MB-chap2-#4

The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort . . . comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4. {MB 13.1}

How cool is that! You comfort us not only for our own sakes but for the sake of others who need comfort. It is not all about us but about others too. In comforting others we comfort our selves. You created us to receive so that we could give, and in the giving we are healed from our hurt. How gracious and loving you are!

Jesus, the brightness of the Father’s glory, thought "it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant." Philippians 2:6, 7, R.V., margin. MB 14

Wow! That is so totally opposite of who I am, of whom all we humans are! Glory, not a thing to be grasped? We, I, am all about wanting the glory and wanting it all for myself. You are Creator God, Creator of the galaxies, and Creator of the smallest atom and yet You didn't feel a need for the glory. How cool is that! How unfathomable is that!
You made a mental choice, an intentional choice and “emptied" yourself of your glory and majesty and became human, and not only human but the lowest of the low, a servant. You did it for love and love alone. It strikes me that love and love alone could motivate you to do something like that. Sigh. I don't understand that kind of love; it simply is not in my nature but I sure am grateful to be the recipient of that love.

Precious Jesus,
Thank you for all you gave up for me. Thank you for loving me that much! Thank you for loving our wretched and ungrateful world that much. Please. I want that kind of love in my own heart. I want that kind of self sacrificing, gracious love.

The independence and self-supremacy in which we glory are seen in their true vileness as tokens of servitude to Satan. Human nature is ever struggling for expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we are not anxious to have the highest place. We have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves into notice; but we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice to guide. MB 15

I love "there is silence in the soul". How I long for a constant experience of "silence in the soul"; no need for the limelight, the credit, the attention, only sweet, restful, and contented silence.
MK and I have been following the Democrat and Republican National Convention and the focus is so opposite of what Your Kingdom is all about. Senator Obama and Senator McCain are scratching and clawing back and forth at each other; each trying to gain the supremacy over the other. We watched the Republican party convention last night and the spirit was so unlike what I am reading about here this morning.