are not secure are constantly seeking security in everything that they do. It tends to drive people away from them, because they require too much of others. What they are really looking for is security. It can only be found in God and until it is found in Him, we will be constantly frustrated. This is so true especially with single people. They think that they will be finally happy once they get married. They need to be “Found in Jesus.” We need to be secure in Jesus.
As we find our security in God we are freed up to begin looking out for the needs of others. This Christmas let’s have this mind in us. This Christmas let’s have this attitude in us. Rather than being so concerned about our rights, our needs, our concerns, let’s ask God to open our eyes to the needs, the concerns and the rights of those around us. Is there an older person who needs a visit this Christmas? Is there a single young person who has no one to celebrate Christmas with? There are many who need a touch of this kind of love and it will go far to spread the Christmas message.
