In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan today we read Luke 2. Look at verses 48-52, which took place after Joseph and Mary had spent three days looking for Jesus:
48And when they [Joseph and Mary] saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You [distressed and tormented]. 49And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father's house and [occupied] about My Father's business? 50But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them. 51And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was [habitually] obedient to them; and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.
I wanted to look especially at verse 52! This verse bears witness to the Truth that Jesus operated on the earth as a man! he didn't stop BEING God, but He did nothing here on the earth AS God! THAT will come later (or sooner, as many of us believe)! Only a human being can "increase in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man"! Let's look at Philippians 2:5-7 in both the Amplified Bible and the New Living Translation:
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] 6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. AMP
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. New Living Translation
Everything that Jesus of Nazareth did while He was on the earth, except for His death on the cross, WE can do also! He did nothing as God, even though He WAS God (and IS God), but He did them as a Spirit-filled man Who put God and His Word first place in His life! He communed more closely with His Heavenly Father than with any human being! WE CAN TO! And, WE SHOULD! Amen! Make it a priority to spend quality, first of all, face to face time in His presence every day and you will "grow in favor with God and man", too! Hallelujah! Here to encourage you is Hillsong with "I Stand In Awe":
Shalom in Him!
