“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, that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Here I am sitting in my
comfy easy chair writing about the spiritual struggles presented by our desire
for comfort. I will adjust to a less comfortable position before I continue
writing.
Let me call your attention
to this moving verse about the extreme discomfort our Savior was willing to
suffer for your sin and mine.
How much comfort did He
forfeit? Let’s count the ways!
1) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage….
In my very sinful nature I
want to be God. Jesus WAS God and gave it up in order to deliver me from my
delusions of righteousness!
And you, too!
2) rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…..
My sinful human nature
wants to be served! In fact, it tells me I deserve to be served! It is contrary
to that nature to want to serve anyone, including God!
But Jesus, who for all of eternity,
had been served and worshipped by all the holy and beautiful celestial beings! How
uncomfortable must it have been for Him to give that up to become a servant?
Not only did He lower
Himself to serve, but He became subservient to death!
He did it for me and for
you!
3) being made in human likeness. And being
found in appearance as a man…..
How could God become a
man? That is the mystery of the incarnation!
Think of how uncomfortable
it must have been for an eternal Being to step into time?
Imagine how uncomfortable
it must have been for a finite Being to be limited in time and space by a body
of flesh and blood!
He did it to bear my sins
upon the cross and to take the stripes that bring me healing! And He did it for
you, as well!
4) he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Suffering unimaginable
cruelty and being nailed to a cross is one of the most horrible ways for any
man to die. Yet, Jesus, so humbled Himself to human form for the sole purpose
of doing just that!
God can’t die, but He
found a way to do so to deliver you and me from the power of sin and death.
I am grateful beyond words
for the extreme discomfort Jesus was willing to endure for me!
I am to have that same
mind that He has toward comfort. That is an uncomfortable thought…God help me……
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