photo: canva.com

I’m sharing a carol today that is based roughly on the passage in Philippians that reminds us of what Jesus left when He came to earth. Once again, we are reminded of what He gave up for us. It wasn’t simply the splendor of heaven, or the status of being the One who was being honored there, or even the perfection and beauty of the place. Anyone of those things would be a major loss.

But Jesus left that to come to poverty, loss of status, filth, disease and eventually the most humiliating death of all, death on a cross for the sin of mankind, sin He never committed, ever.

This was what was needed to provide for our redemption. He needed to live a perfect life as a human, here on earth…and He did! Blood needed to be shed to pay for sin…and it was! He needed to be GOD to pay for an infinite number of sins…and He was. Those are just a few of the requirements that needed to be met when He came to earth and eventually died for us.

 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. 
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. 
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name, 
so 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.

Philippians 2:5-11

As we read this passage in Philippians, we see that one thing that characterized Jesus was that “not grasping” for those things that He was entitled to. What challenges you in this passage? Read the words of the carol and see how much it reminds you of this passage. Below the words, you will find the music to play along with them. Enjoy this time to think about what Jesus did for you and how that should look in our everyday lives.

If you are having a hard Christmas this year, think of the hard Jesus went through for you. It doesn’t take away all the pain of your present hard, but it helps you understand that He knows that pain as well and is willing to help carry the burden of it for you. it makes no difference if you are at fault for what you are going through, in whole or in part. That is why He came. He is greater than whatever you are going through.

Actually, that goes for me too! He forgives. He redeems. He carries burdens whether they feel large or small, maybe too small or petty to bother Him with. It makes no difference. He is there to care for you wherever you are in your life. He has shown us the kind of love we have never known anywhere else.

To GOD be the glory!

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becomes poor.

photo: canva.com

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

words: Frank Houghton   tune: French Carol