The Alphabet of Christmas: O is for "obedient"

Image via WikipediaLet 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. (Philippians 2:5-8, NKJV)

Long before God set time in motion, long before He created the universe, He had a plan. He knew He would create, and He knew that man would sin, and He knew that He would come to earth and offer Himself up for the payment of His peoples' sins.

Before man ever existed, the birth of Christ and the shadow of the Cross were already planned.

And so, when God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden, Jesus knew that He would be born. When God destroyed the earth in the Flood, Jesus knew He would live among us. When God brought His people out of Egypt, Jesus knew He would die on the Cross.

Jesus did not have to do any of this: God would have been perfectly just to allow man to bear the eternal consequence of his sin. But because of His faithfulness, because He is the obedient Son, and because He loves us, Christ came down to earth to abide with His children. The One True God, the Triune God, made a covenant within the Godhead to seek and save His lost children - and to do that, the Son came to us humbly and obediently, to show us His Father's love.

Father, how wondrous is Your grace and mercy! How great is Your love for us! I thank You and praise You that You cannot break a promise and that You were willing to come and live with us so we might see You and know You. Lord, let us look to You, always and in all ways, to follow in humble obedience. Your great love for us, Your holiness and Your faithfulness, should give us confidence that You are truly the God who knows and sees all things, and that we can trust You to lead us. Give us Your presence, grant us Your peace, and bless us with faithful hearts so that we may proclaim Your greatness and goodness in our words, thoughts and deeds.

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