On Christmas Sunday, I (Dan) was asked to fill in at a church that we have a close relationship with, but I never made it there to preach, as most everyone (but me) was sick that morning, and I thought it best to stay home with sick children, especially since the roads were pretty snow covered. So I decided to post the message here (at least a short version of it). I'm a few weeks late, but I pray it gives good encouragement of what we are to do in light of Christmas.
Often
when we discuss Christmas, we take time to discuss the miracle, the
magnificence, the love, the mercy, the forgiveness, the humility
demonstrated, etc. We are also quite often very good at
discussing how Christmas points to the cross - the suffering and
death of Christ, which in turn points to His resurrection - our
hope. It dawned on me that I have seldom heard a message on
what we are to do in light of Christmas. It happened this week
(the last week of Advent, 2016) as I was considering what I would
preach on Sunday at a church in Poplar MT, should the weather permit
me to drive there on the 25th. It turns out that I will not be
preaching anyway, as all of my kids and my wife are not feeling well,
AND there are likely to be bad roads.
So
here is what occurred to me. Consider Philippians 2:1-11.
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in
Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any baffection and
compassion,
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from aselfishness or empty
conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more
important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal
interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in
Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not
regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but aemptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and
bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of
those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and
that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.1
Most
often, we miss the Christmas roots of this passage, and go straight
to discussing the self-emptying of Christ and the deity of Christ,
which is made clear in both verses 6-7 and 10-11. However,
verse six is preceeded by verse five, which gives us a clear
instruction of how we are to live in light of CHRISTMAS, for
Christmas is the day when Christ came to earth in great humility to
begin His life of humility service, and ultimate sacrifice.
Verse five reads, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was
also in Christ Jesus".
This
is how we are to live in light of Christmas! We are called by
Christ to be like Him. That is what we are to do! But
what is the attitude? Humility, letting go of that which was
rightfully His, emptying Himself, and becoming an obedient slave of
others for their sake! Christ even died for us in this
process. But don't miss this! We are called to have this
attitude!
Look
back at 3-4. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty
conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more
important that yourselves; do not merely look out for your own
personal interests, but also for the interests of others"
This is how we live out the calling that Christmas was to bring in
our lives! Yes, He accomplished our salvation. Yes, He
suffered for our gain. Yes, it's by His grace and mercy.
But remember that He calls us to come follow Him. How do we do
that? Humility. Selflessness. Treat others as more
important than ourselves. Serve them. Look out for what
is in their best interest.
I
think if I am honest, this is always a grave struggle in my life, and
likely in yours too. So I ask us to consider some thoughts?
Whom do I serve? What sacrifices do I make? Am I making
every effort to maintain the same love, mind, unity of spirit, and
purpose with other believers (vs. 2), or am I selfishly seeking what
I want, my interests, recognition, and purposes.
When
was the last time I changed my lifestyle drastically for the sake of
others? I've been considering this particular issue a lot
lately. Christ left heaven for us. Will I leave the
comforts I know and enjoy for the sake of the lost? I know, I
moved across the country to come to where I am, to serve here, but
what if God calls for more? I happen to like where I'm at a
lot. Would I give that up? Would I empty myself?
Would I be a bond-slave to a people who would reject me, abuse me,
and potentially even kill me? Would I do it in love for them
and in obedience, as Christ did for us?
Don't
we see? Christmas is so much more profound than the celebration
of Christ's birth. It is also the call of Christ on our lives.
"Come, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me." It
is a call to discipleship... to be like Him, who came in such great
humility. What do I need to sacrifice? How do I need to
change my decision making process? Which things do I NOT
do for selfishness? Which things do I DO for selfishness.
Will I allow the attitude that was in Christ Jesus to grow in me?
How about you?
1
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Php
2:1–11). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
