The Humble King..Craig Denison Ministries

The Humble King

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

What a gift we have in the Christmas season. God himself took on flesh and dwelt among us that we might find eternal relationship in him. His coming serves as a continual reminder of his grace and pursuit of us who are lost without him. As we look to Jesus this week to celebrate who he is and what he’s done, may you find life-giving hope and foundational joy.

Scripture:

“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.” Philippians 2:5-7

Devotional:

There has never been a greater depth of humility than what we find in Jesus. He was a man marked by astonishing sacrifice. He lived in utter devotion to God the Father and us, his undeserving people. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “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.”

Jesus became a servant so we could be made sons and daughters. He took on flesh that our flesh might find true redemption. He emptied himself of that which he was rightfully owed that we might receive grace upon grace, which we’ve done nothing to deserve.

The coming of Christ we celebrate at Christmas is entirely descriptive of the heart of God. Just as Jesus came to make a way for us, he comes still. Just as Jesus came that fateful day millennia ago, he comes to meet with us still. And just as the world received its greatest gift in Jesus, we still find in the presence of God our greatest gift on a daily basis.

We can find hope and joy in the fact that we serve a humble King. Our King does nothing from selfish ambition. Unlike us, he does nothing to better himself or cover for his own inadequacies. Rather, because he is already entirely full and complete, he gives of himself freely that we might live in the light of his grace and love. He doesn’t use his deity to demand anything from us, but instead to give us life, breath, and meaning.

Take time today to rest in the humility of Jesus. Find hope for your past, present, and future in the simple truth that Jesus has and will continue to be everything you need. And open your heart to receive the life-giving presence of your humble King.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the humility of Jesus. Allow Scripture to paint a clear picture of the heart of God.

“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.” Philippians 2:5-7

2. Choose to trust in the humble leadership of God. Give him every part of your life knowing that he doesn’t lead you out of selfish motive, but leads you entirely for your good.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

3. Take time to rest in the presence of Jesus. Receive the gift of his nearness. Find joy in the depth of his love.

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Philippians 2:9-11 illustrates a truth of the kingdom we as believers need to know:

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.

Jesus is the perfect example of the truth that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The pathway to life in God is humility. When you seek to serve the Father and others as Jesus did, you will discover a wellspring of joy and life not found in prideful pursuits. Seek to live in humility today and find unfathomable grace and love in Jesus, your humble King.

Extended Reading: Philippians 2

5 Ways to Love like Christ This Christmas..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 5 Ways to Love like Christ This Christmas

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

A Reason for the Season
In spite of our own hustle and bustle, we are often moved with empathy for those without families, money, or shelter. We care in a way that we should year-round, but as we abound with gleeful celebration, we can’t help but acknowledge those less privileged. And even the regular people in our lives, we’re moved to love in a deeper way than normal. That deeper love drives us to want to serve.

With that in mind, there are more ways to serve this season, without breaking the bank or even buying gifts. Let’s discuss five ways to love like Christ this Christmas. But before that, we should consider the question of why we serve. What is the reason for the season? One name answers that question. Jesus. As the holiday songs remind us, He was born in a manger, born to save humanity from the sting of death. Jesus taught us how to live life in a way pleasing to God and brought us a faithful salvation.

Today, we bring honor to God by living like Jesus, which also means finding ways to serve. Not just those close to us, but also those in need. Though our culture leans toward commercialism over faith, as believers we should do our part to remember the reason for the season. Now, let’s dive into some specific ways we can showcase cheerful servitude this Christmas.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Below are several ways you and your family could serve someone during the holiday season. Tailor these ideas to something most helpful to you or someone else, and even use them as inspiration for something different entirely.

Bake Treats
Either something about holidays works up the human appetite, or we’ve conditioned ourselves to cook in abundance. Now we expect full bellies before the day’s out. And one thing Americans love are sweets. Think of some possible sweets you could bake and either sell at a low price or give away to someone for free. Not many people will turn down food!

Sing Christmas Carols
Even if singing outside of your neighbor’s house seems awkward, consider whether you and the family could get together and sing amongst yourselves. Just like we worship together on Sundays. Singing Christmas songs is a nice way to honor God and build community at the same time.

Write Thank You Notes
A great way to practice gratitude is to write cards expressing just that to those special people in your life. Thank you notes don’t have to be one to two pages. Even a one or two-liner is a great way to make someone feel valued because aside from the words themselves, you took the time to write and send a card.

Make a Visit
If you have a habit of being off radar for most of the year, then be sure to show your face at the holiday family gathering. People may miss seeing you even if they don’t say, and being present is one sure way to take advantage of the short time we have on this Earth.

Play Games
Board games and video games can be a great way to build relationships with others, either with relatives you don’t know well or neighbors you’re interested in learning more about. Schedule some time to connect and see what happens.

Pray Together
If you want to make sure you and others know the reason for the season, then about it. And spend time praying to the Lord together.

Read Scripture Together
Reading the Bible together will offer reminders to Oldtimers and teach new lessons to minors about Jesus.

Donate to Charity
Money is one way to donate, but clothes and food are also options. There are a number of organizations who work year-round to serve those in need, especially during this season.

Volunteer
Another way to donate is to give your time to a greater cause, serving those less fortunate than you. And there are so many options to choose from. Plenty of people came to Jesus seeking help, but none could do for Him what He did for them.

Look for Who’s Left Out
Chances are you know someone who’s going to be lonely this holiday season, someone who is in a less fortunate circumstance than your own. Not the person you happen to see on the news or the person on the side of the street. Rather, there are people you come across day to day who once they go home, live alone, and once the holidays come, will be alone. Even if your relationship doesn’t allow you to invite them over, or spend the day with them, could you spend some time with them the day before or after? Could you gift them something special to make the holiday a bit easier?

The more we think about God and others beyond ourselves, the more we will embody Christ.

Further Reading (and Listening):

• “Blessed Be the Lord” by Marvin Winans & The Perfected Praise Choir
• Isaiah 7:14
• Isaiah 9:6
• Acts 20:35
• 1 Peter 4:10
• John 1:14

The First Time Shepherds Heard about Jesus..Lynette Kittle

 The First Time Shepherds Heard about Jesus (Luke 2:17)

by Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” – Luke 2:17

Do you remember the first heard time you heard about Jesus? If so, what was your initial response? Did you want to run and go tell everyone you knew about Him?

Scripture describes how the shepherds in the fields reacted after being told about Jesus’ birth, “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about’” (Luke 2:15).

Luke 2:16 records what happened next “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

After seeing Jesus, the shepherds didn’t contain their excitement but starting telling everyone they knew about Him. Luke 2:18 describes how those they told received the news, “and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Yet, so many in the culture today leave Jesus out of their Christmas celebrations. 2 Corinthians 4:4 explains why, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that display the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

However, because your mind has been opened to see Jesus, like the shepherds did on the night of his birth, you have the opportunity to tell everyone around you about Him.

And what better time to tell others about Jesus than at Christmas?

Decide to look at your neighbors, co-workers, family members, and others who seem oblivious to the true meaning of Christmas with compassion, realizing they are blinded to seeing Jesus as the true reason for the season.

Reach out to them in love, like God did to you. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”(John 3:16).

Choose to tell those you love, and those you meet along your way, how God gave the very first Christmas gift.

As Acts 10:35 reminds us, “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”

Ask God to give you the kind of joy and enthusiasm the shepherds had, to spread the Good News of Jesus’ birth to everyone you know and meet.

A Prayer to Prepare Our Hearts..Jessica Van Roekel

 A Prayer to Prepare Our Hearts

By Jessica Van Roekel

“A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” - Isaiah 40:3-5

Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but it’s Thanksgiving that prepares the way. I spend the month of November reflecting on all the Lord has done for me. By the time December rolls around, joy bubbles and bursts in my heart. I hang the twinkly lights and display the nativity. I sprinkle decorations throughout my home, and wherever I look, I’m reminded of why I celebrate Christmas—Jesus, Incarnate, God with us.

These verses from Isaiah have layers of meaning and application. They refer to the return of the Jews from exile after the Babylonian king deported them from their homeland. This deportation was a consequence of their disobedience and inability to consistently worship and live for God. Their time in Babylon was like a long wilderness journey.

That leads us to the next meaning of these verses—the Promised One who would make a way through the wilderness so that we might see God face to face. God promised a Messiah who would take away people’s sins for good and for always. His name is Jesus, and we celebrate and fall to our knees in worship because of the freedom he gives.

The final application of this passage points to God’s complete liberation of his people at the end of time when he establishes a new heaven and earth. The New Testament applies verse three to John the Baptist. John called people to prepare for the Lord by repenting, which indicates a complete change of heart and mind from our own way to God’s way.

When we consider our own preparations for Christmas, may we prepare our hearts to receive him. We can examine our thoughts and attitudes and eliminate the ones that turn our hearts toward doubt and despair. Our hardships don’t exclude God’s presence in our life. Like the Israelites, sinful habits can create a chasm between our hearts and God’s.

We don’t have to live with the gap; we can prepare to receive God’s forgiveness through repentance. Repentance prepares the way for our hearts to be united with God in our life’s journey. God is with us. He is everywhere all at once. This is a concept we sometimes forget because of the difficulties we face.

Journeys through difficult hills and valleys have a purpose. They are an opportunity for God’s glory to shine through us. Each time we choose to trust, we strengthen our faith. And our faith shines bright as a testimony to others and becomes a stone of remembrance for us. We can look back on the journey and use it to prepare our hearts to remember God’s faithfulness for the next time we face arduous burdens.

Our troubles can cause us to struggle with dissatisfaction in our lives. We are sojourners while we wait for our eternal home. We can use this present time to prepare our hearts for eternity. We can choose to grow in spiritual practices by throwing off the things that hinder us. We can sow habits and choose responses that indicate we live by the Spirit. Longing for the glory of God to be revealed is a way we prepare our hearts for heaven, our true home.

Let’s pray:
Lord, as we consider this holiday season, may we prepare our hearts to receive more of you. Our lives sometimes lead us down rocky paths into steep ravines that seem impossible to climb out of. Remind us of your presence in our lives. Help us make our hearts ready. You have good in store for us. You long to reveal your glory in our lives. We praise you for who you are and what you can do. Come, Lord Jesus, into our prepared hearts.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Further Reading:
Isaiah 40

A Prayer to Stay Christ-focused at Christmas..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Stay Christ-focused at Christmas

 By Meg Bucher

The modern rush to reach the next big door-buster has stolen our ability to relax through Thanksgiving dinner. There’s no deal greater than Jesus’ birth, and we don’t have to wait in line for it.

“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28

Christmas gives us the opportunity to reflect upon the plight of the last year of life. John encourages us to stay focused on what’s important, the long journey of our earthly lives to be more like Christ. We can aim right at that goal, because He was born to earth as an example of what to shoot for. Christmas is an encouraging reminder to stay focused on the reason for the season.  The simple joys connect us to the One who once walked where we trod.

Take Action

“ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” - Romans 12:10

When my children were growing up, one of their favorite stories was about a llama that lost sight of the season, and melted down to the gourd in a tantrum of lost holiday priorities. Sometimes, we have to schedule-out our selfishness, and get busy loving other people. Compassion towards others extends His love to them.

Be Quiet

Time in God’s Word is especially important amidst the commercialism of the season. He promises to reveal new layers of the same Christmas story that we can apply to this season of our lives. When we offer Him our first minutes, we being to see Him throughout the day.

Re-program

The surrounding soundtrack of our lives can take a toll on our hearts, especially if we spend most of our time drenched in secular media. Christmas is a great time to reboot our thoughts by adjusting the message we are tune into. The Word weaved into Christmas carols has the power to move our hearts into the correct place.

Say “No”

Before squeezing other event onto a calendar square, we can pause to pray for discernment on whether an additional event or commitment is necessary. “Thank you for thinking of me!” we can reply in the meantime, “I’ll get back to you.” This Christmas, let’s put the magnitude and majesty of the King of Kings at the center of our holiday planner.

Father, Praise You for Christmas! Thank You for Jesus, born to earth to live among us and pay the ultimate price for our sin. Along the way, He lived a life that we can look to as an example of how to navigate human life on earth. Belief in Him reaches beyond this life, and unto heaven. This Christmas, we ask your forgiveness for getting caught up in the hustle of commercialism, and ask that You re-focus our hearts to Christ. Help us to experience His presence and revel in His closeness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.