Embodying Christ's Humility: The True Meaning of Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Marvel at the Mystery of the Incarnation

The Incarnation is a profound mystery that invites us to marvel at God's love and humility. In the midst of the holiday season's busyness, it's easy to become distracted and lose sight of the awe-inspiring reality of God becoming man. This truth is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that calls us to pause and reflect deeply. The Incarnation is a demonstration of God's immense love, as He chose to come to earth as a humble baby, live among us, and ultimately sacrifice Himself for our salvation. This season, take time to quiet your heart and focus on the wonder of God becoming man. [00:43]

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally create moments of stillness this week to marvel at the Incarnation and its significance in your life today?

Day 2: Genuine Worship through Humility and Service

True worship is not about grand productions but about genuine adoration and gratitude. Philippians 2:5-7 calls us to adopt the mindset of Christ, who made Himself nothing and took the form of a servant. This passage challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes and actions, encouraging us to serve others selflessly and honor God by meeting the needs of those around us. Worship is not confined to a church service but is expressed in our daily lives through humility and service. As you go about your week, consider how you can embody the humility of Christ in your interactions with others. [02:58]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you serve someone in your community this week, reflecting the humility and love of Christ?

Day 3: Seeing Christmas through a Pure Perspective

Alyssa's perspective reminds us that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth and recognizing His presence in our lives. Despite being blind, she experiences the season with a purity and focus that many of us lack. Her insights challenge us to look beyond distractions and ideals to the true meaning of the season. Christmas is not about fulfilling our ideals or traditions but about celebrating the profound reality of Jesus' birth. This week, strive to see Christmas through a lens of purity and focus, recognizing the presence of Jesus in your life and the lives of those around you. [08:43]

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you simplify your Christmas celebrations this year to focus more on the presence of Jesus and less on the distractions of the season?

Day 4: Serving Others as an Act of Worship

Jesus calls us to serve others and see Him in those around us. Matthew 25:40 teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. True worship involves meeting the needs of others as if we were serving Christ Himself. This perspective transforms our daily interactions and challenges us to see every act of service as an opportunity to worship God. As you go about your week, look for opportunities to serve others, recognizing that in doing so, you are serving Christ. [24:00]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who is in need. How can you serve them this week as an act of worship to God?

Day 5: Embodying Christ's Humility and Love

This Christmas, let's strive to embody the humility and love of Jesus, making ourselves nothing and serving others with joy and gratitude. By doing so, we honor God and reflect the true spirit of the Incarnation. The birth of Christ is a powerful reminder of God's love and humility, calling us to live in a way that reflects His character. As you celebrate Christmas, consider how you can embody the humility and love of Jesus in your interactions with others, making a conscious effort to serve with joy and gratitude. [31:46]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to embody the humility and love of Christ in your relationships and community?

Sermon Summary

In this season of reflection and celebration, it's crucial to pause and truly marvel at the Incarnation—the profound mystery of God becoming man. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness and distractions of the holiday season, losing sight of the awe-inspiring reality that God loved us so much that He came to earth as a humble baby, lived among us, and ultimately sacrificed Himself for our salvation. This year, I found myself struggling to focus on this truth amidst the chaos, yearning for a deeper connection and a heart truly amazed by Jesus.

The heart of worship is not about grand productions or elaborate services but about coming before God with genuine adoration and gratitude. It's about quieting our hearts to reflect on the humility and love demonstrated in the birth of Christ. Philippians 2:5-7 reminds us of Jesus' humility, as He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant. This passage invites us to adopt the same mindset, to serve others selflessly, and to honor God by meeting the needs of those around us.

Alyssa, a young woman from our high school ministry, shared her unique perspective on Christmas. Despite being blind, she experiences the season with a purity and focus that many of us lack. Her insights remind us that Christmas is not about fulfilling our ideals or traditions but about celebrating Jesus' birth and recognizing His presence in our lives.

As we reflect on how to honor Jesus, we must remember His words in Matthew 25:40, where He tells us that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. True worship involves serving others, seeing Jesus in those around us, and meeting their needs as if we were serving Christ Himself. This Christmas, let's strive to embody the humility and love of Jesus, making ourselves nothing and serving others with joy and gratitude.

Key Takeaways

1. The Incarnation is a profound mystery that invites us to marvel at God's love and humility. It's easy to become distracted during the holiday season, but we must strive to quiet our hearts and focus on the awe-inspiring reality of God becoming man. [00:43]
2. True worship is not about grand productions but about genuine adoration and gratitude. Philippians 2:5-7 calls us to adopt the mindset of Christ, who made Himself nothing and took the form of a servant. [02:58]
3. Alyssa's perspective reminds us that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth and recognizing His presence in our lives. Her purity and focus challenge us to look beyond distractions and ideals to the true meaning of the season. [08:43]
4. Jesus calls us to serve others and see Him in those around us. Matthew 25:40 teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. True worship involves meeting the needs of others as if we were serving Christ Himself. [24:00]
5. This Christmas, let's strive to embody the humility and love of Jesus, making ourselves nothing and serving others with joy and gratitude. By doing so, we honor God and reflect the true spirit of the Incarnation. [31:46]
** [31:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Reflecting on the Incarnation
[00:58] - The Challenge of Focus
[01:29] - What Honors God Most?
[02:44] - Quiet Reflection and Worship
[03:30] - Personal Heart Examination
[05:22] - Struggles with Distraction
[06:39] - Alyssa's Perspective
[08:43] - The True Meaning of Christmas
[10:08] - The Humility of Christ's Birth
[12:14] - Experiencing the Nativity
[13:48] - A Different Christmas Focus
[20:27] - The Heart of Worship
[24:12] - Serving Others as Worship
[31:46] - Embodying Christ's Humility

Sermon Clips

"Have you done that this season yet have you had any time of just quiet where you just rejoiced over the fact that God loved you enough that he became man and went into that manger grew up died on a cross for you but that have you really have you really been stunned yet this year like thought about the Incarnation for yourself thought about the beauty of God becoming man and just had one of those moments where you just go God I can't believe you've done that I can't believe you did that for me." [00:07:00]

"I thought okay God what would honor you most what would honor you most with what we did in this service because it be very easy for me to get into my routine of of just preparing a message getting you fired up about the birth of Christ and sing some songs and really just get it going in here but is that really what would honor him most and I was thinking okay if I were God and and this is the season or this is the time when when the people are supposed to focus on me then what would honor me most." [01:20:00]

"Have this mind among yourselves which is 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 I I'm not even going to explain that passage to you here's what we're going to do for the next couple minutes is uh I'm just going to let you stare at this passage of scripture and I'm going to give you some time to pray whatever it is about that passage that jumps out to you just you worship God on your own in your hearts." [02:55:00]

"God is really awesome he really is and he showed me a lot this particular Christmas season specifically um I I get distracted too I really do I have to admit I really do and it's it's a different distraction than you guys because you guys see things but for me I get distracted because I want Christmas to be this like I have this ideal of what I think Christmas should be like and sometimes that ideal gets in the way like you know the perfect music or like I want to hear this song and you know I don't know I want to do certain things you know traditions and I don't know like Christmas really really can be distracting and it is for me because I just have this ideal but you know what God has shown me this particular season more than any other season in my life that it's not about that it's not about me it's not about what I want Christmas to be it's not about what I even think Christmas should be it's about what he he was born it's about his birthday." [08:36:00]

"Jesus came as that in a Manger you know we always you know you always see like hear the story of Bethlehem and the manger and the stable and all this and I don't know I've never actually SE seen a Manger or at least a picture of one but I have somewhat of an idea that it's not a very pleasant place to be born it's you know where nasty animals hang out you know and it's like a feeding trough or something I don't know I really don't I don't think that it was a very good experience like a pleasant experience it probably smelled really bad and I don't know I just can't think of any more humbling of a thing for somebody to do than to come you know there's no room in the end so he came to this stable where animals are where the lowest of creatures are and he came to be born in this bale of hay you know and I don't know I just feel like that's so awesome that he would do that for us you know cuz we we get born in hospitals I mean we don't have to be born in a manger you know it was probably uncomfortable for him I'm sure you know but God is so so his love for us is just so unreal that he would do that." [10:07:00]

"Jesus says I'm leaving there I'm not asking you to do this for me what I would desire is for you to do this to one another and then he also says in Matthew 25 remember that scene in Matthew 25 it's one of the most terrifying passages of scripture where he says to those depart from me into this eternal fire that was prepared for for the devil and his angels what was he saying there he he says well these people are going why why do we have to go there and Jesus says look I was hungry and you didn't feed me I was thirsty you gave me nothing to drink and these people are going well Jesus if you were there I mean if it were my job to take care of you Jesus and I saw you you were hungry of course I would feed you of course I'd give you something to drink but then Jesus goes you don't get it he goes whatever you didn't do for the least of these you didn't do for me see Jesus says you want to honor me he goes yeah it'd be great if if I were on the earth yes you could honor me you could wash my feet or whatever else but he goes I'm telling you that whatever you do for the least of these you've done for me." [23:01:00]

"Have this mind about you which was in Christ Jesus have this mindset the whole reason why Jes Jesus Jesus saying look I set the example I set the example for you he goes I was God Almighty and I made myself nothing and took the form of a servant washing feet he goes and I want you to have that same mindset so what would honor him the most as if we followed his example Not Just Praise Him for his example not just adore him but he says okay now I'm giving you an opportunity go out and look for those who are in need you really want to honor me see because we want to we want to We Want To Praise Jesus we want to help him out we want to give him everything and and yet we don't have that same heart for the least of these and he's saying you want to honor me do this." [25:19:00]

"I want you to think through this Christmas season and and really think of it from God's perspective and say what would honor you most at Cornerstone you know we we focus a lot on caring for the least of these in fact some of you guys feel like we go overboard like why you know we we're not going to solve the problem you're not going to you know Jesus said the poor will always be with you we like well yeah that's the whole point thank God the poor are with us because that's how we adore Jesus we don't adore Jesus by pretending we can see him in the room and singing songs to him we adore Jesus by realizing you know what he is actually out there he says whatever I do for the least of these I have to treat these little kids I have to treat these people who are in need as though they were Jesus himself that's what he asked us to do." [31:44:00]

"Have this mind among yourself so you have the same mindset which is yours in Christ Jesus God gave you this mindset he put his spirit in you so you could have this mindset 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 see that that phrase made himself nothing here's God Almighty creator of the universe he made himself nothing he made himself into this little infant in this feeding trough like like Alissa was saying and he just made himself nothing and I looked at that and I thought see I don't want to do that I don't want to come in this room and make myself nothing and take the form of a servant and just go around from person to person go hey what do you need how can I help you what what how can I help you know take care of your needs I want to come in this room and there's certain things I want to I don't feel like making myself nothing I don't feel like going home this afternoon and making myself nothing before my kids and before my wife and before my neighbors and just walking around like a servant how can I help you how can I help you how can I help you I don't feel like doing that." [29:54:00]

"I want you to think right now what would God want you to do and I know we can't start the service over but if you really came here today saying my goal and I I bet you if I asked you when when you came in I should have done this I'll do it at 5: I'll just pick someone out and say why did you come today I think a lot of people would say to honor God cuz I I really believe that's in your heart you really want to honor God I think just sometimes we don't think through what would honor him most according to this book from what I know of this book what would honor him most and instead we just want to love God the way we feel like loving in fact could you put that Philippians 2 passage back up there cuz here's what I was struggling with this week." [29:11:00]

"Jesus says no but the way I've asked you to honor me is to love one another like what would have honored him the most is if you came in today looking for people and just going up to people that are maybe complete strangers and saying is there anything I can do for you how can I pray for you what are your needs and as they share your needs for you to imagine yourself and think through your life and to see if you can't be a resource to them if you can't use your resources to help someone else that's what would honor Jesus." [27:57:00]

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