March 20

Stooping To Rise

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, — Phil 2:8-9 BSB

We awaken from infancy to find ourselves in a world filled with conflict and rebellion. From as far back as human memory can reach, this battle has been recognized—between a person and themselves, between people and others, and between humanity and God. Is there no solution? Won't God someday bring peace and goodwill to these troubled circumstances? Yes, absolutely! This passage tells us that the time will come when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord, bringing glory to God. And Christ is already working to bring about this reality in ways we didn’t expect.

When our Lord came to live visibly among us, He chose not to demand the honor due to His divine nature. Though He was in the form of God, He willingly set aside His glory, taking on the form of a servant, becoming human like us. From the cradle in Bethlehem to the humble home in Nazareth, from His limitations during His earthly ministry to His obedience to death on the cross, His true power was hidden. He refused to use the attributes of His divine nature, instead manifesting the love of God and bearing away the guilt of the world, bringing about eternal righteousness. Because of this, He is now exalted and bears the name of Jesus—the Savior of the world.

The Apostle urges us to have the same mind that was in Christ. We must follow in His footsteps, showing a holy humility, eager to stoop the lowest and follow the Master most closely. The most important question is not whether we are orthodox in our beliefs, though that matters, but whether we have the mind of Christ and are manifesting God’s love to those around us, no matter the cost.

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, grant us the patience, tender compassion, and humility of Jesus our Lord, who, though rich, became poor for our sake. Make us obedient, even to the point of the cross. Help us to not save ourselves, so that we may save others. Amen.