Theme:   Five Things I Don't Want to Miss this Christmas

This eDevotional was written by a volunteer from Timberlake Church. 

Read: John 1:14; Matthew 16:24

Think: Have you ever had to sit at the kids table at Thanksgiving dinner? There was a period of my late adolescence that the adults didn’t know where to put me. Of course, I would have much rather sat at the adult table than to suffer through the childish antics of my younger cousins. I would sulk and beg and negotiate with my dad to sit at the adult table, but the kids table is where I always ended up. Probably because my aunts and uncles thought to themselves, “Better her than me!” The kids table was wild and whiny, and I knew I’d have to cut James’ turkey, and fill Lacey’s milk cup. I’d tell them they needed to sit still and be quiet, but I knew they wouldn’t listen to me. I would think to myself, “Why do I have to sit with the babies?!”

Imagine if Jesus would have protested His Father’s request to come to earth? It would have been a lot like being asked to sit at the kids table even though His rightful place was at the head of the adult table. The bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” (John 1:14). He lowered Himself to our human standards and stature.

THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE… in a teeny, weeny body. Jesus, God of the universe, gave up his rights, privileges and abundance as King of Heaven to be a dependent and finite child. Diane Langburg said, “The Infinite gathered Himself up in a womb.  All Glory lay Himself in a barn. All Power became a toddler. All Love was slain before time began its march.”  She continues, “He who never grows weary knew tiredness. He who was infinite and eternal submitted to the clock. He who was perfect and sinless bore our sins. Our God limited himself on all of these fronts and more and the resulting expansion is mindboggling.” [1]

Jesus says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25 nkjv) Jesus knew what giving up His own life really meant, and the sacrifice that came with it. How did He do it? I think He could do it because He knew who He really was. I think He could lower Himself to humanity because He knew He was God. I wonder if we could humble ourselves to serve others- to do the things that seem beneath us. I wonder how humbling ourselves to serve as Jesus served, could produce exponential growth in us, and growth for the kingdom.  

Do: Remember today how others have humbled themselves to serve you when you most needed it and give thanks.

Pray: God, help me to see that I am loved and cherished, and that I can give up my rights and privileges as you did to serve others. You gave up all to serve us. I want to remember what you’ve done to bring us dignity and salvation. Amen.