Phi 2:5-6
Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. NLV
Following our recent focus on the spiritual discipline of throne surrender, as depicted in Rev 4:8, we now consider the perfect model and blessing of this practice. There is no better example for us to emulate than our Lord Jesus’.
In our text today we learn that it’s a matter of attitude. Jesus CHOSE not to cling to His rights and privileges as God’s equal. In fact, He stripped himself of all privilege, became a slave, born as mortal man and humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, to the extent of dying the death of a common criminal. No wonder God highly exalted Jesus and gave Him a name above all names (Phi 2:9)!
This is extremely instructive for us, beloved. We too must learn to loosen our grip on our positions. Of course, it’s not at all about denying our true identity. It’s just about being willing to forego the rights and privileges we deserve for the glory of God. Like the Apostle Paul, we must be willing to discount and disregard things that matter to us for Christ’s sake (Phi 3:7). That’s how we surrender our thrones before the Ultimate Throne.
Our personal and corporate worship often does not rise to higher dimensions because we cleave too tightly to our status, dignity and recognition. Let us rediscover the high promotion God reserves only for those who choose to humble themselves in His sight.
Pastor Josh