Living a life that Matters

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. Phillipians 2:5-11(niv)

I am less than an hour from leaving to Tijuana on a short missions trip. I have been praying to God on how I should approach this weekend. Its my first time leading a team of people. I’m excited, yet I want to grow. I love the passage above. Its one of my favorites and it has been weighing on me.

Now I’m not here to argue the theory of Kenosis found here or the Hypostatic Union of Colossians 2:9 (even though it’s a great debate), but to apply this to myself this weekend. The idea of Christ emptying himself to be here on earth for us just gets me. I think we need to follow in Christ’s path of servanthood. The only way we can do this is to have an attitude of selfless commitment and to lay aside our rights to personal privilege.

Submitting to the needs and concerns of others is how we can achieve the spirit of servanthood. We are to empty ourselves and to pour out in service to others. We are to have an attitude of total humility. This is the path to glory. Matthew 23 says those that humble themselves will be exalted.

I pray to God that this is my attitude as I serve these people. I want to follow Christ’s example.

True servanthood empties self.