Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Philippians 2:1-7 .
Read Philippians 2:1-7 (New International Version) 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] 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[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. Our focus today in our worship services will be on Jesus. Yes, he is God’s gift to the whole world. But this passage of Scripture focuses on Jesus gifting himself to everyone. He willingly and intentionally gave up his place in heaven to come and be with us; to become one of us and experience life as a human. It is extraordinary to think about the level of vulnerability in which he was willing to engage in order to have the full human experience. To stoop to the level of being born a human baby, totally dependent on his family is truly amazing. Yet it fits perfectly with how he lived his life and the emphasis of his ministry. He told his disciples that to be part of his kingdom, a person would have to be willing to be a servant. At Christmas, Jesus gifts himself to us, inviting each of us to both receive the gift, but also commit ourselves to following his example and gifting ourself to others. That really is what Christmas is all about!
Personal Worship Option:
Plan to join us in worship today as we focus on the gift of Jesus Christ to all the world! We hope to see you at either 9:30 or 11:15 at Christ Church! And bring somebody with you!
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