Last week, we talked about how some people take others' kindness for granted, mistaking God's patience (Hesed) and grace as their right. We discussed the message of the prophet Hosea, who cried out, "Let us return to the Lord!" to the Israelites, who had become lost in their religious rituals and superficial repentance, detached from a real relationship with God.
There’s a story of a sneaky camel and a kind owner. While traveling through the desert, the owner went into his tent. The camel, cold outside, pitifully asked if he could just put his nose inside the tent to warm up. The kind owner agreed. Once the camel felt the warmth, he asked for his head to come in, and the owner allowed it. Gradually, the camel squeezed more of his body inside, and before the owner knew it, the camel had pushed his way into the entire tent. The camel then said, "This tent is too small for both of us; you should leave."
This story contrasts with love that views laying down rights as a privilege. In Philippians 2:5-11, we see a hymn of Christ that summarizes Jesus’ life in five key points:
“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. 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.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
Pre-existence of Christ: "Though He was in the form of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage." Jesus is the Creator, existing before time itself, and held all the rights of deity. Yet He did not use this status for His own benefit.
Incarnation: "He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant." Jesus left His heavenly throne, stepping into human history to become like us. The Almighty Creator became fully human while remaining fully God. He took on flesh to save sinners and bring God’s reign to a rebellious world. Hebrews 4:15 explains this mystery well:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Death: "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross." Jesus laid down His crown to become a seed that would die to produce life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)
Jesus gave up His throne, His honor, His comfort, His power, and His life for us. This is the power of the Kingdom of God.
Resurrection: "Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name."
Jesus is our Savior and Lord because He defeated death and rose again. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, He would have been merely a great philosopher, a revolutionary, or a philanthropist. But His resurrection signals the start of God’s Kingdom, a reign that continues through the Church until Jesus returns to complete it.
Ascension: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." This is the return of the King. Jesus, who laid down His life, is now exalted, and His Kingdom advances through those who follow His example of self-sacrificial love.
Jesus' life teaches us to view self-emptying as a privilege. The contrast between the world and the Kingdom of God is stark. While the world seeks honor, recognition, and comfort, Christians are called to serve, to seek out the humble, uncomfortable, and selfless places.
Recently, my wife went to court over an incident involving our church’s community service project, Love Block. For four years, we served our neighbors, providing free family photos and hosting events. One elderly woman, who had been coming to Love Block for over two years, accidentally leaned on a backdrop and fell. Though it was a minor incident, we later received a legal claim for a large sum of money. Humanly speaking, it was frustrating. But despite the personal sacrifice, Love Block grew even more. This is the nature of God’s Kingdom: we may experience loss, but we learn the true joy of following Jesus’ path.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” This doesn’t mean passively accepting defeat, but living with the strength to win yet choosing to lay down our rights for a greater purpose. This is the essence of Christian living.
What rights do you feel entitled to? What areas of your life feel like you are being taken advantage of or overlooked? Look to Jesus: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Follow the path of Jesus, the one who gave up His crown to become a seed that produced life.
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