Listen to this
message Donate
to this ministry
Monday, December 12, 2005
"God Stooped Down"
"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great" (Psalm 18:35).
I am tall (about 6' 3") and early in ministry I learned the value of stooping down to greet children. In fact I still often get down on my knees to be at their level. It seems my size is much less intimidating that way to children. I've also learned that stooping down is appreciated by people in wheelchairs. There's just something about being at the same eye level as others when we seek to express love and care. But today let us consider the wonderful blessing in Scripture that tells us when God stooped down.
The daily text is part of an ancient song to the Lord written by King David some 3,000 years ago (1,000 years before the first coming of Christ). In his extolling of the Lord he writes, "You stoop down to make me great." I wonder what David meant when he initially wrote these words? Certainly he was cognizant of the greatness of God but how much insight did he have about the future incarnation and the very wonder that one day this great God would "stoop down" and become man?
But that is precisely what God has done for us. I recall a song from the eighties that had a line, "He came down to my level, when I couldn't get up to His." Theologically we call this the "incarnation," God's ultimate demonstration of grace in sending His one and only Son to this world to die for our sins. (Incidentally the Hebrew word for grace ("hen") has an underlying sense of meaning "to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.")
God in the incarnation "stooped down". The apostle Paul, in his magnificent incarnation passage states, "Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7).
Today what a difference it makes in our outlook in life when we consider that God has indeed "stooped down". C. S. Lewis wrote so poignantly, "The Son of God became a son of man, that sons of men might become sons of God". That's right! And remember that wonderful truth today, this season, and all your life! How blessed we are that God stooped down!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: Jesus, You are all-sustaining as You grant me victory after victory in the ensuing battles I face in this life. It is Your shield that protects me from the weapons hurled at me through the devil's schemes. You stooped down from heaven to take on flesh and dwell among us as You became the supreme example of God in the flesh. You were victorious in the raging battle against the spiritual forces of evil when faced with temptations and trials common to mankind. We stand in glorious victory today as we hold to Your sustaining hand.
Here's a printable ministry card you can share with others that has the CS Lewis quote used in today's message. (This is designed to be printed on business card stock.) Directions on printing out and using ministry cards.
Here's a printable Christmas card based on this CS Lewis quote designed for printing on 8.5x11 card stock. Directions on printing out and using folding cards.
I have sure come to appreciate the ministry of a Canadian church who share their ministry over the internet. In yesterday's service their choir sang a song I had never heard before that tells the wonderful story in a very creative and lively way.
Audio
Video
Do you have a Christmas memory you would like to share with others to uplift and encourage? Please send us your story and we will compile a page of memories to share with others on this site.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552