Advent Devotional: Day 22
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage...”
“Surprise!” I am THAT person when it comes to loving surprises. I am also THAT guy when it comes to guessing surprises. My poor wife has tried to surprise me many times, but I just have a knack for picking up on it. The only times she’s managed to stump me was when the gift was so “out of left field” there was no way of guessing it.
As I ponder this passage and this season at our church, the idea “Expecting Jesus in the Unexpected” comes to mind. Just as Mary was physically expecting Jesus, many of those in the biblical account of Jesus’ birth were also expecting Jesus (or Messiah) too … but in a different way. Most Jews were anxiously awaiting the Messiah. Their expectation was that He would be powerful, influential, and able to lead a military force against the Romans, their current oppressors. They knew that they would have to keep a sharp eye out for Messiah but were confident they would recognize the prophesied “surprise” when He came.
But into the story came Jesus. Completely out of left field. Unexpected. Philippians 2:6-11 begins, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” It goes on to say that Jesus “made himself nothing,” … “took on the nature of a servant,” and became “obedient to death – even death on a cross.”
This was no powerful, influential, military leader. This was a servant who humbled Himself for others and made Himself nothing, willing to die for those around Him. More shocking than this, He was “in very nature God.” God in the flesh.
If you’ve been a Christian for a while, it’s tempting to gloss over the amazing nature of our God. But don’t. It is in the Advent story, in the incarnation, that we see one of the most amazing, surprising characteristics of our God. He is “God WITH us.”
Today, as you take time to pray, let yourself be truly surprised and awed by the character of our God!
“God, let us be amazed by Your character and may You make us more like You in every way so that we might be a happy “surprise” to others in this world! Amen!”
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