Philippians 2:5-11

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in 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!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Always a Manger Before a Crown

In a culture driven by ambition and self-promotion (which is the very essence of social media), true humility is a rarity. And yet, for the Christian, there is no other way. In Philippians 2 we are reminded that humility is at the core of Christ’s identity. Indeed it was humility that brought about the nativity scene. It was humility that paved the way to the cross. In simple terms, Andrew Murray said of Christ, “His humility is our salvation.”

This time of year as we look with hope towards Christmas we would do well to recognize that the incarnation is the pinnacle act of humility across all space and time. The scandal of this truth so often escapes us. The same God who spoke the stars into being humbled himself to become an utterly dependent, diaper-wetting, baby. And not a baby born into human prestige or power, but a baby born into the most meager of circumstances, a baby born among animal feed and manure.

Christmas is about humility. Our God is one who set aside all rights as King of Kings to serve the least, the last, and the lost. And even more, he did so not from a distance, but served the least by becoming one of them. If this is the way of our King. How can we, his subjects, expect to live any other way? In God’s economy the way up is to bow low. The manger always comes before the crown. There is no other way. And no message is more counter-cultural than this.

Do you want to take on more Christ-likeness this Christmas?

The only way is the way of humility.

Intentionally put yourself in places that your flesh screams are too low for you. Choose to serve someone who cannot possibly pay you back nor has any platform to give you credit. Is this not what our Lord did for us? Christmas reveals that humility is at the very heart of the Gospel message. Jesus’ humility is our salvation. Learning humility under the tender guidance of the Holy Spirit is central to our sanctification. Learn to live a manger-oriented life if you ever hope to achieve a crown. There is no other way.

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Advent Devotional- Part 2