A King Worthy of Our Worship
Dear Friends,
Over the past few weeks my family and I have been watching "I'm a celebrity...get me out of here!" We've watched as a group of celebrities who don't know each other are dropped off in the Australian jungle for a few weeks. They take little with them into the camp, they sleep on camp beds and cook basic food on the camp fire. They take part in various gruesome trials and face elimination from the jungle by public vote until just one person, the winner, is left. The one who is the last to leave is crowned King (or Queen) of the Jungle. Although they may not all admit to it, they have selfish reasons for participating in this reality tv show, whether it's money, or to further their career or to win public approval. To some people it would be viewed as quite a feat as the celebrities face and survive the jungle, with one person winning the victory by lasting the longest.
But, I know of one who has done something far more incredible and it's good for us to be reminded of it at this time of year.
Of course, I'm thinking about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who gave up his place in heaven, his position, everything, to come to earth, to be born in a place reserved for animals, with a feeding trough as his first bed. Philippians 2:6-7 says this "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (NLT)
He did this, not for some selfish reason and not to win people's approval (actually the religious leaders at that time definitely disapproved of him and hated him, even going as far as manipulating the situation to have him killed.) Jesus came to earth for purely unselfish reasons. He came to restore our relationship to God, to take the punishment we deserve for our sins and to bring us life, peace, hope, love and joy. When the angels announced his arrival to shepherds they said “'Don’t be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.' 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,14 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'” Luke 2:10-14 (NLT)
Jesus is victorious, he defeated the devil and his plans, he overcame death, our final enemy: "54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'" 1 Corinthians 15:54-56 (NLT)
The last celebrity remaining in the jungle is crowned King (or Queen) of the Jungle. In reality, this means very little. However, Jesus, our victor is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords." 1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT) As such, he alone is worthy of our worship and adoration.
Let's go back to Philippians 2 and read verses 9-11 "Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (NLT).
As we look forward to Christmas let's remember all that Jesus Christ gave up to come to earth, to live as a man, that we might be reconciled with God and have eternal life. As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we can also worship him as King and Lord of our life.
To Think About:
Make time during the coming week to worship Jesus our King and Saviour.
God has given us the greatest gift of all, his son, Jesus. In response to this what will you give to God?
Vicki
Over the past few weeks my family and I have been watching "I'm a celebrity...get me out of here!" We've watched as a group of celebrities who don't know each other are dropped off in the Australian jungle for a few weeks. They take little with them into the camp, they sleep on camp beds and cook basic food on the camp fire. They take part in various gruesome trials and face elimination from the jungle by public vote until just one person, the winner, is left. The one who is the last to leave is crowned King (or Queen) of the Jungle. Although they may not all admit to it, they have selfish reasons for participating in this reality tv show, whether it's money, or to further their career or to win public approval. To some people it would be viewed as quite a feat as the celebrities face and survive the jungle, with one person winning the victory by lasting the longest.
But, I know of one who has done something far more incredible and it's good for us to be reminded of it at this time of year.
Of course, I'm thinking about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who gave up his place in heaven, his position, everything, to come to earth, to be born in a place reserved for animals, with a feeding trough as his first bed. Philippians 2:6-7 says this "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (NLT)
He did this, not for some selfish reason and not to win people's approval (actually the religious leaders at that time definitely disapproved of him and hated him, even going as far as manipulating the situation to have him killed.) Jesus came to earth for purely unselfish reasons. He came to restore our relationship to God, to take the punishment we deserve for our sins and to bring us life, peace, hope, love and joy. When the angels announced his arrival to shepherds they said “'Don’t be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.' 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,14 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'” Luke 2:10-14 (NLT)
The trials the celebrities faced in the jungle were nothing compared to the trials Jesus endured as he walked this earth for about 33 years. The greatest trial he faced and overcame was death on a cross. The passage we read in Philippians continues in verse 8 with "he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross." (NLT) Jesus Christ went to the cross for my sake, for your sake, because "God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life." John 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
Jesus is victorious, he defeated the devil and his plans, he overcame death, our final enemy: "54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'" 1 Corinthians 15:54-56 (NLT)
The last celebrity remaining in the jungle is crowned King (or Queen) of the Jungle. In reality, this means very little. However, Jesus, our victor is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. "For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords." 1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT) As such, he alone is worthy of our worship and adoration.
Let's go back to Philippians 2 and read verses 9-11 "Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (NLT).
As we look forward to Christmas let's remember all that Jesus Christ gave up to come to earth, to live as a man, that we might be reconciled with God and have eternal life. As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we can also worship him as King and Lord of our life.
To Think About:
Make time during the coming week to worship Jesus our King and Saviour.
God has given us the greatest gift of all, his son, Jesus. In response to this what will you give to God?
Vicki
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