bluidkiti
10-12-2013, 11:46 AM
Humility
The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God.
Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness. - Philippians 2:5-7
What are we to make of the outward appearance Jesus presents to us - the Son of God serving others and even hanging on a cross? Arms outstretched, his whole body lifeless, what kind of message was Jesus giving to those who saw him?
Jesus could have come down from the cross in a blaze of glory. He might have been accepted immediately, had he put on a dazzling display, but would he have been loved? To prove his love and win ours, he made a decision to hang, broken and seemingly helpless, on a cross.
One of the lessons of the cross is that caring, humble service is more love able than power, force, and arrogance. Winning the cooperation of others is one of the powerful results of humble, caring service. Perhaps we accomplish more by serving gently and humbly than we do by using coercion and arrogance.
Lord, may my service to my brothers and sisters be humble and caring. When it is necessary for me to be assertive, may I do so with kindness.
Focus Your Day
The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God.
Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness. - Philippians 2:5-7
What are we to make of the outward appearance Jesus presents to us - the Son of God serving others and even hanging on a cross? Arms outstretched, his whole body lifeless, what kind of message was Jesus giving to those who saw him?
Jesus could have come down from the cross in a blaze of glory. He might have been accepted immediately, had he put on a dazzling display, but would he have been loved? To prove his love and win ours, he made a decision to hang, broken and seemingly helpless, on a cross.
One of the lessons of the cross is that caring, humble service is more love able than power, force, and arrogance. Winning the cooperation of others is one of the powerful results of humble, caring service. Perhaps we accomplish more by serving gently and humbly than we do by using coercion and arrogance.
Lord, may my service to my brothers and sisters be humble and caring. When it is necessary for me to be assertive, may I do so with kindness.
Focus Your Day