Daily Devotionals

Music For the Soul

Devotional: December 24th

THE INCARNATION IN ORDER TO A LIFE OF SERVICE

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:28

As a king might enter poor men’s huts, and learn their condition, and live their lives, and share their squalor, and weep their tears, and staunch their wounds, so Christ wills to be born that He may help and serve us. He comes "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." The infinite condescension of the incarnation, looked at as I have suggested it must be looked at, is the fit vestibule to a life likewise marked by infinite condescension and lowliness. He comes to serve. Think of the outward circumstances of the life; of how He stole into the world, as it were, in lowly guise, and choosing the condition of poverty. Think of how, all through His life, you find unwearied diligence, readiness to help everybody, whatsoever their weakness, their need, to turn away from no vileness, to be disgusted by no profanity, to despair of no abject or alienated heart. He ever recognises the claims of others upon Him, and never thinks of His claims upon them except for their good. He requires nothing, never for a moment shows that He thought of Himself, but for ever devotes His loving heart and hand, His wise words. His miracle working power, to the blessing of men.

Such a life stands absolutely alone. There is not a flaw in this marble, not a black vein running through it that spoils the statue, not a speck. No man can put his finger upon any action recorded of Jesus Christ, and say, He did that for His own advantage. He did that from a motive that centred upon self.

Do not let us forget that in this we have Christ’s revelation of God. The Highest of all is highest, in order that He may stoop to the lowest, and being Lord of all serve the needs and supply the emptiness of every creature that lives.

That revelation of the Master’s relation to us is not antiquated by His present exaltation. He is still your Servant and mine, ready to help and to succour. And, more wonderful than all. He has given it us, as the highest conception that we can form of the heavenly world, that He Himself will come forth and gird Himself, and serve them who have been His servants here.

That life of service was also a true revelation of the law of His kingdom and of the true greatness and blessedness of men. He proposes His own utter self-suppression and devotion to our advantage, as the pattern to which all professing Christians are to conform. In Him we learn the dignity of service; in Him we learn the obligations of superiors. This example is meant to shame us out of our self-seeking, vulgar ambition, and misuse of advantages which raise us above our fellows. It says to us all, "Do not stand on your rights; forget your claims; consecrate your capacities to your brethren’s service, and learn that position means obligation, and that the only true order of rank in Christ’s kingdom is determined, not by what we are, but by our use of what we are to help all who will accept our help." Does the world believe that the servant of all is the chiefest of all? Does it believe that the chiefest of all should be servant of all? Does the Church believe it? Do we? Do we act as if we did, either in regard to our judgment of others or to the regulation of our own lives?