Daily Bible Verses for 12/16/2016

Advent: Jesus Humbled Himself to the Cross for Us – (Philippians 2:31-11)

Daily Verse(s)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reading Notes
Our salvation was planned by God from eternity past. The Bible tells us “God chose us, in Christ Jesus before the foundations of the world were laid in place.” This means that God loves us so much, that He individually knew us, and personally chose us for a relationship with Him before the world was created. And in God’s perfect timing Jesus who is fully God, stepped out of eternity and took on humanity, in order that we, who were chosen by God may receive salvation. And because He came as a sacrifice for us to take away our sins, He humbled Himself to the point of death and not only death, but the humiliating death of the Cross. God did this because of His immense love for us. Jesus died for us, that we may live through Him. Jesus who was completely sinless took on our sin and the punishment due us in order that we may live eternally through Him. Moreover, we have to remember the incarnation means Jesus took on humanity and added it to His divinity without loss of either. Jesus who is the Messiah of God, came in God’s perfect timing. God in His sovereignty prepared the world for the arrival of Jesus Christ and the spread of the Gospel message.

During the time between the Old and New Testaments, God prepared the world for the spread of the Gospel. God used the Greek empire to spread the common language of Koine Greek to the known world. Then God used the Roman Empire to bring the Roman road system and relative peace for the safety of travel in order for the Gospel message to quickly spread. These are an example of God’s perfect timing and sovereignty in action as He carries out His plan of redemption for mankind. God did this because of His great love for us, His creation. Therefore, we who are followers of Christ are to be of the same mind as Jesus. That is, we are to walk through the power of the Holy Spirit who guides us. We are to walk in all humility, not esteeming ourselves better than others. And we are to preach the Good News of Jesus to a lost and dying world which is trapped in darkness because it does not know the Gospel of Christ. Jesus first came as a suffering servant to take away the sins of the world; however the time is soon coming when He shall return as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords. And at that time it will be too late for the lost. It will be too late for those who have rejected Jesus to then accept Him after He returns. This means the season is now, in which we are to spread the light of Christ to a dark world in need of salvation.