Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even to death on a cross. Philippians 2: 5-8
My words…
Praise
Divine Jesus, whatever substance or energy that makes up who You are, that current of perfect power, not created but infinitely You, is what makes You God and God alone. The heavenly realm must swirl with the intensity of it! In my limited comprehension, I see You as a force of love, like a perpetual power plant, manufacturing all the love that exists in the heavens and on the earth. Every wisp of genuine love, expressed by angels or humans, is a product of who You are. Love does not remain apart from You. And this is why You acted the way You did, intentionally living as a human among humans, emptying Yourself to become not just a man, but a servant, and not just a servant, but one who willingly stretched out his arms on a cross. For me.
Prayer for me
The Apostle Paul writes that I should make my attitude like that of Yours: willingly emptying myself to assume the role of a servant. I’m not very good at that. I can serve, and I do. But only to the extent it doesn’t interfere too much with my daily routine. In other words, I only empty myself to a certain level, just before it gets uncomfortable, then I stop. I cling too tightly to the stuff I like the most in my life: my hobby time, my spending money, my streaming service. I need an emptying lesson. Will You help me?
Forgive me
Forgive me when I have filled myself up to the brim with ME: what I want; what I think; where I’ll be the next day, the next year. How could there be room for anything else? Anyone else? Forgive me when I take the easy way out and think only of myself and forget (or refuse) to kick myself out of the way and let Your Spirit go to work in my life.
Thank Youand Praise
Thank You for Your humility. As God, You could have behaved however You wanted: shoving Your divinity down people’s throats, insisting on being worshiped everywhere You went, reminding sinners of their unworthiness. Instead, You leaked compassion from every pore, You spoke hope to the leper, and comfort to those in pain. You never stopped teaching. You never settled down. You moved along toward Your undeserved death sentence as Your Father willed. Such emptying. I praise You and lift You up as the perfect example of how humans should treat each other.
