Thanksgivings on Special Occasions - Fourth in a series

Continuing now in an exploration of Thanksgivings on Special Occasions, a “protestant permission” (see related post), we come to the days leading to Easter.

Any Christian holiday should magnify Jesus Christ. If it turns the spotlight from the Lord to any other thing, it is not a holy day. A minister has the work of helping the flock to renew their inner selves to love Christ more. How might that be done?

Here is a list that amplifies the ways that Jesus humbled himself, as Paul writes in Philippians, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:8) Reading this list helped me to renew my mind and heart to worship God. It is taken from Pastor David Guzik’s commentary on the Philippians verse.

• He was humble in that he took the form of a man, and not a more glorious creature like an angel.
• He was humble in that He was born into an obscure, oppressed place.
• He was humble in that He was born into poverty among a despised people.
• He was humble in that He was born as a child instead of appearing as a man.
• He was humble in submitting to the obedience appropriate to a child in a household.
• He was humble in learning and practicing a trade – and a humble trade of a builder.
• He was humble in the long wait until He launched out into public ministry.
• He was humble in the companions and disciples He chose.
• He was humble in the audience He appealed to and the way He taught.
• He was humble in the temptations He allowed and endured.
• He was humble in the weakness, hunger, thirst, and tiredness He endured.
• He was humble in His total obedience to His Heavenly Father.
• He was humble in His submission to the Holy Spirit.
• He was humble in choosing and submitting to the death of the cross.
• He was humble in the agony of His death.
• He was humble in the shame, mocking, and public humiliation of His death.
• He was humble in enduring the spiritual agony of His sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus Christ is worthy of our highest praise. If you are one who celebrates Lent or Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, did—or would— this list assist you to renew your adoration of Him? It was helpful to me in writing this post. We don’t need to wait for a holy day for a revived heart of praise for the Lord. Yet life becomes routine, and holidays help to refresh our spirits— when renewal in Christ is realized.