"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:1-8 ESV
God was and is God. He didn't have ambitions to be God or downplay the fact that He was who He was. He didn't try to be anything more than what He was. He was the Great I Am. He still Is and forever will Be.
But, Every morning He woke up and found Himself to be a man. He made choices each day to walk by faith. There was an emptying of Himself and decisions were made. Jesus found Himself as a man but then took the form of something not craving to be something else. What He chose was in a sense the lowest position of an already low estate. The word is translated servant or bond-servant but it really means slave.
Jesus basically said, 'Look today I am a man again. If I am going to be a man than I will choose to be a slave of my master.'
Is that a satisfying life?
God the Father did not make Jesus into a slave. Some people wanted that for Him. They wanted to make Him into their slave.
"And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.'
And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side." - Mark 8:10-13 ESV
Jesus would not be the slave of men. He knew who He was and chose to serve God as a slave in freedom not desiring to be something else. God is not a hard task master. Jesus knew He was born to be the Savior of the world and He daily embraced that reality.
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Philippians 2:9-13 ESV
This morning we 'work out our salvation' just like Jesus did when He woke up. Jesus fulfilled the role of the servant. It is finished! Sin and all the rules and regulations that would be against us were nailed to the tree with Christ Himself. Now He gives us a daily gift if we will take it. His mindset.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." - Romans 12:2-3 ESV
"For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God." - 1 Corinthians 7:22-24 ESV
We awake to find ourselves in one condition or another this morning. What will we choose? Will we dance on command like a dancing monkey because circumstances or powerful people tell us to dance? It doesn't have to be that way. We can look to the God of all grace and realize we belong to Him and He has made us free.
"But he said to him, 'A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' ... And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.' " - Luke 14:16-17, 23 ESV
God has made a banquet for people and He wants His house to be full of people so that there will be great rejoicing.
Since this morning I wake up and find myself in this place and at this time out I go into the world to live my life and invite people to come to the great banquet of the King.
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