Incarnation-Jesus’ Humility on Display-Advent 12 (2015)

Imagine for a moment that you created something.

You designed it. You planned it.

You gave this perfect thing to someone else and they broke it. And they considered it worthless, broken, and nothing but junk to be discarded. Or maybe they decided to worship it.

It was a created thing not a god and yet, people are worshiping this broken idol when you’re the brains behind it.

And they don’t care a whit for you.

* * *

Jesus was the Creator of this world, the Giver of the Law, the author and perfecter of our faith and what do we do?

• Many people deny God’s creative power shown in Jesus Christ. They put legs on a fish symbol and put Darwin’s name in the middle. They believe this marvelous universe just happened by good luck or random chance.
• Many people deny the Bible as God’s Word. They pick and choose what they want to believe. As self-appointed gods, they put their own spin on verses they don’t like or that don’t fit with the modern era as they see it. They are gods, judges, and juries over what laws to obey and which to ignore.
• Many people deny that Jesus is God and instead worship other so-called gods, idols, the environment or created things. Or worship themselves since there are no other gods they’re willing to worship.

How humiliating for Jesus Christ to be born under the Law He’d given to us! The Word made flesh! How humiliating that the Creator of all and the Giver of the Law would set that glory aside and suddenly be subject to it just as we are! That’s what happened in the Incarnation.  It was Jesus’ humility on display.

Galatians 4: 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Thought for the day: Jesus came, born under the very Law He gave us—and lived it in perfect humility—so that we’d be able to inherit eternal life as true children of our Father in heaven.

Questions for reflection:

1. What might be some reasons people deny the Incarnation—that Jesus came as God with us, Emmanuel?
2. Thinking about Jesus as the Creator of the heavens and earth and also as the One who blessed Adam and Eve. How should we let this knowledge shape our view of the environment and our care for it?
3. What is the distinction between caring for creation and worshiping it?
4. What separates being law-abiding from law worshiping?
5. Ponder those questions regarding issues of trust, pride, control, and idolatry.

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Incarnation (2015 Advent Devotional Series) began November 29th.  By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2015 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><