Wednesday, April 20, 2011

4/20/11 - All In





Philippians 2:5-11
5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,
8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.-----------
This week we celebrate the victory of Christ.  In this passage, Paul challenges us to have the same attitude that Christ has.  Christ, even though he was God, humbled himself completely, submitting entirely to the will of the Father. 
 
We are called to do exactly the same thing.  We are called to throw away our pride and our own worldly desires, and humble ourselves completely.  We are called to give ourselves over to God, and submit to His will.  We are called to give our lives to Him, to use us as He chooses.
 
I have changed quite a bit spiritually over the last year.  I now understand that as Christians, our ultimate goal and purpose in life is nothing short of DIVINITY.    Our journey is a march toward union with God.  Little by little, step by step, we shed our old selves and take on the attributes of Christ.  Through our faith, he takes our hand, and walks with us along the path.  He gives us what we need to take each step toward glory. He teaches us how to live the way that He lived.  Just like a parent raises a child, Christ "raises" us to the spiritual life.  First we crawl, then toddle, then walk, then run. 
 
And then something spectacular happens.  We FLY.
 
From our part, all Christ requires us is faith.  But "faith" is an elusive term that has been watered down in modern times.  Faith doesn't mean "merely" believing something to be true.  It means committing.  It means doing.  It means betting everything on Christ.
 
It means going "all in." 

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