December 19 – Day 20
Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I can find myself caught up in the “season of Christmas” unless I intentionally focus on the Christ of Christmas. I need to listen to Christmas music that talks of Christ. I enjoy other songs and movies of the season, but I have to ground myself in the reality of what I am really celebrating day by day during this season. What do you do, or need to do, in order to focus on Christ in the midst of all the distractions of the season?
This passage today is so familiar to many of us, some able to quote at least parts of it from memory. This passage is a 30,000 foot view of the plan of God. Let’s slow down and read it one word at a time and think about what the incarnation, the sinless life, the death, the resurrection and the eventual establishment of the Kingdom really means. Isn’t that what the first six words call us to do? We are called to understand, to establish our thinking along this path of God’s plan. (Romans 12:2)
Jesus was, is and will always be God, the second person of the Trinity. He is far more than a great teacher, He is God in the flesh (John 1:1-4, 12-14).
As we read the rest, take note and write down what the cost was for the plan of God to be fulfilled – don’t miss any of the details.
I imagine we can all get distracted by the trappings of the Christmas season (or maybe it is the pain of loss, regret and/or loneliness). Yet, because of the faithfulness of Christ to fulfill all the plans of the Father, what is the present and eventual result? Verses 9-11 help ground me that as I walk through this season, I am hyper-focused on Christ, not the plans, decorations, family, gifts or more of the season. I want to have this “mind” of faithful fulfillment of the plan of God in my life.
