"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to...death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-7 NIV)
We deck the halls with decorations for Christmas, but the real Christmas story focuses on a God who gave up his decorated home for a world much less glamorous. Jesus possessed all the power of Almighty God, yet gave it up and became human.
Watching Jesus is witnessing a descent — down to the straw bed of an animal feeding trough where he was placed at birth, down further to a cross, then a grave where he was laid at death. Jesus chose not to leverage his privileged status for his own advantage, but rather for our advantage.
Jesus was obedient to death, and he boldly asks for our obedience. "I have set you an example," Jesus said, "that you should do as I have done for you." Scripture encourages us to be “like-minded,” have the SAME kind of love as Jesus, value others above yourselves.
This Christmas, let's make Jesus more than a decoration on our mantle. Let him occupy our hearts and motivate our actions--let us show the same kind of humble love to others that he did for us.