JESUS MADE HIMSELF NOTHING

Jesus was never one to let danger or the threat of discomfort keep Him from doing the right thing. In fact, that’s how He ended up on earth in the first place! Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God. He made Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form He obediently humbled Himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.”

I love the phrase “He made Himself nothing.” Do you realize how rare that is? The average person in our me-first world can’t even begin to grasp the concept. We’re programmed to defend our interests, fight for our rights, and pursue our own agendas -- and then scream bloody murder if someone gets in our way.

But Jesus made Himself nothing. He put other people’s needs ahead of His own. He fought for other people’s rights, while allowing His enemies to walk all over His. And the only agenda He ever pursued was the one that was going to open the door to Heaven for pathetic sinners like you and me.

-- Mark Atteberry in “Free Refill: Coming Back for More of Jesus"

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