When God
His Birth and Taking On Our Nature
His Hunger, Thirst, Weariness and Sleep
His Submission, Obedience, Menial Acts, and Serving
His Suffering and Death
His Burial and Resurrection
Here is the first devotion for this week. Download the entire 4 week devotional, Beyond the Nativity, below for free:
Day 1: The Manifestation: His Birth and Taking our Nature
Philippians 2:1-7
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced someone needing me so much until I experienced Ruthie, my little girl. Like most babies, she wanted me close. Perhaps she was a bit closer than most for I couldn’t lay her down for any amount of sleep (without me). She’d appear to sleep soundly for a moment, but awake in minutes, angry that I had left her alone. I tried everything including crying it out (both of us) and at least ten books. Nothing worked. So I gave up and she has been attached to me ever since. We gave up nursing over two years ago, but she still must have a part of me so she blows on my belly every so often throughout the day. She has named it “Bell”. She says that all she wants for Christmas is Bell! I do try to give her other interests but she really truly just wants to be with me and a part of what I’m doing all day. I must admit, there are times I wish it were different but I know I’ll long for these days in about 15 years!
Ruthie desires me to experience all of life with her. I suppose we all want that…to experience the good times and not so good times with at least one companion. I remember that was the most challenging aspect of being single into my 30’s…the desire to share life with someone. Maybe that is why I look forward to thinking this week about what Jesus really experienced in the flesh. It is comforting to know that Emmanuel – God with us – really did experience life with us. He didn’t just come protected from the hardships of life we know…He experienced all that life dished up. It is good to see in scripture that He must have experienced happiness and joy. He attended weddings and dinners and had friends. He even seemed to have had a sense of humor. But what scripture seems to be most concerned about is conveying the truth that He experienced our challenges and hardships as he carried out His mission to save us. I think this is because He wants us to know that He humbled Himself and served us. And it is good to know the one calling us to humility has done the same isn’t it?
Does this encourage you in some way…to think of the God-king experiencing our daily challenges and routine ways as He carried out His plan to save us? If He came to serve us by offering His body, part of that was living a perfect life and He did it while experiencing all that we do. Let’s celebrate each experience that we meditate on this week. Each instance recorded in scripture which reveals that God Himself truly became like us…flesh.
Would you begin this week by contemplating what His birth may have been like. Have you ever imagined the first breath and cries? Until today, I’m not sure that I had ever contemplated the fact that the Creator had to be nourished by His created. Perhaps He spit up. Perhaps He, like Ruthie, needed and wanted His mother near Him all of the time as He grew in infancy. Think of all of the days she probably had to wear him close to her. The days of motherhood in those infant years are almost a blur to me now. But I know they were days of giving constantly because the needs are so great. He put Himself into that situation of needing.
This is what He did…He was born and took our nature of needing so that,
ultimately, He would save us in our need.
To do right now: Meditate on the above scripture. Write a prayer or journal your thoughts. Listen to the song: You’re Here . The song is sung from the perspective of Mary in awe of holding the King and Creator.
Art: Honthorst, Gerrit van, Adoration of the Child, c. 1620
Linking up this week with:
Thank you so much for these beautiful devotionals! I am really enjoying studying with you! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Thank you for reading the devotionals. There is so much out there on the internet and so much to do at Christmas time…I am humbled when someone tells me they actually spend time reading mine! Blessings to you as you meditate on all of this leading up to Christmas!
What a thought provoking post. I am humbled reflecting on how God took the form of a human for my sake. It is an AWEsome thing to think about. Thank you for the devotional. Feel free to share at WJIM’s Monday’s Musings. Have a fabulous weekend.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It is humbling to think of this isn’t it? Thank you for your invitation to share at WJIM’s Monday’s Musings…
Amy I hadn’t thought about in quite this way either. Your devotional has helped me think of things in way I hadn’t before.
Thank you for reading…glad it brings out some things that hadn’t been thought of before!
Wonderful devotional! It really makes me think about that special night when Christ was born. What an experience for Mary, Joseph, and all those who got to see their Lord and King!
Thank you…I’m glad it makes you think of that special night. I watched The Nativity movie tonight…and it really brought to life much of what is in this devotional. Wish I would’ve watched it before! Blessings to you this Christmas season!
My daughter has a newborn infant–I enjoy the time that I can spend with her. It is amazing that Jesus, Son of God, chose to take on human form, starting life like all of us. He knows each one of us and truly understands our challenges! Thank-you for sharing this devotion. Have a blessed weekend!
Congrats on being a new grandmother! Thank you for visiting…have a blessed Christmas with your baby…
Visiting from Weekend Brew! Lovely post.
Thank you for visiting!
Wow, what a generous and beautiful gift you have offered, Amy. Thank you for your faithfulness, friend, and for linking up at #HearItUseIt – I am grateful for your participation there.!
Thank you for visiting…and thank YOU for your link-up. Always a pleasure to visit your site!
What a gift…visiting from SDG….Thank you 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Dolly!
One of my favorite names of Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. I’m so encouraged by His presence here, with us, and am amazed at his willingness to do so!
Blessings to you as you meditate on the fact that God is with us…and his willingness to be here. No—his joy to be with us!