He made himself nothing

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11 NIV

Inconceivable! God, who spoke the universe into being and who sustains its entirety choses to take upon himself human likeness. Yet, he refused to stop there. Already being in the form of a servant, he humbled himself in obedience to death on a cross.

He was not just brought low so as to be a mighty man, a wealthy man, a prominent man but a servant. Further, he was not just a loyal servant, a diligent servant, a lowly servant but one who gives his very life. Moreover, he did not give his life in glorious battle or some other honorable death but in disgrace on a criminal’s cross.

This seemingly ill-conceived refugee, turned simple laborer, turned homeless wanderer who lived as part of a conquered people and was killed at their hand and the hand of their oppressors. This god-man who defeated death, who rose again highly exalted and now dwells in glory does the most amazing thing. He waits. Does every knee today bow and does every tongue acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord? No, while he can and will bring angel armies to bear down on evil forces, an unjust world and wicked people, for now he waits.

As he waits, so we are to also wait. As we wait, we are in our relationships with one another to have this same mindset as Jesus Christ. Return to the top of this post and read again until his mindset becomes your mindset.


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