Whether it is editing a Bible Study to prepare it for publishing, or exegeting (interpreting or expounding upon) Philippians 2 in order to preach on it Sunday, I have been swimming in the waters of Philippians all week. As such, I think it is fitting for today’s devotional to be on Philippians. Please forgive the use of the Greek word kenosis in the title of this devotional. I just like the alliterative sound that “Kenosis of Christ” has. Kenosis literally translates “to empty.” In Philippians, specifically Chapter 2 verse 7, It says that Jesus “emptied himself” for our sake. What a beautiful picture of the incredible love of God and a call to action for us to be about the work of living lives for God and for others.
Jesus
Our Rescuer
Because You are God
Because of Your Love
You Came Among Us
You Emptied Yourself
You Poured Yourself Out For Our Sake
You Willingly Moved into Our Barrio
You Met us Where We Are
Living With Us and For Us
You Modeled How We Are To Live
Teaching, Healing, Loving
You Showed us the Essence and Way of God
You Willingly Gave Yourself Up For Us
Even To Die a Horrific Death
Yet This Was Not the Final Word
As You Rose from the Dead
You Showed us What Is to Come
You Returned to the Heavenly Realm
And Now We Know that Jesus, YHWH, God in the Flesh
Has Lived Among Us
Fully Human, Fully God
We Call You Lord, Sovereign One
Lord of the Cosmos
Lord of Our Lives
And Now the Spirit Breathes, Moves and Dwells Among Us
Nudging, Whispering, Guiding, Directing
Because of Your Love May We See Your image in Us
Because of Your Love May we Love One Another
Because of Your Love May We Love You
Because of Your Love May We Care for Creation
May our Lives be Perpetually Filled by Your Love and Presence
So that We Can Continually Pour Them Out for the Sake of Others