Extra Baggage

Those of us who have ever been on a diet know what it's like to need to lose something that just doesn't want to disappear. But when it does, it's like we've emptied ourselves of extra baggage we've been lugging around.

In Philippians 2:3-11, the Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus emptied Himself of something, too.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In this case, Jesus emptied Himself of something that He deserved. In order to accomplish, God's sovereign plan of redemption for the human race, Jesus had to come to earth, make himself nothing, be a servant and walk in obedience to die a cruel, humiliating death by crucifixion.

According to God's Word, we're to have an attitude similar to that of Christ. We're to empty ourselves of what we think we deserve in order to be other-centered and accomplish God's will in and through our lives.

As a result of Jesus' obedience, God has been glorified, Jesus' name has been exalted and every knee will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of our faith in Christ and obedience, God will be glorified, Jesus' name will be exalted and we will be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms for eternity.

Let's get rid of the extra baggage of pride and desire of recognition. Let's get rid of the attitude that says, "I deserve more." Christ emptied Himself of what He deserved for the sake of others. We certainly don't deserve more than He. Let's get our eyes off of ourselves and on others.