Can I Give Up?

Philippians 2:6

” Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

To fully understand verses 7 and 8, Paul first tells us that Jesus was equal to God.  This in itself would get the Jews al riled up, and we see many times in his journeys Paul is run out of town by the Jews, or is kicked out of the synagogue.  When this happened, Paul would then preach to thee Gentiles.  The thought that anyone was equal to God was blasphemy to the Jews.  Only the Messiah could make that claim, and they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The problem is that Jesus was the promised Messiah.  He fulfilled every scripture from the Old Testament that pointed to the Messiah, among them Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which both have specific things about Messiah that Jesus went through.  He even quoted from Psalm 22 on the cross when He cried out “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, Matt 27:46).

Jesus Himself said He was equal to the Father on several occasions. John 10:30 He said “I and my Father are one”.  In John 5:18 it says that the scribes and Pharisees were angry with Him because He said God was His Father, and they thought that implied He was equal with God.  He said He always did what the Father told Him to do (John 5:19).

Jesus is seated in heaven, at the right hand of God (Mark 6:19).  He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8), He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).  Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16).  His name is high above any other name (Phil 2:9).  There should be no doubt in our minds that Jesus was universal royalty, high above anything or anyone who ever lived or ever will live.

He was also the Word of God (John 1:14).  The Word that created all things (John 1:1-3).  The Word that pierces my soul and spirit (Heb 4:12).  The Word of God has all authority in heaven and earth. (Matt 28:18).

All of this is who Jesus is.  All of this is what He lived with throughout eternity, and will live with for the rest of time.  But for 33 years, He gave it all up.  Come back tomorrow and find out more about that.  My question to myself is -what am I willing to give up for Him?  How much can I put aside my pride and my place in society to follow Him.  He gave it all up for me!

 

Lord, help me to give my all to you. After all, you have given me everything I have – why am I so reluctant to give it away to serve you?  Why am I so reluctant talking to people about you and about their eternal destination?  Help me to look at your example and follow it.  You gave everything for me – Help me give everything for you.