Reflect the Light of God.

“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.”  (Philippians 5:7 ESV)

First, let me start by saying this scripture is often wrongfully cited and used as a platform for the prosperity gospel. Jesus did not empty himself of His deity, becoming only human, but emptied himself by addition, remaining God, and taking on human form. Hebrews 13:8 tells us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The prosperity gospel is not the reason I selected this scripture for today. Let us look at verse six, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Jesus did not count on equality with God as something attainable for humans. Jesus took on human form.

However, Christ calls us God-like while in our own human form. At Ephesians 5’s beginning, Paul writes, “So try to be like God, because you are his own dear children.” What a grand aspiration. “Try to be like God.” This is a glorious yet incredibly challenging thought: to be like God. We are seemingly unable to be like God as we are all sinners, yet as we walk with Christ, we grow in sanctification. We desire to sin less, and we do begin to sin less.

God calls us His children. And most children want to emulate their parents. God calls us to be humble as Christ was humble, taking on the form of a servant. What we do, we do for God’s glory, not our glory. We strive to be like Christ, not strive to become famous. We live to serve others, not to have others serve us.

Jesus is God. He preached on earth that the kingdom of God had come near. So, God, all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful, lowered Himself not only by becoming human but by becoming a human servant. If God came to serve others, and we serve God, if we are not serving others, we are not measuring up to God’s expectations.

Serve because you love the Lord. Serve because the Lord loves you. Serve because God call you to serve as the Son of Man served and died for you.

Peace and Grace!