Good morning. I wanted to take a few brief moments to consider with you the wonder of our Lord. Our God, who loves us so much that He would do the unimaginable to bring us back into His arms. Our God, who was willing to become, for a time, one with us in physical body. We read in Philippians 2:5-8
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to cling to;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Jesus, who was in every way, in very nature God, did not hang on to (cling to) that reality of divine being. Instead, he made himself nothing, which is to say that Jesus left behind the throne of heaven in order to become fully man. And as that being who was fully one with mankind, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Many of mankind believe(d) in God, but they (we) could not know Him in a personal way, in a way that could lead them (us) back to the Father. So, God, in an incredible act of love became one with us to pay the price and to lead us home.
But wait, we need(ed) more. We cannot be one again with the Father while we are lost in sin. The justice of our righteous God cannot allow this to be. We need(ed) not only a guide but also a divine Savior. One who would pay the price, one who would die in our place, and one who could win the victory over sin and death.
Jesus, our God who became man, came to us to be near enough for those who accept His love to accept His embrace. Jesus, our God who became man, who was fully God and became fully man, but also our Jesus who returned to the throne of glory to intercede for us with the voice of our all-powerful God.
Jesus, human enough to go to the cross for you but always with the divine power to pay the price, to rise again, and to take His place in glory to ensure your eternal destiny.
Thank you, Jesus—Savior—God Almighty—friend.
Vern