Verse of the Day - weekend 10/16

Through the Bible - Isaiah 62-66, 2 Thessalonians 2-3,

 

Good morning,

Have you ever considered humility to be an attribute of God?  Jesus exemplified it.

 

The men's small group that I'm in has been discussing the book "The Same Kind of Different as Me" which details the unlikely relationship and ultimately the friendship and bond that develops between a millionaire art dealer (Ron) and a destitute homeless person(Denver).

 

Ron, the rich man, humbled himself to serve in a soup kitchen (actually, he was dragged into it, perhaps coerced by his wife).  But in time, his heart softened and he ended up investing himself in Denver, the homeless person's life.  You could think of it as humility² 

 

For today's verse we'll go to Philippians chapter 2 where Paul describes the humility of Christ.  He humbled Himself first of all by becoming a human being.  Then humbled Himself in becoming a servant, and finally humbling Himself in the highest degree all the way to His death on the cross.

 

Philippians 2:7-8 (Amplified Bible) But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. ⁸And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

 

Serving our Lord with our lives requires some degree of humility.  There is a degree of humility in volunteering for just about any type of service for Christ.  Going to the next level, as Ron did, requires additional humility.  It is getting involved personally with the people that you are serving.  It involves getting to know the people, their hurts, hopes, and joys.  It involves investing in them with your time and your heart in these areas.  It involves growing with them as you learn more of Jesus and His great love.  As we learn in books such as "The Same Kind of Different as Me" and as exemplified in the Bible, it is a two-way street.

 

Extreme Home Makeover is a popular TV show on Sunday nights.  A group of people come in and tear down old dilapidated homes of needy people.  They invest their time and efforts into creating a new home for them, opportunities for a better live.  They make an investment in their lives.  Theirs is an investment that takes a short period of time with long lasting results.

 

Are we willing to invest to "the extreme", beyond a few days weeks or months?

 

What can you do in ministries that you're involved in to take them to the next level?  Will you be willing to do so?

 

in Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

   
^{Philippians 2:5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.