It has been suggested that this time of year—the Christmas season—brings out the best in people.
We are inundated with numerous stories and reports of the rich and famous helping the less fortunate.
Most of the stories I see are about professional athletes. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays many of them will volunteer at homeless shelters and provide food and comfort to the poor. Others will donate their time and money to children’s hospitals where young people are fighting for their lives (while their parents sit next to them fighting to keep hope alive). Others will provide opportunities to inner-city kids that otherwise would be nonexistent. The list goes on and on.
These things are wonderful!
To see those who are rich and powerful condescend to help those who are in need is impressive. We applaud their hard work and generosity—and rightfully so.
But all of these charitable efforts pale in comparison to the humility and condescension of Jesus Christ.
It is amazing and awesome to consider the humility and condescension it took for God to become man.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us.)Matthew 1:23
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
It is good and right for those in a position of strength to help the weak (Prov. 11:24-25; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; et. al.).
It is beautiful to see the condescension of the strong.
More than this, it is staggering and wonderful to consider the humility of heaven.
Glory to God in the highest!
