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“Fear not, for BEHOLD, I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10b

Behold- looking upon with greater attention to detail, gaze upon, looking into with great intent for understanding more.

The angels do not want us to miss out on the wonder of Christ’s birth.  We need to behold it, gaze upon it and study it to be captivated by him and know him even more.

What made this birth special?  Philippians 2:5-8

1. Jesus was and has always been God.
   
   
2. Even though he was both fully God and fully man, he did not use his divinity for his own self-interest but for the benefit of others.
   
   
3. For him to be born and to have died were the greatest acts of humility in the history of mankind.

We are called to live like him if we have benefitted from him.  Philippians 2:1-4

• We are to reflect the same love.
  
  
• We are to reflect the same spirit.
  
  
• We are to reflect the same mind—way of thinking and perspective of life.

The three pillars of Christ’s attitude. (3-4)

1. It’s not about you—motivated by how other are benefitted.
   
   
2. Value others beyond yourself.
   
   
3. Your actions are determined by what benefits others.

Did Jesus live up to these pillars?

1. His use of power, his way of living (homeless, ministry to the unlikely, etc.) dictated why, where, and when he did ministry.
   
   
2. With power and authority, he chose the lesser seat.
   
   
3. His birth and death reflect this very principle.

Are these pillars, truly pillars of the all-powerful, creative Father God?

• Jealous God?
• Exclusive God?
• Powerful in grace and wrath?
• Just God?
• Loving God?

We are called to reflect him if we have been benefitted by him.  How can we have that same love, that same spirit, and that same mind?

Isaiah 66:2b “…These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

“…to this man I will look…” KJ21
“…to this one I will look graciously…” AMP
“…I will look favorably on this kind of person…” CSB
“…this is the one to whom I will look…” ESV
“…I will show special favor to…” NET
“…I will bless those who…” NLT
“…I am interested in and concerned about…” VOICE
“…the one I call my friend…” ?

The journey of being like-minded with Christ. Isaiah 66:2

• Humble in heart.
  
  
• Contrite in spirit--remorse of sin.
  
  
• Reverent submission to God’s Word.

Then…

Same love…for others.
Same spirit…towards others.
Same mind…in how we see others.

Let’s Behold him.  Gaze upon him.  Be captivated by him.  Know him.  Think like him.   Live for him.

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”