Stripped to Care

Philippians 2:4-7

“Stop looking to your own interests only but practice looking out for the interests of others too. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; though the divine nature was His from the beginning, He did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal but emptied Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity by taking the nature of a servant and became like human beings.”

Hey, welcome to your journey to success. Oh yes! You’re an unfolding success story and I'm privileged to have you on this journey. My aim is to equip you with truth and tools to lead you to your next level of success because you are full of potential, big dreams, and enormous value that can't be ignored! I sure can't wait for the world to witness your greatness.

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Made for Each Other

As humans, we can get caught up in ourselves. We spend a considerable amount of time just thinking about ourselves.

There is nothing really wrong with thinking about yourself and taking care of yourself but it shouldn't be at the expense of others.

The Bible exhorts us to think of others more highly than we think of ourselves. We are encouraged to think of other people’s interests other than our own.

If we obediently did what this verse says, I believe life would be heaven on earth. Problems and burdens wouldn't have been so heavy to bear. God intends that the quality of our lives improve by reason of living for one another.

God’s heart is well represented when we carry one another’s burdens. Having said that let me clarify. We aren't to take on other people’s issues full time and forget our own but rather, we should be concerned about their well being and extend a helping hand where we can.

Life is already complex as it is, why not make it more possible for others?

Life is already complex as it is, why not make it more possible for others? I believe the world would be turned upside down by our care and concern for one another.

Moses is termed as the most humble man to walk on the face of the earth but I tend to disagree with that statement, Jesus was a man too and He walked on this earth. No man was as humble as He was, He was the lamb slain for many.

The verses before us describe Jesus’ humility. He knew that He was God and that He had every power above all powers in heaven and on earth but He stripped Himself of those powers, rights, and privileges! Jesus did this so that He could come down to our level to identify with us, to make Himself more relatable, and most importantly so that He could save us.

Sometimes I wonder what better expression of love that could have come from Jesus. He left His throne in heaven for our sake, He became human like you and me, now this is no easy thing to do.

The Symbol of Surrender

Picture this, a King’s son in all of his splendor and majesty agrees and chooses to live among his subjects and not as a prince but as a commoner among ordinary people.

To add to that, He surrenders his privileges and preferences and is subject to the prevailing rule of law amongst the people. As if that is not enough, he chooses to live amongst the poor, destitute, hopeless, and outcasts of the society!

My friend, that is what Jesus did. He reduced Himself to meet us at our point of need. Jesus wasn't intimidated by the fact that He would have to become human, in fact, He wasn't insecure by the reason of having to be as weak and vulnerable as humans in comparison to the magnificent power and majesty of being God the Son.

Jesus knew His identity and taking on a lower form did not shake Him one bit.

If Jesus went to such lengths for us, then surely anything else we ask of Him is far much lesser. Jesus loves us no more, no less.

He found that we were worthy of being saved even if that meant that He strips Himself of His highness and die a shameful death.

I once read a story in a popular devotional known as ‘Our Daily Bread’ the story was of a young man who was particularly smitten by a girl he met at campus. One day he wrote a romantic letter to her that went something like this, “ I would cross the ocean for you, climb the highest mountain for you, go through the forest for you, travel to the moon and back for you if that is what I have to do to be with you. P.S. I won’t make it for dinner tonight because of the heavy downpour.’

Now that is just ludicrous! And sadly that is how we are.

We often make promises we can’t keep but thank God for His grace towards us for He doesn't deal with us based on our behaviour and He didn't wait for us to be perfect to save us, He just did it! He stripped Himself of His power and died in our place.

I don’t know what or who you are waiting on to make you happy but know this; Jesus already demonstrated His love for us and this is the confidence we have in Him meeting our needs, that He will do it according to His glorious riches and will for us.