The Wednesday Word 10.19.2022

 

Philippians 2:3-11

New Living Translation

3 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Sometimes I think we overlook all the ways in which Jesus was truly amazing. This passage makes me stop and really consider just how incredible it is that God actually came down and took human form. Then even more inconceivable, he didn’t hold it against us while he was here. He could have just zapped mankind into being faithful and loving beings. He could have just eliminated any who failed to recognize him. Instead, he he did just the opposite. He traipsed up and down the Middle East, patiently repeating his message and ministering to the downtrodden. He did this in spite of ridicule, hardship and privation, culminating in his torture and death on our behalf. Why? How could he love us so much? How can we ignore the depth of that love?

Jesus told us to love one another as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). He didn’t say just say “try to be nice.” He said LOVE. God wants a response to the unimaginable love of Christ. How can you show him that you get it?…Something to pray about.

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.

                                                                                                    photo by Thomas Kinto

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