Not to be Hoarded.....

God gave me a verse yesterday.  I was listening to the Bible CD and it caught my hearing.  It's what I love about listening to a version that I didn't grow up with, you hear what is being said, you don't just pass over it because you "know" it.  I heard it, and then had to rewind and listen to it again.  I had my husband listen to it.

Philippians 2:6 NIV "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,"  I mostly listened to just the "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" 

I have always heard it like this, "...thought it not robbery to be equal with God"  Well, to me that's a completely different statement.  He is God, so of course it wouldn't be robbery to be equal with God.  BUT the first translation said, "did NOT consider equality with God something to be grasped"  Now that's a bit different in meaning right?  Meaning He didn't take hold of being equal with God.  Now before you freak out on me, and think I'm saying that Jesus wasn't God in the flesh, let me state right now, that's NOT what I'm saying.  You see, it just kinda made my head spin.  It was thinking about the Trinity and getting the complete grasp on it....my finite head just can't go all the way there. 

So it stuck with me, I couldn't get it out of my head, or get rid of the feeling that there's more to this than the obvious.  BUT, it's Sunday, and I have things to do, and places to go, and people in the house that I'm in charge of moving along to do and go with me!  So into the day we go.

I wanted to bring it up at church in the hallways between class and service, no time.....after church we were off to a party.  We ate, then I had to go quick and do some service, then back to the party.  I couldn't contain it any longer, I had to ask for a Bible and get opinions from all those around.  NOW let me take a little rabbit trail at this point.  I am extremely blessed with friend who love the Bible, love digging in God's Word, and have that "I love to study and learn" attitude when it comes to the Bible.  So all of them dove in to figure this phrase out!  We had NIV, ESV, NKJV, KJV, there was even a Bulgarian Bible and a app, from a smart phone in the mix.  So fun!

ESV "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,"
NKJV "Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Holman "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be   used for His own advantage.

I just love the web, and I know that I don't need to explain why, it's a world full of resources to be looked up in seconds!  This is what I got from one commentator.  Bibletools.org - looked up the reference and this is part of their comment

          Further study has shown that harpagmos refers to a thing that a person has in his possession
          but chooses not to use to his own advantage. This makes clear that Jesus really was equal
          with God when he determined to become a human for our sakes.

Okay, then, this is what I was thinking this whole time, and what made my head spin.  Jesus was God, but when he became human like us, the Bible says he was tempted in every point just like us, but didn't sin.  He chose what was right to do.  Well, the very first sin was what?  Satan told Eve that if she ate of the fruit she would be like God.  Isn't this in all of us?  Haven't we all at one point of another played the part of God?  I have, in fact, I have so often jumped into that role and fallen, my face is getting flat!  So bring it back this phrase, Jesus - even though He is God, had to deny Himself falling for the temptation of playing God.  BUT how in the world do you not "play" God, when YOU ARE GOD?  You see if He had taken what was fully His right during this first tenure on Earth, would he have then committed the "sin" that we have all fallen to of "being like God"?

Here is the glorious thing though - he didn't.  This is where the other versions, and the commentator come into play.  He didn't use it to his OWN ADVANTAGE.  When we "play God", it is usually for our own purposes, or our own glory.  Jesus was not here for that - He was here for our salvation -OUR benefit, and for God the Fathers' glory. 

I am pausing here because you see I didn't figure it all out until the end of the day, and I want to share the sequence of events.  Hair, CD, replay, church, party, service, party, Bibles, go home, nap, wake up go to evening church.  Now lets pick up the story in full again.

I am, of course, a bit late for church.  They are showing a video by Louie Giglio.  I had not really heard of him.  He was showing the universe.  He was showing the wonders of God, and the expanse that he made.  He points out that maybe there isn't life out there because maybe God (as told repeatedly in His Word) used the universe to  display His handiwork.  The universe helps us see that God is bigger and greater than what He has made.  He showed pictures, and gave stats to back up what he was explaining about God.  Now I'm listening and am filling with praise and honor for God.  I know that God created all this, and yet He looks to me.  I have learned that He not only knows what I go through, but he is "acquainted" with my personal pain, and takes my pain personally!  How amazing that the God Who created this known and unknown space cares about me.  I am sitting and crying sometimes thinking of Him!

Then it happens - Mr Giglio is showing these pictures and then says, "I'm gonna show you something thats way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way out there (he might have had a few more ways even!).  He then shows a still picture from the Passion, of Christ on the cross - battered and bruised, hanging on the cross!  (by the way, I forgot to mention that at the afore mentioned party we had talked about that movie and what seeing it had meant to us)  Then what scripture does Mr Giglio read?

6 "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Here is the conclusion (I know your thinking "finally"!) NOTE: I was raised Baptist so that conclusion could be as long as the letter itself!  God completed what He started me on in the first place.  Jesus didn't sin because He chose to be obedient to the Father.  He had every right to claim His creation when He was here, but he kept the goal in sight. He kept His orders straight.  He didn't get prideful and say, "I want what is mine, and I want it now!"  Timing is everything!  "did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage."

This is what I got from yesterdays events.  God is good.  God is personal.  He is to be praised!  Do you think that I didn't have a praise sessions on my way home, and that it really hasn't stopped since?  He is worthy!  He is AWESOME!  He is beyond comprehension!  He is mine!  How in the world can I do less than to be His whatever He wants?

So, remember the title to this post?  Me either, let me scroll up for a second.  "Not to be hoarded"  I'm sharing this because when God does something like this in your ordinary day, you're supposed to tell everyone that the Super-natural, touched that day.  The presence of God has dwelled among men and women.  He touched me yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you, so that you may be touched by God as well.  This is not for my glory because nothing that happened came out of me it was God showing Himself, revealing Himself, sharing Himself in my life.  It's glorious, and my desire is that it will be a reality in your life as well.

BUT, if nobody reads this, it's okay.  I was touched, and will not be the same.  Praise, honor and glory be to Your Holy Name

"10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow - of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.