Love Does Not Boast
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11)
It is really mind boggling that the One who spoke creation into existence, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, came to earth in humility. He rejected every opportunity He had to boast. He was never domineering. He did not tout His majesty to gain fans. He did not require servitude from any who called Him Lord. He washed filthy feet (John 13:1-12). He spent His time with social outcasts (Matthew 9:10-13). He loved us to the point of death on a cross.
Obedience and humility go hand in hand. We cannot follow Christ and seek our own way. We cannot be puffed up with pride and bring glory to God. If anyone could have done this, it would have been Jesus, but He set the example of ultimate humility as He poured out His life from His birth in a shabby manger to death on a rugged cross. As Jesus ministered to the sick, to the lowly, to the broken, He did so to magnify the Father and to serve His people; quite often He asked those He performed miracles for to stay silent, His purpose to seek and save the lost rather than putting on a show for the vain praise of man.
When the disciples argued over who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom, Jesus was quick to correct them. “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)
Jesus came looking for followers, not fans. People who would follow Him in truth, follow Him in service, follow Him in suffering, follow Him in a life of humility fueled by the same love with which He loved us.
It is really mind boggling that the One who spoke creation into existence, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, came to earth in humility. He rejected every opportunity He had to boast. He was never domineering. He did not tout His majesty to gain fans. He did not require servitude from any who called Him Lord. He washed filthy feet (John 13:1-12). He spent His time with social outcasts (Matthew 9:10-13). He loved us to the point of death on a cross.
Obedience and humility go hand in hand. We cannot follow Christ and seek our own way. We cannot be puffed up with pride and bring glory to God. If anyone could have done this, it would have been Jesus, but He set the example of ultimate humility as He poured out His life from His birth in a shabby manger to death on a rugged cross. As Jesus ministered to the sick, to the lowly, to the broken, He did so to magnify the Father and to serve His people; quite often He asked those He performed miracles for to stay silent, His purpose to seek and save the lost rather than putting on a show for the vain praise of man.
When the disciples argued over who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom, Jesus was quick to correct them. “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)
Jesus came looking for followers, not fans. People who would follow Him in truth, follow Him in service, follow Him in suffering, follow Him in a life of humility fueled by the same love with which He loved us.
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