In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

– Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

Paul is writing to the church in Philippi to encourage them that Jesus is the key to all of life, from beginning to end. The encouragement is that even through suffering and self-sacrificing love we become more like Jesus, enabling us to rejoice in Jesus through humility and love. In this passage, we are urged to have the same attitude that Jesus had. Jesus was the Son of God. His place was at the right hand of His Father, ruling the universe. No position could be more glorious or honourable than that! And yet, Jesus chose not to hold on to this right.

The marvel of the incarnation is that Jesus, “who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” In celebrating the humble arrival of baby Jesus, born in a manger, in almost complete obscurity, we celebrate a humility that Paul says we should emulate. The attitude we are asked to have is that of Jesus, who didn’t hold on His rights. When the Father required a spotless sacrifice to redeem humanity, Jesus did not cling to His rights. He did not argue against suffering for the sins of a rebellious creation. Rather, He relinquished the glory of His heavenly existence to become a man, spending His whole life preparing for the day when He would willingly suffer on our behalf.

We are often tempted to hold tightly to the things God has given us. Believing that if He gave them to us, He wouldn’t ask us to give them up, or would He? Our life of following Jesus constantly requires us to make adjustments to become more like Him. The Father asked Jesus to make radical adjustments in His life, and we can expect that He will ask us to do the same.

Are there any areas where you have been holding on too tightly? If you find yourself resisting every time God seeks to adjust your life to His will, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the same selfless attitude of humility that Jesus demonstrated.

This Christmas, may you celebrate Jesus’ self-emptying obedience to become one of us, a humility that led to death on a cross, demonstrating God’s ultimate gift of humility and love for all humanity.