Jesus though he is "in the very nature of 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 of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8
If Jesus is God and God is the highest form of any being, how can this be that he allowed himself to take on the appearance of humanity, to then die on the cross?
I think the short answer would be that since he is God, he can do whatever he chooses. But it was because he had to die for the sins of the world. And while we don't under heaven have all the answers to how God can be all three in what the bible teaches us, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost it is important to know that because Jesus came and did what he did proves to us that as God, he is not proud. Love is not proud.
Which of course goes back to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which tells us what love is not. Love is not proud. But, what does that mean exactly. Can we not take pride in our families, our homes, our talents? Of course we can, as long as it is the right kind of pride.
What the bible speaks of in that scripture refers to being puffed up about something. As in, "Look what I have." or "Look what I have done." It is someone bragging about those kinds of things that is not love.
Jesus did not die on the cross and then when he raised from the dead brag about what he had just done. Instead his command for us is this: "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no man then this; to lay down ones life for his friends." John 15:12-13. He goes on to say in verse 14: "you are my friends if you do what I command."
There is only one way we become friends of Jesus Christ. That is to do as he has commanded us.
And one of those ways is not through being puffed up but instead of having a humble attitude in what we do or have.
Years ago when we were in a grocery store one day standing at the check out counter, there was a well dressed woman in front of us that was related to a senator of our state. And she was letting everyone know it as we stood there listening to her brag about it.
And yet there are times that we can all be anything but humble. We can be cocky about who we are or know. What we have or achieved. But just as love isn't those other things in that verse, it is sin just as they are. Something to avoid at all costs. Something to recognize in ourselves when it happens. Something to confess to God as sin and instead thanking him for who we are and what we have.
Thanking him for what HE has done in our lives instead of what we think we have one.
That is why Jesus came. He is not impatient. He is not unkind. He is not envious (especially not in his part of the Godhead) nor does he boast. He laid down his very life, so that our sin can be covered and we can have life with him. He is the model for our own behaviors. He is God.
May 15, 2019 Promise: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith through Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe: for there is no difference. Romans 3:22
Hello Friends. There is no difference. Our status in life, who we are or what we have. Where we came from. What our race is. As long as we know Jesus, there is no difference. God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment