Read 
Philippians 2:6-11
Being in very nature God … [Jesus] made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …  Verses 6-7 (NIV) 

Reflect 
Unfortunately the summer Olympics have been postponed, maybe they will even be cancelled, due to the COVID 19 virus. I enjoy watching the events and the competition. People sit glued to their television sets as athletes compete for gold. Some of the athletes who do not win show their disappointment publicly. More than one athlete has left for their home country immediately after their event, upset and angry. Understandably so! They train, dreaming of gold and anything less is hard to take. Besides, it’s in our nature to want to outdo the other person. It goes against the grain to sit on the bench, to play second fiddle, or to be relegated to the back seat. 

But that’s what the Lord Jesus chose to do when he “made himself nothing.” Paul says that Jesus, “who, being in very nature God … made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.” That’s what makes the coming of the Saviour the most amazing event in all history. The Lord of heaven and earth, who was from all eternity, made himself nothing. The eternal Son of God took on the nature of a servant. From the unknown but surely unmatched glories of heaven he stooped to be born in a stable.  

I encourage you to read these verses several times today. I still remember, like it was yesterday, when these verses became more than just words or just the account of Jesus coming. These verses sunk in so deeply that I was moved to tears to understand the sacrifice Jesus made.  Spend some time to thank Jesus for his willingness to become nothing so that we might be saved and become somebody – a child of God! 

Pray 
Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to leave the glories of heaven for us. Thank you for becoming a servant so that we might be saved. Amen.