Holy Week: Pause. Ponder. Pray.Sample

PAUSE.

Jesus made Himself nothing.

What does this mean? Jesus existed in the "form of God" from eternity past, but didn't cling to His divine status. He "made himself nothing," or "emptied himself," by taking on the "very nature of a servant" (or "bond-servant"). He didn't stop being God. He did not forfeit His divine attributes or cease to be fully God. He veiled His glory and willingly laid down the privilege of His divine status. And then He took on human nature, experiencing life as a helpless baby, servant, and ultimately, a crucified man.

Jesus' is the Servant. The supreme Servant. The suffering Servant. A sacrificial Servant. It's a powerful example of selfless love, service, and humility for all believers to follow.

In our culture of self-promotion, the thought of making oneself nothing is a foreign concept. Yet, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of heaven and earth, put others before himself. Though He had equality with God the Father, He did not hold fast to His rights, demand His place, or claim His position as God. Instead, He made himself nothing.

How did He make himself nothing? By assuming the place of a servant. How did He humble himself? By becoming obedient. Obedient to the point of death. Even the horrific death of the cross. He who was the highest took the lowest place. For us.

What was the outcome of such incredible humility? God lifted Him up to the place of supreme exaltation and gave Him the highest place. His name is above every name.

PONDER.

TAKE THE TRUTH TO HEART

What would it look like for us to follow Jesus’ example of humility?

If we were to humble ourselves as He did, it would mean that we would deliberately, intentionally, and worshipfully make ourselves nothing. We would not draw attention to ourselves. Instead, we would turn our eyes to Christ and make Him everything. We would focus all of our attention upon Christ and assume a posture of worship within our hearts. We would bow before Him in all things at all times. He would be our Lord. He would be our King.

It would also mean that we would deliberately and intentionally seek how we may serve others. We would put them before ourselves. We would serve them in love. We would serve Christ by serving them.

Every day we can choose to follow Christ by grace, through faith. We can take up our cross, die to self, make ourselves nothing, and turn around to see how we can serve others. We can choose to put others before ourselves. We can follow Jesus and His example. We can practice humility.

As we do this moment by moment, we are minimized and Christ is magnified.

PRAY.

Lord, have mercy on us. Help us take the lowest place. Help us grant you the highest place in our hearts, in our minds, and in our lives.

May we worship you as Lord and KING!

In Jesus' name, I pray,

Amen