Tag: Philippians 2:7

HomeTag: Philippians 2:7

15
Oct '20

Royalty Who Looks Like Us?

Posted on Oct 15, 2020 in Devotions | Tags: ,

15
Oct '20
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7) 
 
Recently, I read a story told by an older British man.
 
When he was a little boy after WWII, he saw a picture of some people walking around a bombed out street in a city. Bricks and timber were strewn across the cobblestone. The houses and buildings were totally destroyed. 
 
However, there was something more to the picture. On the photo, there was a small arrow pointing to one of the men in the group. He looked just like the others, wearing the plain clothes of an average person. 

But the arrow revealed a secret. That plain-clothed man was King George VI, walking among the debris. He looked so much like the other figures that he was indistinguishable from them.
 
This story perfectly sets off our verse today:
 
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
 
Philippians 2:7
 
Jesus became exactly like us.
 
The King of all the universe threw aside his coronation clothes and took on the rags of humanity.
 
This is the ultimate act of humility. Jesus, our great King, doesn’t shoo us away from himself or make us approach him from a distance…
 
…instead, Jesus is the King who steps down from his throne to walk alongside his people and make them his siblings (Rom. 8:17).
 
This kind of love and humility marks the heart of God. And therefore is the aim of every disciple.
 
When I read this devotion it blessed me. It gave an incredible visual of Jesus and true humility. The King of all Kings chose to live among us and be like us. I pray today you are reminded that Jesus chose to live among us so we might see God’s great love for us.
 
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

15
Nov '16

What A Friend!

Posted on Nov 15, 2016 in Devotions | Tags: , ,

15
Nov '16
 
(Christ Jesus) Made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7)

The Maker of all things is the Maker of all human beings, and each of us is deemed worthy of His individual attention and love. God demonstrated that love in person on the gnarly hills of Israel and ultimately on the cross.

When Jesus visited earth in the form of a servant, He showed that the hand of God is not too big for the smallest person in the world. It is a hand engraved with our individual names and engraved also with wounds, the cost to God of loving us so much.

Now, when I find myself wallowing in self-pity, overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness that is articulated so well in books like Job and Ecclesiastes, I turn to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s stories and deeds. If I conclude that my existence “under the sun” (Eccl. 1:3) makes no difference to God, I contradict one of the main reasons God came to earth. To the question Do I matter? Jesus is indeed the answer.

Father, when we are overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness and pain, we can run only to You. Jesus showed us how much we matter to You, and we thank You! Amen.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O, what peace we often forfeit
O, what needless pain we bear–
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
–Joseph Scriven
 
When I woke this morning my husband was singing this hymn quietly to himself and I couldn’t help but think how fitting it was to the devotion The Lord had led me to early this morning. I felt I needed to include it in today’s devotion. I pray it blesses you today as much as it did me. I’m going to be singing this to myself all day, reminding myself, what a friend I have in Jesus, all my sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. 
 
 
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Ecclesiastes 1:1-11