Daily Bread_December 16, 2014

Title: What a Mighty and Loving God We Serve

Text:

Philippians 2:4-7 (HCSB)
⁴ Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. ⁷ Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

Observation:

I knew when I heard the sermon preached on Sunday morning that I would be giving the topic a lot of thought this week. The message gave the hearers so much to chew on.

Today I will take a bite size piece of the text and focused my heart, mind and my will upon what it says, and what it means to me; and I pray it will mean something very special to you; the readers, hearers, and doers of the Word of God.

I draw your attention to Jesus, and what the Word says about Him.

Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)
⁶ Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

This, my friends, is not the Jesus that the world knows and talks about. However, this is the Jesus that God knows and talks about in the Word of God. What does the Word say about this Jesus?

John 1:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning.

John 10:30 (HCSB)
The Father and I are one."

I notice two things that grip my soul in Philippians 2:6-7. First, Jesus existed in the form of God; that speaks of His divine nature. Jesus is coequal with God. Second, Jesus assumed the form of a slave; He became a man.

Andrae Crouch wrote these lyrics in his song, "I don't know why Jesus loved me; I don't know why He cared. I don't know why He sacrificed His life. Oh, but I'm glad He did".

Here is why Jesus did it; and, He did it for you.

Hebrews 2:17-18 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful and thankful for the triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Father God, my soul and all that is within me sings and shouts praises for Jesus; the sacrifice that He made so that whosoever believeth in Him might have eternal life. Oh the blessing of being able to say, "I am redeemed".

Father God, I thank you for this good news:

Ephesians 1:7 (HCSB)
We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

Let all of God's people say, "Amen and Amen".

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/