Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of the slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross.
2 Philippians 2:8 HCSB
This is the time of year when we think of Jesus as that babe lying in a manger. We think of His birth and what that meant for mankind. We think about the stable and the animals and the shepherds and the wise men. In a few months we will celebrate Easter, and our focus will be on Jesus’ brutal death and His resurrection, where He conquered sin and death.
Now if we look at our calendar for the time in between, we will have the opportunity to overindulge in alcohol for New Year’s Eve. We will have the opportunity and perhaps the desire for adultery or any type of sexual immorality to celebrate Valentine’s Day and of course there is Mardi Gras with all its debauchery for those of us in Louisiana.
Yes, I know it sounds like I am trying to put a damper on your festivities between Christmas and Easter, but that’s not it at all. I simply want us to understand how important it is for us to focus on Jesus’ life and what it meant to us. He came and lived on the earth to set an example for us. He came to show us how we should live and how we should treat other people.
Our Scripture passage begins by telling us we should have the same attitude as Christ. Can you imagine how awesome it would be to live in the world if everyone had the same attitude as Christ? What if we were willing to surrender our own lives for the good of others? What if we were willing to give up our own pride and humble ourselves before God?
Jesus didn’t live an easy life. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.” Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth.”
Jesus showed us how to love. He showed us how to forgive. He showed us how to surrender and submit to the will of God.
He was fully man and fully God. He got His feelings hurt. He got angry, yet He did not sin. He never repaid evil for evil. Instead, He died for those who despised Him. Those like you and me.
My friend, when we carry anger and hatred and bitterness in our hearts, we are despising Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can go to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). This means we need to study God’s word. Jesus is God’s word (John 1:1-4).
If we don’t become imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1) we may never make it to an eternity in heaven with God, the Father. Let go of anything that keeps you from living the example He has set for us.
When He was 12 years old, He was in the temple studying and teaching God’s word. We too should be spending time in church woshipping and praising Him and studying His word.
Jesus was fully man. He suffered trials and temptations just as we do today. He taught us to surrender to God’s will even if it hurts and even if it kills us. There is no better example for us to follow. Don’t just focus on the manger or the cross, focus on the man who lived the life between the two.
Have a great day!