Sunday, December 23, 2018

The Lowly King

by Dr. Paul Chappell

And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Zechariah 9:8-9

Jesus had all the splendor and glory and honor of Heaven, and it was right as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Yet, He laid all that aside, humbling Himself to become a man. Part of the reason for that great sacrifice is that it was necessary for the plan for redemption to be fulfilled. Only by living perfectly according to God's law could Jesus be qualified to pay the price for our sins rather than for His own. There is another reason for His choice to take on very humble circumstances, and that was to serve as a hope and inspiration to those of us who also are not part of the elite of this world.

Many years ago in a special Christmas sermon T. DeWitt Talmage proclaimed, “Ye who think yourselves far down, aspire to go higher up. I stir your holy ambitions today and I want to tell you, although the world may be opposed to you, and inside and outside of your occupations or professions there may be those who would hinder your ascent, on your side and enlisted in your behalf are the sympathetic heart and the almighty arm of One who one Christmas night about eighteen hundred and eighty years ago was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.” Christmas reminds us that no matter how lowly we may seem in the eyes of the world, God has a plan and purpose for us.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

God's plan brings honor and glory to those who humble themselves and follow Him.