(Living Seed Vol.4 No. 3 Dec 1997)
“Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God… But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. … he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…” (Phil 2:6-8)
JESUS Himself, being in the form of God, had all the privileges and attributes of God; had the power of God…He possessed all of God, but He thought it not something to hold tenaciously unto.. . He regarded it not so much a treasure to cling unto.. “Again, take note of this for your own life….Do not grab opportunities, provision, position; and all that God’s mercy brings your way… Do not hold tightly to anything… let it not become anything fo you…. Remain empty and emptied. Remain unassuming at every time…. Let nothing fill up your heart…
JESUS made Himself of no reputation – Made Himself nothing … He emptied Himself … This is the quiet wisdom you must learn all the time. There is a subtle reputation that accrues to a man, once God begins to lift him up for His church to see. It builds up gradually … It forms a quote around him. It seeks to become his own identity. It draws him a status and hence a statute… It seeks to place him somewhere in a position high up. Men are too eager to pronounce that reputation and sing about it. But that is the subtle pit into which many fall and become discarded.
Reputation will surely build up around you – among men and even the brethren, but Jesus deliberately, constantly, repeatedly and promptly made Himself of no reputation… He emptied it out: poured it out as a libation to God… Men spoke highly of Him, but mistook Him for another when they saw Him. He refused to grab the public ovation by walking in obscurity. He avoided large gatherings where his fame could be fanned to flame. He walked unnoticed among men… He did menial things: kept company with ordinary folks. Lazarus was a friend; Zaccheus was a friend. His disciples were ordinary men… Children had access to Him. He picked up kids and played and prayed with them. You must learn wisdom from His lifestyle. He made Himself. This is the key word …He made Himself. Otherwise, men were eager to crown Him, put Him up there… carry Him shoulder high and talk highly of Him every where. Though legitimately His, He made himself of no reputation.
Do not misunderstand this! It is normal for men to do these things to you. They will honour you in the way they think best. They will lay down their backs for you to ride upon. They will bow their heads as sign of honour. They will avoid any insult on your person… You may not even make any demand, as He never sought honour from men, yet, they sang aboul Him. It is your own personal choice and duty to make yourself of no reputation.
“…and took upon Him the form of a servant”
Every man grows up to become a “master” … Experience, expertise and exposures lend to make a man a master. Exploits done for the Lord automatically place a status quo on your life… Years of service, years of ministry, years of revelation from God seek to make a master out of you… “Masters” are men that direct, but Jesus took upon Himself the form of a servant! This again is His personal choice… No one imposed it on Him… He took it upon Himself. This is the crux of the matter. If you desire to remain a master, it is your right… Years of service imposed it on you; exposure, experience, expertise and exploits make and carve out such a seat for you… But you can lay it aside to continually tie around yourself the towel of service… Though no man is bold again to call on you to serve..: actually men will agree to serve you.. Men will run around for you….but you must also lay it aside, if you must bear God’s glory upon your life a long time.
“…made in the likeness of men…Humbled Himself and became obedient…”
Do not seek to be different from men. Do not assume any other posture! Do not seek another outlook. It is safer for you to be a mere man, no matter the treasure within your heart… It is safer to appear a mere clay – unattractive outside, despite the glorious investment of God within.
Men out of admiration of what God is doing in your life may lose their heads and become so excited about you… May the Lord help you to pour it out to Him, as David of old… Not to drink the sweat of other men, talk less of their blood. This deliberate choices, Jesus made to fit and fix Him for the utmost honour.
Can I cling unto perishables and still hope for my head to wear the crown eternal?
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