“Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

As we read in the devotion last week, the goal of our progressive sanctification is to conform increasingly to the image of Christ. The passage above tells us much about this Christ to whom we wish to conform. Some words that come to mind that correspond to His humility are obedience and submission. Jesus submitted willingly and lovingly to His Father in total obedience, even death on a cross, for your sake and mine. This gets to me every time. Jesus did this for me!

In Revelation, we see Jesus in two quite different ways. I like to visualize him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, coming in all majesty and splendor leading the armies of Heaven (Revelation 19:11-16). But the other image of Jesus that we see is what actually made him worthy to usher in the events that would culminate in the New Heaven and New Earth—the image of Him as the slain Lamb of God, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.  We can readily picture a sweet lamb, and we can probably picture a sacrificial lamb on the altar. But this image in Revelation 5:6-9 runs counter to our experience, a lamb that is fully alive while exhibiting all the fatal wounds of his death.

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

When we think of unpleasant jobs, the job of trash collector, animal control, or prison guard might come to mind. Having to deal with nasty objects or convicted felons is not pleasant. And what about at the Mission? There are plenty of potentially unpleasant jobs around the Mission. Not meaning to exclude anyone else, I want to call out everyone who has cleaned a bathroom or any area where a guest or participant has been sick or messy. I want to recognize those who do the laundry, who sort through the myriads of donations of food, clothing, and other items. I want to encourage those who deal with guests or participants who for whatever reason are not able to properly care for themselves (you know what I mean).

As unpleasant as these jobs may be, they do not even begin to compare with how Jesus dealt with us in our sin. He died on the cross for sinners, those who disregard the laws of God, who commit sins at every level, who make themselves abhorrent to God. Let us face it, it is our sin that separates us from God, because God cannot tolerate sin. And yet, that is why Jesus gave His life. He humbled himself to deal with the messiest of the messy, the vilest of the vile, to offer his blood to redeem us from eternal torment into a beautiful eternal life with Him in eternity. He loves us just that much.

It takes many of you willing to do those unpleasant, humbling jobs so prevalent at Nashville Rescue Mission. Did you ever think that this was the road to sanctification? Just has Jesus humbled himself to save us from our sin, you are humbling yourselves to lead others to Him.

I will close with another important facet of humility, and that is gratitude. When we genuinely offer thanks, it is an act of receiving and then acknowledging and submitting to the mercy and kindness of another. As we celebrate this week of Thanksgiving, let us do so with all humility and remember to be grateful for the debt that Jesus paid obediently and lovingly on our behalf to rescue us from the fiery grave.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5).

In Christ,

Judy

P.S.: If you would like to talk more about any of these devotions or matters that concern you, please stop by my office, or call or text me at 615-804-3453 to arrange a time, and I will be happy to speak with you.