Emptied.
Called to have the same attitude as Christ.
Yet this earthen vessel still reveals trace amounts. Vestiges of pride and selfish ambition. Clutter.
And I learn my emptied is not a one-time thing.
But daily.
Jesus
Jesus emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant.
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross.
And He calls us to this same mindset. And way of life.
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
Hard work
Initially, surrender is full of joy. Beginning the salvation story of my soul.
But then the hard work of being emptied truly begins.
In incremental ways. Over the years.
Roots of pride in me. Revealed in caustic sarcasm. Sometimes confrontational rhetoric. Or discontentment accompanied by a soundtrack of grumbling.
“Do everything without complaining or arguments…” (Philippians 2:14). Wait. What?
God at work
And the only way this new mindset ever takes place is me is through working out my salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Not dependent on my power and can-do attitude.
But remembering and submitting to the sweet and glorious truth of the next verse: “…For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).
Emptied
Submission.
Vessels emptied day by day. Then filled with His Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15-21).
It’s life-long learning.
But this practice leads to fruit. Revealing His light.
We are children of God, called to be above reproach “in a crooked and perverted generation among whom you shine like stars in the world…” (Philippians 2:15).
How?
“…by holding firm to the word of life” (Philippians 2:16).
Bearing fruit
Die daily to pride. Anger. Selfish ambition. Discontent. Argumentative words. Emptied.
Then be filled with His Spirit for His glory.
Bearing fruit of love. Joy. Peace.
Patience. Kindness. Goodness.
Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.
The law is not against such things. No matter where we live and serve for the sake of the gospel. (Galatians 5:22-23)
What about you?
How has the Lord reminded you to deny yourself? Take up your cross daily? Be filled with His Spirit?
Related posts
Deny yourself – Make every effort – Way of the cross – To live is Christ – Divided heart – Abiding in Christ – Begin to know Him now –
Philippians 2:1-18 – Galatians 5:13-26 – Colossians 3 – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Ephesians 5:6-21 –
6 replies on “Emptied”
So in keeping with my study of Acts 2 this week…the Church was “of one mind”, shared everything, met needs, and continually devoted themselves to prayer— daily!
Thanks for sharing this!
“Die daily to pride.” A life long discipline. I can’t but the Lord is faithful and he will do it! I feel like we just had a heart to heart time, Susan. Love you and thankful for your friendship.
So thankful for you, sister!
We are studying Job and yesterday we discussed Job’s statement “what I feared has come”. It was revealing to hear the group readily agree that fear comes even in good times. Reading this today, I wonder if daily releasing it to God would replace that fear. Good challenge!
Sometimes fears “ambush” me…but learning to turn my eyes to him in surrender in those moments makes all the difference. But the “daily” leads to right response in the “ambush,” I think. Thankful for our Good Shepherd.