Saturday, December 12, 2009

December 12, 2009

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became 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," Philippians 2:5-9
Christmas could also have been called Christyes.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that Christmas could not have happened without several willing "yeses". Over the next few posts I am going to show you what I mean.
The first "yes" was out of this world! It had to come from Heaven because the first one Who had to say "yes" was Jesus, the Son of God.
Our Scripture text assures us that He did.
When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas, He was saying "no" to all the safety, security, and splendor of Heaven.
When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas it meant saying "no" to eternity and stepping into the restrictions and limits of time.
When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas he also said "no" to the power, the privilege and the paradise of Heaven.
When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas in order to come as God's gift to the world, it meant He had to give up everything that was special or advantageous about being equal to God.
When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas He was saying "no" to the peace of Heaven and facing the pain of an evil planet filled with wicked people.
Christmas was not an easy "yes" for Jesus. It required saying "no" to some pretty precious privileges. Christmas would be no holiday for Jesus. He would leave all that was holy, and familiar and deserved, to live among sin and strangers and sacrifice.
Christmas was actually Christyes. It could not have happened unless several people were willing to "yes" to God and "no" to all that was comfortable or convenient to them. The first among that group was none other than Jesus Christ Himself!
In view of all the hard things that Christ said, "Yes" to for you, what are you willing to Him?