"The Wise Stewart" -2

"He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." (Psalms 37:26) When it comes to taking up our cross and following Jesus, there are fewer words that can describe what it was that gave Him the joy in the cross that was to take His life; mercy, lend, and blessed, are three that rank right up towards the top: for He demonstrated God's mercy, by lending His life, so we could be blessed. I actually heard a message the other day that went along with those same three words; the part that struck me the most was the lending part, because Jesus did not give up His position in heaven, He only purchased the earth with His life, then He went right back to being seated at the right hand of the Father. Actually in the message, the pastor made a little dramatic demonstration of what Jesus did not do, like asking the Father to hold His seat while He was gone for those thirty-three years; saying things like, "Father, please hold My position here in heaven, because I know Gabriel is bucking to take My seat while I am away"; as if that would ever happen. The portion of the Scriptures that was being shared, was taken from Philippians 2:1-11, which just so happens to be titled in my Bible, "Be Like Christ"; and the verse that lends to that lending part, was verse 6, which says, "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God"; in other words, He never gave up His being God, even though He took on the form of a man; He humbled Himself to be a Servant, lending His body to die for our sins. Mercy is also something that speaks of God's great love for His children, for He is long-suffering, and He does not give us that which we deserve; much more than that, He gave us His Son, that we might also be blessed by His resurrection into glory, being able to share in the same resurrection into glory; for as He was glorified, so shall we be glorified. In that same venue, we are to 'let that same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus'; focusing on the glory which is to come... ""Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 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: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)