Day 15: Mighty

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8

For to us, a child is born, to us a son is given…and He will be called Mighty God…~ Isaiah 9:6

“Mighty” in the Bible is a translation of the Hebrew word gibbor which is defined as strength, power, hero, warrior. Do images of the Christmas baby or Jesus hanging on the cross contradict the definition of a Mighty God?  

When Jesus set aside his divine privileges to dwell as a human among us (Philippians 2), the author reminds us, as written by Paul to the Philippian believers, that Jesus is not mighty because of his capacity to overcome hardship, but because of his willingness to go through human hardship, like we all do. It’s in this place of vulnerability and humility where His power lies.

Today’s leaders know the power of setting an example through servant leadership. Why is it so powerful? Because when someone puts the interests of others above their own, or when they humble themselves to a task to help others reach their potential, or they take on the harder task of the team, these are the times where hearts are transformed. Authentic leadership always wins.

And authentic LOVE does too…God meets us at our most vulnerable moments by walking alongside us. We have a partner in the fight when we can’t avoid the tough things in life. God showed his LOVE for us by humbling Himself as a human—from birth to death—because His LOVE for us is so great.

May we follow the author’s advice this season, and see our vulnerability not as a place of failure because of our inability to overcome it, but as the very invitation to partner with God through it.

—Debbie Mathews