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JESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF

PART 1

Philippians 2:1-15: 2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Philippians 2: 7 “⁷ but ^[a]emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. — Philippians 2:5–8

That phrase there, “made himself nothing,” is actually means “He emptied Himself.” Then the question becomes, emptied Himself of what?

• He emptied Himself of glory. In John 17:5, Jesus prayed, “Glorify me…with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” He gave up the adoration of the saints and angels when He came into this world.

• He emptied Himself of independent authority. In John 5:30, Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own.” He brought Himself into a different relationship with the Father, where ALL of His activities and actions had to be cleared in that unusual way. Though equal with the Father, now uniquely submissive to Him.
• He released the voluntary exercise of His divine attributes. Compare John 1:43–51 with Matthew 24:36 to see how Jesus sometimes was omniscient and sometimes not.
• He gave up eternal riches. I just want you to try to imagine for a moment the treatment that the Son of God, the King of the universe, gets in heaven. Yet 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “…though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
• He gave up His intimate relationship with the Father. Who can describe the fellowship that exists between the first and second Person of the Trinity? And to hear Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27:46 shouting, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He made Himself nothing—for you and me.

Limitations Christ imposed on Himself while here as a human:

• He could not see into the future without insights from the Father
• His connection to the Father was through prayer instead of being one with the Father
• He could not be everywhere or in all times at the same time.
• His divine power was limited to what the Father provided to Him.
• He experienced the full power of temptation along with human weaknesses and pain all humans experience.
• He felt His mortality
• He felt the guilt and loneliness of sin – not His own sin but our sins.
• He emptied Himself of all resources and privilege and divine ability.

Why?

• So He would be an acceptable sacrifice for us
• So He would be a perfect example for us to follow in our battles with satan.
• So we could relate to Him.
• So His teachings and instruction would have full impact on us.
• The Father could not look on Him while enduring guilt for our sins + Christ could not embrace the guilt for our sins without empting Himself first.

Final Comments:

• What enduring sacrifice is Christ still enduring for bearing our sins on the cross and living as a human in spite of living a sinless life? That is a subject of future discussion and research and prayer. I believe the answer to this question may be discussed and understood in part, but I also believe the full answer will have to wait until we see Him face to face and discover the answer there in heaven. I do believe, when we discover the answer, we will fall to our knees in worship and awe of Him, because the answer will cause us to realize the full extent of His sacrifice and love for you and me.
• Christ, when He returned to the Father was again joined to Him as the God Son part of the Trinity with full connection to and authority of the Father with all the power and authority and attributes He left behind and emptied Himself of when He came as a human to earth.
• Since we can not understand nor comprehend God and all His abilities and attributes, we are not able to discuss nor explain what we are discussing. So I must leave it at that and allow you to draw your own conclusions based on scripture and personal experiences. Yet I caution you, as I also caution myself, to not speculate beyond nor draw any conclusions beyond what scripture allows us to. AMEN!

TIME FOR US TO EMPTY OURSELVES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GOD’S FILLING AND ANNOINTING FOR 2022

PART 2

Have you ever stopped to consider what is was Christ emptied Himself in order to be filled with? He sustained Himself as a human by fellowship consistently with the Father but was not able to sustain Himself because of emptying Himself.

CHRIST EMPTIED HIMSELF IN ORDER TO BE FILLED WITH ALL OUR SINS. SINCE GOD OCCUPIES EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTIME, HE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE JUDGMENT ON THE CROSS AS WE CONTINUE TO LAY ON HIM PAST AND PRESENT SINS AND WILL DO SO IN OUR FUTURE TOO. This is a lot to think about and try to comprehend, which I am not able to do completely either. Yet for Him to bear our sins ( 1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”) so we wouldn’t need to. So we could be clean. But we continue to need cleaned because we continue to sin and fall short of His standard for perfection. 1 John 1:8-2:1 – “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

So what does all this mean? We fail and continue to fail in our endeavor to live a Christ like and sin-free life. But that doesn’t mean we should give up because we can’t succeed. The reason is He has everything figured out and taken care of as long as we get and stay in fellowship with Him. He is our advocate but also our only way to a meaningful – effective – sustainable relationship with God the Father. But what that means for Christ is He continues to bear the weight and guilt of our infectious “pussy sins”, a burden to heavy and terrible to comprehend nor bear ourselves. Puss coming out of an infected wound is not very appealing, but I think the description helps us see sin for what it is and resulting disease and damage. Without intervention, such infections can and do cause loss of limb and even death. Needless death due to lack of medical attention. I’m sure you can look around and see many examples of others suffering greatly from past sins and poor choices and can’t seem to get past them or get a break in trying to start over. We are in a society that refused to admit there is such a thing as sin let along consequences for those sins, but evidence of such is everywhere. Yet, there is just as much compelling evidence Christ does remove and carry the burden of sin as seen in the transformed lives of those who have received His forgiveness and mercy. Now is a good time to pray and reflect and consider what spiritual attention the Great Physician needs to administer to heal us of remaining sin infection that is making and keeping us sick and not able or willing to be in full fellowship and obedience to His will and call. Let’s take some time to let Him speak to and heal us before we enter 2022. AMEN?

Every year a popular exercise is to make resolutions ill prepared and with little thought as to how to keep. No surprise that only 8% of resolutions made are successfully sustained and 45% fail before January ends.

The above graph is representative of age when we are most open to receive Christ. As adults we are more distracted and less open to accept Christ and as seniors even less open even though our time on earth is drawing to a close. 2022 may indeed be the year Christ returns and opportunity for our loved ones and neighbors to receive salvation will end. But then again none of us know when death will come either. Scripture tells us best time to accept Christ is now (II Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

So what are the resolutions or changes you are planning on making in 2022? What plans and preparations are you making to help make them a sustainable reality? Making a resolution to quit smoking when you don’t smoke or stop eating donuts if that isn’t a temptation doesn’t count. A goal of loosing 20 pounds of weight or exercising doesn’t happen just by saying it nor by starvation or running without putting together a plan and support system including someone to make you accountable first. It is better to take January to work on a plan and start implementing a resolution February 1^st than to start January 1^st and fail after a few days or even a month.

But the most important resolution we can make is to work out our day’s priority to carve out more time to spend in prayer and bible study and devotion. Our relationship with Christ is the most important and most valuable time we spend each day. Quality time with Him need not be many hours, at least at first, but must be clear of distractions. You and I need to realize efforts to spend more time with family and church. Yet outreach to neighbors and friends and family will not be effective nor succeed by devoting quality time even to loved ones unless we do so with Him first. Giving a tithe is suppose to be first and not off what is left at end of month. Our time with Him must be first and probably should be at beginning of day but if you are a night person, may work better in evening. However, commitment should be the first order of business between you and your Lord. God has a wonderful way of helping us meet all our duties and needs/obligations of family and work and ??? if we first are true to our relationship with Him. I am still learning that principle but have experienced that many times and in many ways over the years. That is not a natural nor an easy act of obedience but is one He will honor and respond to, that I am certain.

Remember, every important choice requires thought and planning to succeed. Something this important will likely require planning and seeking someone to make us accountable and to help and council us along the way. No time like now to get started but might mean taking some time in January before fully implement. Yet starting now to pray and carving time away from other places is also a good starting point. You might just discover God will show you more efficient and effective ways of accomplishing duties you struggle with and give you opportunities to witness and listen and encourage others you otherwise would not have either noticed or had.

BE DILIGENT

PART 3
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

SCRIPTURE: TITUS 1:5-9 “5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should est set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” COMMENTS : 2021 is quickly coming to a close and 2022 is no longer a distant or even an immediate future. The week between Christmas Day and New Years Day is a good time to reflect, making note of events and influence Christ has made in past year. What has been most important? Successes or failures at work or in church or in family? What gains have been realized and what losses. A surface look may reveal increases or decreases in financial worth or in possessions or in status or position. Failing health becomes more of an issue as we get older and alert us to not take good health for granted and motivate us to care for our bodies better. This is also a time to make resolutions to stop some bad habits and create some new ones. But this is also an important time to reflect on what is most important to us and what we would change if we could in 2021 and what we need to do both to not repeat those mistakes or sins but also to work repairing damage done by those mistakes and sins.

What do we owe and learn from the past?

1. Experience of those faithful and obedient to their calling as well as faithful to their relationship to their God. The example of those in scripture as well as example of those both from history and those we know from our own past and from our own church and our own family.
2. The Heritage and expectations Christ has established for us by the standard and guidance and council He provides for us in our Bible.
3. The testimony of witnesses of Christ’s life by proving it’s truth by giving their own transformed lives.
4. Also lives and consequences of those who made sinful and foolish choices from history and from scripture as well as within our lifetime.

What do we owe confident faith as we prepare for a successful future?

1. God’s promises that apply as much to us and they did to those before us. God’s mighty works to those before us and to us in years past prove He is still faithful and will be just as much on the job for us in our future as He was in our past and their past.
2. Wisdom learned from both mistakes and failure as well as successes and victories from ours and their past. Included is benefits and mercies from accepting Christ’s gift of forgiveness, salvation, but also ongoing abiding presence of His Holy Spirit with them and with us. God also provided documented examples of both in scripture to guide and encourage us based on unchanging and predictable ways satan tempted them (and us), but also God’s unchanging and dependable faithfulness to them (and us) when open to receive from Him.
3. We owe a debt to God and to those before us that is intended to be paid by learning and following the lessons they and He teaches.
4. Some examples to help us overcome fear of the future: Daniel, Esther, Joseph, Noah, David, Mary, Job, Hanna, Ruth,… The Psalms and Proverbs especially help us in trying times and an uncertain future. Knowing and memorizing key scriptures and having them accessible to remind and encourage us and give us hope and courage when doubt and fear tempt us to give up and even run away.
5. Wise Christians God puts in our path to encourage and council and help us along the journey into coming year. Wise Christians who are willing to be honest and true friends to us.
6. Opportunities for us to be wise Christian friends to others needing wisdom our experience have gained for us. To be a Paul to a younger Timothy as well as a Timothy to help and strengthen an aging Paul. Such opportunities come as we take the time to be a friend to others who’s path we cross in 2022.
7. Think about those interruptions in 2021 we ignored and later regretted because of a missed opportunity to witness or encourage someone in need or an opportunity for someone to help or encourage us. Use those to help us learn to slow down and be more deliberate but also more sensitive to those opportunities God gives us often without warning. Seeking God’s forgiveness for missing such opportunities is necessary but seeking His help to not miss future opportunities requires seeking His help at the beginning of each day and reminders throughout each day.
8. Think also about those times we did stop for some of those interruptions in 2016 and reflect on impact resulting conversations and words blessed both you and the one who called interrupted you to minister too. Such should also encourage us to be more sensitive to notice future interruptions and take advantage of them. Also remember how God helped us take care of the important work we needing done those interruptions delayed doing.

I dare say what we will find most precious and of greater value by far than most resolutions that come to mind is our relationships with family and with Christ. Our relationship with others, both family and church and all we cross paths with at work and play, is directly affected and influenced by our relationship with Christ. Our relationship with Him empowers us to a more Christ like relationship with others. 2022 needs to be a year of focus on our relationship with Christ and obedience to all He calls us to do and be, both in public but especially when no one else is looking or noticing. A relationship not just defined by a few minutes of prayer and devotion at the beginning of each day, but an attitude of prayer and communion with Christ that guides us throughout our day of work and recreation and a variety of communications with others. It is then when no one is looking or noticing our choice to follow His lead means the most. It is when our love for Him is revealed because we are obeying Him out of love for Him instead of out of a desire to get favors or respect or “pats on the back” from others. Those will fade and bring no reward but Christ gives eternal rewards and blessings. He is noticing when no one else is noticing. Yet genuine motivation is not to get rewards but to praise and bless Christ who emptied Himself to receive all our diseased sinful actions and thoughts and cleans our souls completely. He continues to do that to greater depths as we grow deeper in our walk with Him. Will 2022 be a year of deeper fellowship and service with and for Him than was 2016. The choice is ours. He is waiting for us to decide and eager to guide us into that deeper walk of obedience if we only say yes to Him and reach out our hand to take His. He knows the path we will take because He has already walked it and wants to prepare us for it but also to walk it with us. AMEN!

God’s blessing, I pray, to you and your family for a blessed 2022 filled with God’s provision and peace but mostly God’s abiding presence. Don McDaniel dmcdaniel12@zoominternet.net BLOG: https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Don1951