Philippians 2:6-8 II; Leverage says I

“Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; (7) rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

This passage has been described as the humiliation of Christ, and the next passage (v.9-11) is known as the exultation of Christ.  That is the way things work in God’s economy: you humble yourself and God exalts you.  James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”  The inverse is true as well, “The Lord detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.” – Proverbs 16:5  

Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, existed before the world was created (John 1:1).  The world was created through Him and for Him and is sustained because of Him (Rom. 11:36).  While he was on earth, Jesus had power over creation, over illnesses, over blindness, and deafness; he could forgive sins, cast out demons, and raise the dead.

While Jesus exercised His power and taught the truth of who He was, he lived out his infinite power in humble obedience to God.  He only said what God told him to say and he was absolutely obedient to his Heavenly Father (John 5:19).  Jesus never leveraged his authority for personal advantage, instead, he leveraged his rights for the advantage of others.

That last sentence convicts me to the core…I didn’t even like typing it.  I don’t want to give up my rights and I sure don’t want to give my rights to others (Hey – those are MY rights!).  But that is what Jesus did.  He was (and is) the Son of God, but he put His rights of Sonship aside so that we could become sons and daughters of God through His actions.  He was cursed so that we might be blessed.

What privileges are you clinging to?  Where do you refuse to give way for another’s benefit?  How are you leveraging your rights, authority, and resources for the benefit of God’s Kingdom?  Those are hard questions.  Why not take a few days to prayerfully consider them and ask God to change your heart when it comes to “your” rights…

“I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.” ― Charles H. Spurgeon

Ps – The title, “Leverage says I,” is nothing profound…it’s just a quote from Pirates of the Caribbean.  Unless you found something profound in it, then that is what I meant.