Read Philippians 2:5-11

   Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we should have a servant’s attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Remember, you can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others (Mark 10). 
The Incarnation was the act of the preexisting Son of God voluntarily assuming a human body and human nature.

   Without ceasing to be God, He became a human being, the man called Jesus. He did not give up His deity to become human, but He set aside the right to His glory and power. In submission to the Father’s will, Christ limited His power and knowledge. Jesus of Nazareth was subject to place, time, and many other human limitations. What made His humanity unique was His freedom from sin. In His full humanity, Jesus showed us everything about God’s character that can be conveyed in human terms (John 1; Romans 1; 2 Corinthians 8; 1 Timothy 3; Hebrews 2; and 1 John 1). 

 

   Death on a cross was the form of capital punishment that Romans used for notorious criminals. It was excruciatingly painful and humiliating. Prisoners were nailed or tied to a cross and left to die. Death might not come for several days, and it usually came by suffocation when the weight of the weakened body made breathing more and more difficult. Jesus died as one who was cursed. How amazing that the perfect man should die this most painful death so that we would not have to face eternal punishment. 

 

    These verses are probably from a hymn sung by the early Christian church. The passage holds many parallels to the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. As a hymn, it was not meant to be a complete statement about the nature of Christ. Several key characteristics of Jesus Christ, however, are praised in this passage: 1) Christ has always existed with God; 2) Christ is equal with God because He is God (John 1; Colossians 1); 3) though Christ is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all people; 4) Christ did not just have the appearance of being a man; He actually became human to identify with our sins; 5) Christ voluntarily laid aside His divine rights and privileges out of love for His Father; 6) Christ died on the cross for our sins so we wouldn’t have to face eternal death; 7) God glorified Christ because of His obedience; 8) God raised Christ to His original position at the Father’s right hand, where He will reign forever as our Lord and Judge. How can we do anything less than praise Christ as our Lord and dedicate ourselves to His service. 

 

   Often people excuse selfishness, pride, or evil by claiming their rights. They think, “I can cheat on this test; after all, I deserve to pass this class,” or “I can spend all this money on myself, I worked hard for it,” or “I can get an abortion; I have a right to control my own body,” or “I have the right to live the kind of life style I want.” But as believers, we should have a different attitude, one that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve others. If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived. We should develop His attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. Are you selfishly clinging to your rights, or are you willing to serve? 

 

   At the Last Judgment, even those who are condemned will recognize Jesus’ authority and right to rule. People can choose now to commit their lives to Jesus as Lord or be forced to acknowledge Him as Lord when He returns. Christ may return at any moment. Are you prepared to meet Him?