Paul begins his letter to the Philippians differently than most of his other letters. He typically begins his greeting by referencing his apostleship. In Romans and Titus, he does refer to himself as a servant and apostle in his greeting. In Philippians, the greeting is from both "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus" (1:1a). It is clear from the remainder of the letter to the saints at Philippi that this choice was deliberate.
As I have now discussed on multiple occasions in this blog, Paul describes Jesus as the one who made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, and became obedient to death for love's sake (Phil 2:6-11). This is referred to as the kenosis hymn. Paul challenged the believers in Philippi to have the "same mind" as Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5). Paul then proceeds to describe his co-writer Timothy and his colleague Epaphroditus as those who have followed Christ's example of self-emptied, obedient love. He also uses himself as an example to follow as he lays out his own impressive resume and lineage and counts it all "nothing" for the sake of knowing Christ and suffering with Him (Phil 3:1-14). He concludes this conversation by saying this: "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you" (Phil 3:17).
We are Jesus' disciples. One of the incredible mysteries and awe-inspiring joys of this is that we do not need someone besides Jesus to represent us before God. He is all we need. It really is all about Jesus - everything is summed up in Him! By encouraging others to follow his example and the example of others following the same pattern, Paul is not attempting to be an intermediary between God and other persons as if Jesus needed some help. Instead, what Paul is doing is recognizing that many of us need what C.S. Lewis referred to as "little Christs" - people following Jesus that we can imitate. Ultimately, our aim is to imitate Christ Jesus alone because only "Christ in you" is "the hope of glory" (Col 1:27). If we're honest, though, all of us who are striving to follow Jesus will admit to following Jesus the way we do because of the way another follower of Jesus is attempting to live it out. In other words, most of us need to see kenosis in action to know how to truly imitate Christ.
I can think of numerous examples of Jesus followers who have influenced my own life and have given me an example to follow as they imitated Christ. My parents clearly fit in this category, and this is why I am so passionate and desperate as a father to imitate Christ myself. I can also name several mentors and spiritual fathers/mothers who have so shaped my life that I could never articulate the difference they have made or the gratitude I feel for their influence. One of the people who has most shaped me as a follower of Christ, though, is my younger brother.
In a similar way (although admittedly with less fervor) to how I long to live as Christ before my sons, I longed to do so before Britt. Some of the most dramatic moments of surrender in my own life, though, came through watching him surrender to Jesus. One such moment that comes to mind occurred while we were in college, and God so vividly spoke to him from Isaiah 41:17-20:
17 "The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it."
As a result of God's outpouring of love through spoken Word to Britt, I saw him empty himself (kenosis) and become empowered through the Holy Spirit to change the world and bring life to dead places. Truly the hand of the LORD alone has done this! I watched it happen with countless youth coming to Christ through his witness and through families tasting hope again who are suffering through autism. By the hand of the Lord, he is changing the world.
The story continues today as I learn of the decision he and his wife, Emily, have made to adopt a little girl from Haiti. After talking with him today and getting an email from her, I believe Britt would tell you that it has been Emily's self-emptying and constant faithfulness to God's call that prompted this most recent surrender in his own life. This is so often true in my life as well, as I try to follow the example of selfless love my wife embodies. As I look at Britt and Emily and their family, I am reminded again that I need to see this Jesus life lived out in the flesh. Their courage inspires me and others to follow Christ Jesus just as fervently. If you are reading this, please pray with us for them.
Isn't it interesting that the simplest things and the unplanned moments in our lives are the things that turn out to have the power to change the world when Christ's Spirit is in the middle of it. May we hear and give ourselves away in love by the Spirit's power. Help me Lord Jesus.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Love of a Son
All of history and eternity was changed because of the love of God's Son. The selfless and sacrificial love of God the Trinity through sending the Son inspires our worship. For Jesus truly is our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption, and I boast in Christ alone (I Cor 1:30-31).
As a father, I earnestly long for my sons to see Jesus in me and to observe a life of selfless love. Tonight, the tables were turned, and I saw such simple and selfless love lived out by my 6 year old son, Isaiah. From early in his life, we have been spending time in God's Word together and talking about imitating Jesus in this world. One of the things that most deeply saddens me is the limited number of Christians that seem to be able to answer this question: What did Jesus say is the most important thing? I have had the opportunity to ask this question of children, youth, and adults in many places, and I have received many answers. The answer is what we refer to as the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40). We have rehearsed this with Isaiah for several years now. Upon hearing this question, Isaiah will respond, "To love God and love people!"
His mother and I were in the kitchen preparing dinner when I heard commotion in the living room. When I turned the corner, I observed Isaiah hurrying around cleaning things up without having been asked. He has always been quick to respond obediently to our requests; however, this was the first time I have ever caught him doing something like this without being asked. When I asked him about it, he said he was trying to get everything cleaned up. I asked him why. He looked at his mom, and with a smile responded that he knew she liked it clean. It was clear he had put aside whatever he might have preferred to do in order to love his mommy. Is this not kenosis in action - emptying self in order to love another? I was moved to near tears and affirmed his Jesus-like love and actions.
It is amazing that although we are all selfish creatures by nature, this life of selfless love is simple enough to be lived by a child who is seeking to follow Jesus. The most difficult thing to overcome - our selfish pride - can indeed be overcome! Amidst all the complexities of life, the simplicity of emptying ourselves for the sake of loving another is always the answer. This indeed demonstrates our love for God and the Great Commandment is fulfilled.
On another note, our 3 year old son, Luke, has not quite figured all of this out yet. In his own way, though, he is demonstrating love. One of the terms of endearment his mommy uses for him is "pumpkin." A couple of nights ago while riding in the car, my wife asked him, "How's my pumpkin?" He responded, "I'm not pumpkin. I'm Luker. You're pumpkin!" Oh the joy of being a father and the privilege of loving and being loved by them.
As a father, I earnestly long for my sons to see Jesus in me and to observe a life of selfless love. Tonight, the tables were turned, and I saw such simple and selfless love lived out by my 6 year old son, Isaiah. From early in his life, we have been spending time in God's Word together and talking about imitating Jesus in this world. One of the things that most deeply saddens me is the limited number of Christians that seem to be able to answer this question: What did Jesus say is the most important thing? I have had the opportunity to ask this question of children, youth, and adults in many places, and I have received many answers. The answer is what we refer to as the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40). We have rehearsed this with Isaiah for several years now. Upon hearing this question, Isaiah will respond, "To love God and love people!"
His mother and I were in the kitchen preparing dinner when I heard commotion in the living room. When I turned the corner, I observed Isaiah hurrying around cleaning things up without having been asked. He has always been quick to respond obediently to our requests; however, this was the first time I have ever caught him doing something like this without being asked. When I asked him about it, he said he was trying to get everything cleaned up. I asked him why. He looked at his mom, and with a smile responded that he knew she liked it clean. It was clear he had put aside whatever he might have preferred to do in order to love his mommy. Is this not kenosis in action - emptying self in order to love another? I was moved to near tears and affirmed his Jesus-like love and actions.
It is amazing that although we are all selfish creatures by nature, this life of selfless love is simple enough to be lived by a child who is seeking to follow Jesus. The most difficult thing to overcome - our selfish pride - can indeed be overcome! Amidst all the complexities of life, the simplicity of emptying ourselves for the sake of loving another is always the answer. This indeed demonstrates our love for God and the Great Commandment is fulfilled.
On another note, our 3 year old son, Luke, has not quite figured all of this out yet. In his own way, though, he is demonstrating love. One of the terms of endearment his mommy uses for him is "pumpkin." A couple of nights ago while riding in the car, my wife asked him, "How's my pumpkin?" He responded, "I'm not pumpkin. I'm Luker. You're pumpkin!" Oh the joy of being a father and the privilege of loving and being loved by them.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Incarnation
If there was ever anything that would inspire worship and devotion, it is the amazing Good News that God came near to us in Jesus. The Light of the World came into our darkness - the King of Heaven became poor for love's sake. Paul described Jesus to us in this way as he quoted a hymn of the early Church:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
As if it weren't remarkable enough that God came near us in Jesus, the incarnation of Jesus was more than just becoming one of us. He became one of us in a very specific way. He did not hold on to any of the rights and privileges of being God but made himself nothing (kenosis) by taking the very nature of a servant. It doesn't say he became like a servant but took the nature of a servant. What is the nature of a servant? Having humbled Himself so thoroughly already, Jesus humbled Himself again by becoming obedient to a slave's death (remember He took the very nature of a servant - even to taking on that kind of death). This is why we worship Jesus, as verses 9-11 make clear.
Interestingly, Paul prefaces this hymn by saying that our attitude (or "mind") should be the same as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). He has called us to this same self-emptying humility and this same obedient love with the very nature of servants. Paul describes his own efforts to let go of all of his rights and privileges for the sake of knowing and serving Jesus (Philippians 3:1-14). It is important to notice that he did not consider these things as an advantage to him but instead counted them nothing as Christ had done. Each place Paul goes on his missionary journeys, he does his best to relate to those he is serving in a way that fits their context. In Athens for example (Acts 17), he uses their own poetry and religious context as a way to relate the Good News of Jesus to them. In this way, Paul was embodying an incarnational ministry as Jesus had done.
I long to have this same "mind" that was in Christ Jesus. How do I empty myself and serve my family and my neighbors in an incarnational way? Jesus, you have already showed us the way. Please teach me by Your Spirit to let go of all that could be considered profit to me (empty self - kenosis) and see every moment as an opportunity to bring Your Kingdom as a "little Christ" to my family and this world.
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
As if it weren't remarkable enough that God came near us in Jesus, the incarnation of Jesus was more than just becoming one of us. He became one of us in a very specific way. He did not hold on to any of the rights and privileges of being God but made himself nothing (kenosis) by taking the very nature of a servant. It doesn't say he became like a servant but took the nature of a servant. What is the nature of a servant? Having humbled Himself so thoroughly already, Jesus humbled Himself again by becoming obedient to a slave's death (remember He took the very nature of a servant - even to taking on that kind of death). This is why we worship Jesus, as verses 9-11 make clear.
Interestingly, Paul prefaces this hymn by saying that our attitude (or "mind") should be the same as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). He has called us to this same self-emptying humility and this same obedient love with the very nature of servants. Paul describes his own efforts to let go of all of his rights and privileges for the sake of knowing and serving Jesus (Philippians 3:1-14). It is important to notice that he did not consider these things as an advantage to him but instead counted them nothing as Christ had done. Each place Paul goes on his missionary journeys, he does his best to relate to those he is serving in a way that fits their context. In Athens for example (Acts 17), he uses their own poetry and religious context as a way to relate the Good News of Jesus to them. In this way, Paul was embodying an incarnational ministry as Jesus had done.
I long to have this same "mind" that was in Christ Jesus. How do I empty myself and serve my family and my neighbors in an incarnational way? Jesus, you have already showed us the way. Please teach me by Your Spirit to let go of all that could be considered profit to me (empty self - kenosis) and see every moment as an opportunity to bring Your Kingdom as a "little Christ" to my family and this world.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Opposite Extremes
It's interesting that God has given us some accounts in the early chapters of the book of Acts that are in striking contrast to one another. He seems to know that we would not be able to understand all of this without some real life examples.
Acts 3 begins with Peter & John heading toward a prayer meeting and bumping into a crippled beggar. Without hesitation and full of the Holy Spirit, they give this man life again through miraculous healing in Jesus' name. He is overjoyed and the crowed is in awe. How did Peter know to step out in this radical way? Did he hear the Spirit whisper? It's not likely that he knew ahead of time how this scene would unfold (although he does get such an honor in Acts 10). It seems that Peter and John were so surrendered to God and emptied of self that their every word and action were controlled by the Holy Spirit. Is that possible for us? This is how I long to live (in step with the Spirit - Gal 5:25).
Peter sees the gathered audience as another opportunity to share this Good News. His version of it is quite similar in multiple accounts throughout Acts. He gives credit to Jesus and reminds them that they killed Jesus but God raised Him from the dead and that they are witnesses of this (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8). Peter encourages them to turn to God. Soon, Peter and John find themselves before the religious leaders, and full of the Holy Spirit, Peter shares the same Good News again.
Following this, we find out that the believers were united as one and shared everything in common such that there was not a needy person among them. We hear specifically at the end of Acts 4 of Barnabas, who both spiritually and financially had surrendered everything of himself to God. Barnabas is a living picture of a follower of Jesus emptying himself of everything (kenosis) in response to God's love for him in Christ. The Spirit prompted him to sell all he owned and share it with the other believers.
In contrast, Acts 5 begins with the surprising account of Ananias and Sapphira who wanted to look as good as Barnabas but did not really surrender all as he and others had done. In fact, they conspired to lie to everyone but actually lied to the Holy Spirit. God was not fooled, and they both dropped dead. (On a side note, what would the response be if this happened in one of our churches today?) Were they merely trying to show off? Did they hear from the Holy Spirit but not truly obey? Did they do this only for attention without any prompting from the Holy Spirit? Either way, the result was not good for them and the believers were overwhelmed with awe (fear) toward God.
This all mirrors Paul's letter to the Philippians where he describes Jesus' kenosis and illustrates how to follow Jesus' example by pointing at Timothy, Epaphroditus, and even himself. Often we learn to imitate Christ Jesus by watching others who are imitating Christ well. I am grateful for those models to follow who have shown me how to imitate Jesus. I only long to be that same kind of Jesus imitator for my sons and others to follow. I empty myself before you now, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might imitate You as You have called me to do - for Your sake and theirs and all for Your glory!
Acts 3 begins with Peter & John heading toward a prayer meeting and bumping into a crippled beggar. Without hesitation and full of the Holy Spirit, they give this man life again through miraculous healing in Jesus' name. He is overjoyed and the crowed is in awe. How did Peter know to step out in this radical way? Did he hear the Spirit whisper? It's not likely that he knew ahead of time how this scene would unfold (although he does get such an honor in Acts 10). It seems that Peter and John were so surrendered to God and emptied of self that their every word and action were controlled by the Holy Spirit. Is that possible for us? This is how I long to live (in step with the Spirit - Gal 5:25).
Peter sees the gathered audience as another opportunity to share this Good News. His version of it is quite similar in multiple accounts throughout Acts. He gives credit to Jesus and reminds them that they killed Jesus but God raised Him from the dead and that they are witnesses of this (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8). Peter encourages them to turn to God. Soon, Peter and John find themselves before the religious leaders, and full of the Holy Spirit, Peter shares the same Good News again.
Following this, we find out that the believers were united as one and shared everything in common such that there was not a needy person among them. We hear specifically at the end of Acts 4 of Barnabas, who both spiritually and financially had surrendered everything of himself to God. Barnabas is a living picture of a follower of Jesus emptying himself of everything (kenosis) in response to God's love for him in Christ. The Spirit prompted him to sell all he owned and share it with the other believers.
In contrast, Acts 5 begins with the surprising account of Ananias and Sapphira who wanted to look as good as Barnabas but did not really surrender all as he and others had done. In fact, they conspired to lie to everyone but actually lied to the Holy Spirit. God was not fooled, and they both dropped dead. (On a side note, what would the response be if this happened in one of our churches today?) Were they merely trying to show off? Did they hear from the Holy Spirit but not truly obey? Did they do this only for attention without any prompting from the Holy Spirit? Either way, the result was not good for them and the believers were overwhelmed with awe (fear) toward God.
This all mirrors Paul's letter to the Philippians where he describes Jesus' kenosis and illustrates how to follow Jesus' example by pointing at Timothy, Epaphroditus, and even himself. Often we learn to imitate Christ Jesus by watching others who are imitating Christ well. I am grateful for those models to follow who have shown me how to imitate Jesus. I only long to be that same kind of Jesus imitator for my sons and others to follow. I empty myself before you now, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might imitate You as You have called me to do - for Your sake and theirs and all for Your glory!
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