Humility. Humbleness.
For starters, think of the most humble person you know. I have a sweet friend who I always think of when I think of humility. She is continually giving and serving others, even when she is physically in pain. She is beautiful, yet I have never seen her acknowledge her beauty and spend hours preening in front of the mirror. Her beauty is even deeper than her lovely face because it comes from a heart that loves Jesus--she desires with every fiber of her being to be like Him.
And He is humble.
Just think.
The God of the universe, by whom and for whom all things were created, entrusted himself to a carpenter and a young girl. Granted, they were righteous and God called Mary "favored one" (Luke 1:28), yet they were still sinners awaiting the Messiah. Jesus entrusted himself, a King worthy of 24/7 praise from Angels who covered their faces while worshipping Him, to parents whose hearts were for Him. He did not make his entrance known to the leading officials of the day, but to shepherds and to foreigners. He did not come with the red carpet rolled out...but allowed the image of his glory to be wrapped in spare cloths, nestled in the hay.
He came in the humblest form of all--a child.
The other part of humility I have been considering these last few days was the fact that Jesus created His human body. He created what eyes would look like, his laugh and his physical appearance. He came up with his baby coo, his smile lines, and his own human fingerprints. As I was considering it, I was suddenly struck with a thought. Scripture says "he had no form or comeliness (attractiveness) that we should desire look at him" (Isaiah 53:2). In other words, God created the physical body He would have in such a way that people would not be drawn to Him because of his physical beauty. He made himself to look like a carpenters son--a man from a small town. Who does that?! I mean, if we was in charge of designing ourselves, how many of us would make ourselves the best of the best. How many blemishes do we see in ourselves that we would wish to change so that others might approve of us more? Yet, God in His humility, became a man whom fishermen were comfortable around, children were drawn to, and a heart that would be the surprise of the world. He did not draw attention to the outward, because of His care of the inward heart.
The second thing I was thinking about was Jesus as a part of Joseph and Mary's family. I mean, obviously I have no idea how old Jesus was when his brothers and sisters were born, but just stop and consider for a moment. Imagine having Jesus as a big brother. I just picture him as a young boy, working alongside his father and a little girl with curly hair running up to him to show him a treasure she found. Just imagine as she thrusts out her hands, him pausing in his work to stoop down and admire her newfound gem. The tenderness in his eyes, the sweetness in his face, the earnestness to do what is right. I also love thinking about Mary's perspective, for she truly has a view no one will ever know. She was one of the first to hear his laugh, to see his little lips lift into a sweet smile, to wipe tears from his eyes. Mary was one of the first to find his tickle spots, to run her finger down his toes and see him drawback in laughter! Hers were the fingers he grasped as he teetered his first steps, hers was the voice that soothed him into a peaceful sleep. Whew.
As this next Christmas season approaches, I would really encourage you to do two things:
1) Ask The Lord to show you something new this Christmas--something you have never thought about before, or just even making the awe of God coming for US renewed!
2) STOP. One of the things that makes people feel disgruntled about Christmas being over is USUALLY because they never spend me with Jesus. Spend time with the King of creation, the Prince of Peace and the most humble man you will ever meet. He is worth every single minute...and so much more.
In His precious name,
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