Philippians 2:5-8 “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 made himself nothing, 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.”

Have you ever considered what it cost our Lord to save us? Sure, he had to die in order to pay the price for our sins, but it cost him more than just a death. He stepped down from eternity, his home with his Father. He moved from the palace to the slums. The creator of the heavens and the earth came down to live among us, to teach us, to love us face-to-face, to wash our feet, and to suffer the most horrible torture ever devised so that we would know the great love our Father has for us. When was the last time you gave up something really valuable or really big and didn’t count the cost? When was the last time you humbled yourself to anyone? This wasn’t a summer vacation or a weekend camping trip ‘roughing it’. This was 33 years of living in modest to poverty level conditions. It was 33 years of service, of always doing the right thing, laughing, crying, working, preaching, long days and sleepless nights with no happy ending to look forward to. His reward would be rejection, betrayal, humiliation and torture. There is no greater love.

Prayer: “Lord, forgive me for forgetting that you sacrificed far more for me than just your life on the cross. You came and accepted a life I would not even choose for myself. You left the riches of heaven and the joy of the presence of the glory of God to come and save me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for counting me worthy of so great a sacrifice. Help me to live worthily in the face of the sacrifices I am called to make. In your precious name I pray - Amen.”