The Joy of Glory

Philippians 2:5-8 (click here)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… (Philippians 2:5-7)

Reflection
Jesus Christ is God.

All power, all wisdom, all present, all everything… all the time… God.

Yet, in his equality with God the Father, he did not consider is “all-ness” something to be “grasped,” or used for his own advantage. His power, wisdom, and glory was not something he used to abuse…no…he used his all to serve…to love.

He emptied himself…by taking the form of a servant. He poured out his “all-ness” for us, used all his power, wisdom, and glory for us.

He came in power, in wisdom, in might, in love, but not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). The fact that Jesus emptied himself, doesn’t mean that he gave up being God… it doesn’t mean he gave up a single ounce of his divineness (if we can speak in such human terms)… no… it means he used all his divine power to serve… to love.

He poured himself out in love for his Father and in love toward us.

But perhaps the most amazing thing Philippians 2 has to say about this wondrous servant-hood of Jesus isn’t actually about Jesus, but about us. In verse 5 we read, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

We, the church, are to have the very mindset of Christ. The mindset that takes everything within me that I could possibly seize and use for my own advantage, and pour it all out in service and love of others.

We are empowered by Christ, to show the love of Christ, by loving others in the same way he loved us… by humbling ourselves to serve.

Jesus Christ is God…and he emptied himself to serve, to love, to save.

If I truly know that Jesus, it shows as I empty myself to serve, to love, to show others I have been saved and they can be to…by Jesus.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.