Text: 2 Corinthians 8:9, Isaiah 53:2-5
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.”
– C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
This Advent season has been exhausting for me. I always plan to sit by the fire with hot chocolate and candy canes, to read sweet Christmas stories and buy thoughtful gifts, but I end up running late, blowing my nose loudly, and eating Thanksgiving leftovers way after Thanksgiving.
But Advent is a time to quiet my heart and meditate on the magnitude of God’s gift. And on top of that, I want my heart to overflow with jolly ring-jing-jingling. But seriously, everyone in my house is sick so I’ve been meditating on the magnitude of dog hair on the floor, and the only jingling has been toy cars in the dryer.
I think we’re all kind of crazy like that. We go around and around and we can’t look up to consider anything but our present circumstances. It’s a struggle to connect the physical life with the spiritual. The physical life is just so loud, and it’s actually opposed to the spiritual life.
The physical part of me would miss Christmas completely because there’s so much hollering and nose blowing to occupy me. Why would I bother thinking of others, or looking to Christ?
God knew this about us. He knows we are a bunch of selfish, hungry stinkers with tunnel vision. He connected the physical and spiritual for us in the person of Christ. Christ became low so we could understand Him.
What does it mean to become low? C.S. Lewis says, “If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab.” And that’s the flavor of it. Imagine becoming a slug and trying to convince the other slugs that redemption is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, you slugs! They would just sigh and slime away.
That’s what Christ did for us. He became low for our sakes. He gave up His glory and endured all manner of earthly suffering. He gave up everything. And because of this, we gain everything.
Why do I let the details of the physical world obscure this most important spiritual fact? Because I’m a slug trying to understand geometry. It’s hard.
This is why I need Advent. I love that the church points us back to Christ’s birth year after year. Because every year I need to read these dear words:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”
Look up this Advent season. Look to Him who became poor so that we could be rich!
For an added layer of worship during this sweet season of adoration and expectation, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for Advent 2014! You can find the complete SheReadsTruth | O Come Let Us Adore Him playlist at this link, or listen to today’s track on the player below. Enjoy!
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83 thoughts on "He Became Poor"
Doing this devo late and re-celebrating Christmas at the end of it because I was not mentally and spiritually aligned. God deserves our all and these verses in Isaiah are so stunning. Love this so much, Praise to God for all He is and all He will be.
I’ve been feeling the same way! I love Christmas! Pretty obsessed. I start decorating and celebrating at the end of October… partially because December is so incredibly busy. I have learned I can’t way yes to everything and I have to segment time out for the Lord, my family, and myself. If not, the hussle and bussle of this world can get the best of me and still my joy. I have to set my heart on Christ as soon as I wake up and multiple times throughout the day remind my restless soul of the inner peace that I have because Jesus has done everything for me! Because the gospel is true, I can face everyday with joy!
I loved this! Just what I needed in the midst of an always crazy holiday season. Shifting my focus back to the real reason for the wonderful season!
“He have up everything so we could gain everything”.
I have been super busy this week. And next week isn’t any better. But today’s reading helped give me some focus.
Thank you for this. it really spoke to my heart and spirit. I worship you my KING and SAVIOR!!
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”
This verse stands out to me much more than it used to. I know I’m not the only one with grief and sorrow lingering this season. Like many, I’m full of joy during the holidays, reveling in all my blessings, but the loss in my life never goes away. It means so much to know that my Savior has not only saved me, but also knows and carries my pain for me. He could have stopped at the saving part. But He loves us! And he not only cares but carries our pain! Thank you Lord!
O
The CS Lewis quote about slugs really put things into perspective for me this morning, and I can tell from scrolling through the comments that it did for a lot of other ladies as well! Nothing like being compared to a slug to get ya going on a cold morning! :)
Thank you for this devotional. Meant for me to read to remind me to slow down, improve and work spiritually and not get so caught up in the hustle of this season. As our pastor said Sunday, don’t just take a piece of Christmas, enjoy the peace of Christmas.
He became low for us… The example of the slug was incredibly powerful to think about! It blows my mind… Thank you! In my quiet time today as I seek the Lord I am reminded that I seek the One who ever seeks me. We can come to Him expectant knowing that we will always receive. He meets us where we are. He is still becoming low for me! Praise The Lord!
“It’s a struggle to connect the physical life with the spiritual. The physical life is just so loud, and it’s actually opposed to the spiritual life.” I thought it was only me who struggled with this! Such a relief to know I am not alone.
A-men. Loving this. Today was, a day. And I almost didn’t pause to read. But my heart whispered, “don’t miss out.” Thank you for this word. And Jesus thank you for being my everything.
Hi Marijoy! I\’m so glad you did read with us today. Praising Him with you!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
He gave up everything. And because of this, we gain everything……Doesn’t it feel refreshing to know that we don’t have to be perfect. He knows that we will never be. But still He loves us just the same. I used to strive for perfection to please Him. Something I could never do. Now I only want to know His heart and with that I gain everything.
So thankful that the Advent season reminds us that God sent His son so that we could become sons (and daughters) of Him.
I’m totally a slug trying to understand geometry. Thank you for saying that!!! I put so much pressure on myself to be perfect. And when I’m not I beat myself up and feel like I can’t approach God, or spend time with Him until I get it right. Man, how wrong that perception is!!! I needed to hear these words today. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this powerful reminder of what the season is all about ! I ‘m having a Clark Griswold moment ( without profanity. ) I want everything to be like Christmas when our kids were young . All 3 will be coming home and I ‘m in a panic! I just bowed my head and asked for forgiveness . Thanks be to god
This really spoke to me today, thank you. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who feels inadequate and a failure…I look around me at christian women who seem to be ‘doing’ so much better than I do in my walk with Christ, and I can’t even make it through a prayer time without losing focus and bring distracted!! The physical reality opposing the spiritual is such an ongoing battle. Your dvo today reminded me that there are other women struggling just like me, and that all we need do is look up!! We didn’t deserve the sacrifice of Jesus but He knew that, and doesn’t expect us to be perfect. ‘Progression not perfection’ is something I repeat to myself in those times when I seem so distant from God. As long as I persevere (as the great apostle Paul reminds us to do) then I know I’m exactly where God needs me to be in my journey. Look up ladies….and breathe, God has us covered. x
Under his wings my soul shall abide
This is my favorite devotional thus far. So many important reminders in the scripture & reading. Thank you for it.
Great perspective! I need this shift.
And here I am, suddenly laid low by the flu. Christmas is coming and I am literally helpless to do a thing. Oh Lord. It really is all about You.
Ok, did you read my mind today? Distracted… noisy kids…. overwhelmed by my circumstances. And then this little corner of my day that met me right where I was to tell me about His love. Thank you for the reminder!
Wow…this is exactly what I needed to hear this morning! Last night, before I crawled in bed…I thought about the presents I haven’t purchased, the stockings I haven’t stuffed and felt so overwhelmed. This is what I needed to read. I needed to be reminded of what Christ did for us. I think I'll need to go back and re-read this every morning! Thank you!
The despise, the lack of value, the faces that turned away from him, the suffering and sickness–this was because of our transgressions, because of our iniquities. If not for us, our precious Jesus would not have known that suffering, sickness, and rejection. A friend posted something to instagram today that read: “I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe, more loved and welcomed than I ever dared hope.”
The exact quote is from Timothy Keller:
“We are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope.”
Amazing that He would come for us!
Struck by today's post in this way ~
King Jesus became a pauper . . . so that I could become Royalty!
Oh, such sweetness . . . too much to comprehend!
My I never take this thought lightly but dwell in the richness of it!
Rebecca – thank you! Your article expressed how I was feeling but what I could NOT put in to words. Do you have a twitter or blog that I can also follow? Merry Christmas.
Hm slugs….never heard of humans being compared to slugs but it’s fitting. We in our sinful fleshly state are so far from understanding the ways of God as slugs are to understanding geometry. Wow, puts me in my place!
I love this study! Is there a men’s equivalent to She Reads Truth? My husband wools love it!
Hi Valerie,
It\’s in the works for a hopeful 2015 launch. We\’d love it if you and your husband would join us in prayer for this ministry!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
You got it!
Thank you Rebecca for your transparency! How I can so identify with what you shared today! Just wanted I needed to hear. I love that our God loves us as we are- the good, the bad, and the ugly! Thank you for the reminder to turn to Him and cherish what this season truly is about!
SRT – my husband is jealous of my SRT studies! Do you know of any studies similar in format for the guys?
Hi Abigail,
He Reads Truth is in the works and we are hopeful for a 2015 launch! We\’d love it if you\’d join us in prayer for this ministry!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Same here Abigail!
This is amazing! Just yesterday I prayed to God asking for more understanding on a doubt I had – why did Jesus HAVE to come and why did You send him when You did? and BAM! A glimpse into that understanding. God knows me so well and delivers always at the right time. Amen!
Isn't He great like that? If you are someone who enjoys reading, I highly recommend the book "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die," by John Piper. Each "reason" is less than a few pages, and it can make a great devotional, too.
Love that, Eryn! His timing is amazing! Thanks for joining us today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Whenever I read Isaiah 53:4-5, I replace the “our”&”we” with me &I. It really hits me. “He was pierced for MY transgressions and crushed for MY iniquities, the punishment that ME peace was on him,and by his stripes I am healed”. I can’t thank you enough Dear Lord for what you’ve done for Me!! And I pray that I/we never lose track of that. Have a wonderful day ladies. xo
Thank you for this. This morning I asked God to point me to serve Him this season in a way so strongly that I know it's Him. I want to begin working harder on making His presence known. It's so scary, but this season I got wrapped up in a job that drains me, and placating to those around me.
I love the analogy with the slug. I slime away sometimes too. So today I am grateful for the reminder that I am so very rich because Jesus took on my slug-like qualities when He didn't have to do that.
It isn't exactly pleasant to be compared to a slug 1st thing this morning, but…you've brought up a great point :-)
Lord, thank you for the reminder – of how low you came- because you loved me. Just pausing, before I start my Thursday morning busy'ness' – to say thank you!
Sisters, I share this study with you every morning but rarely comment. I have been so touched by this study, so blessed to study who Christ is and what He's done for me(!) beyond just the typical Christmas passages. Thank you so much for taking us beyond that.
This touched me personally this week. I went on Monday for an MRI due to some pain in my arms/legs. Its already been a rough season as I missed Thanksgiving, my girls' school Christmas concert and a party due to illnesses. Then on Tuesday, my dr called to say the MRI showed a tumor on my spine. I needed to get another MRI with dye and to see a neurosurgeon. Suddenly the wistfulness of not getting the things done that I thought needed to be done for Christmas faded into, what if this is my last Christmas? I called upon my friends to pray and I asked God to sustain me. I went back to our study and reread and prayed over Isaiah 40 from a few days ago. I listened to the spotify playlist, which I had at first thought included some odd choices for Christmas. But that version of Psalm 130 sang by a band I never heard of touched me deeply. I prayed God would get the glory and I would just wait on Him. After all, that's what this season is really about. Advent…waiting on God.
I had my 2+ hour MRI yesterday. I was able to listen to praise music while I was in there. On the way home, stuck in traffic, with my unbelieving mother, listening to Christian radio which included a short message about trusting God to work out all things for our good, my doctor called me. He said he called right away after receiving the results because I did not actually have a tumor but a congenital defect in my spine that has just grown over the years. It will need to be corrected but is not life threatening. He did not want me to spend any more time worried about that. What a God we serve! What a testimony to my mother and to another unbelieving friend who could not help but say "i guess prayer works!" It does because our God works!
So now I'm back to Christmas and I cannot worry about what "needs" to be done. Because what NEEDS to be done is praising God, and not just for this circumstance, because whatever the outcome of this, He came here, became like a slug, so that we could come to Him. How awesome is that!
So happy for you Stacie, too bad it takes something like this for us to see “what really matters”. Have a wonderful Advent/Christmas season.
Praise God, our perfect healer!
Amen, Stacie! Thanks be to God for the testimony of answered prayer in your life. I was so blessed by the last part of this comment, "…I cannot worry about what "needs" to be done. Because what NEEDS to be done is praising God and not just for this circumstance, because whatever the outcome of this, He came here, became like a slug, so that we could come to Him. How awesome is that!"
I am SO prone to be caught up in the "needs" to be done. Yet, this year it is December 11 and I do not have one Christmas decoration put up (may not even happen) because I have resolved to choose the better part for me this Christmas by spending my time reflecting on Jesus. This year "feels" more like Christmas to me than it ever has. Thank you Jesus for leaving glory for me!
Thank you for sharing, Stacie! A Christmas miracle to celebrate!
Praise God, Stacie!! What a beautiful story!!
Praising God with you and for your good news, today! This lesson today and your story both touched me personally today. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs
Love this so much, Stacie! Grateful for your good news and it's such a joy to have you in our community!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Wow, Stacie! God is so good. Thank you for sharing.
Amen. Glory to God. I just have to take a minute to praise him. It was a friend of mine who shared this community with me. I couldn’t be more grateful. This day’s devotional was like she peeked into my life. The busy, the rush, the distraction. I let it take a hold of me way more often than I’d like to admit. But this plan has helped me so much focus on Jesus incarnate. I praise God for the beautiful joy, peace, and redirection He has brought me through these readings. And I thank you faithful sisters for being obedient to be used by God because it has blessed me greatly!
Girl, I love your heart in this, and you're hilarious, even amongst all the nose-blowing. It was a word I needed to hear! Becoming low, and not letting the physical world, which screams for my attention, steal away the glory of the spiritual!
This year has been one of crazy transitions for me. My divorce was finalized in April and I'm now half way across the world in the UK for graduate school (the other awkward side note is that my ex is here in the same city but at a different University, since we were planning on doing this together and then everything fell apart). School is kicking my butt. Finances are very, very tight and I'm struggling to find a job. I'm not going home for Christmas. Between the awful weather, loneliness, stress, and homesickness…I haven't had much of the Christmas spirit.
But I needed to read this. It was a gut punch. A wonderful reminder that I can throw myself a big pity party OR I can remember that it's not about what I'm missing this season: it's about what I've been given. What I already have. I agree with Britt, life's circumstances are almost always overwhelming, but focusing on Jesus is never overwhelming. Here's to looking up this Advent season, ladies.
XO
Yes! I've been so tempted to grumble about our circumstances this season, and God has stopped me on several occasions to say, "Just be thankful to me for what I've already given you!" This is the first year we live in the desert for Christmas with no mittens, warmth from hot chocolate, snow, or winter wonderlands. It doesn't "feel" Christmas-y at all, and we're away from family feeling the same kind of loneliness you are. God has used the desert to show me that Christmas doesn't have to look or feel "right" for Him to use it to accomplish His purposes; He lifts our eyes to Himself through things like this study, little moments of gratitude to Him, a worshipful Christmas song, etc. As you said, totally not overwhelming, and, in fact, great little moments of Rest to run to when things feel like too much.
Right there with you making the choice to be thankful and striving to be "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." (Heb 12:2). He initiates the invitation to focus on Him this season, and He does the work to finish it. Thanks be to God!
Praise be to the Redeemer who loves us and cares so greatly about us, even in our sluggish, low life place that he would send His Best and Highest for us so that we need not always live in a monotonous, frustrating and selfish place down here. Thanks be to Him for calling us out of darkness and into a new life though it is beyond our understanding, like teaching slugs geometry ;). He has made us new creations! Amazing! Hallelujah!
What great mind readjusting thoughts today. Stopping long enough to really consider the baby in a manger is sobering, comforting and rather amazing.
Great reminder this morning!!! Thank you!
Needed this. I AM that slug! Thank you!
Weve been so in the groove and busyness of keeping up life and now added Christmas with six kids Ive sometimes forgotten the true meaning of why we celebrate this time of year. To get caught up in the gifts and decorations is overwhelming. Stopping and focusing on my Savior is totally not overwhelming.
The Lord’s really been convicting me of my self-inflicting busyness of crafting and home projects. You think, how could something so petty be of concern to God? Well twice in the last few weeks I’ve skipped a church function because I “just had to finish up a project.” Now that I’m aware of how this reflects wrongness in my spiritual priorities, I feel like a slug in need! So grateful to have SRT as an easy tool to assist me in looking up!!
The slug analogy is great! Just envisioning myself in that situation for a moment. How frustrated and impatient I would quickly become trying to explain this Truth to a slug! I would most surely give up my post! But the Lord with His infinite love, mercy, and patience turns to us each and every day with hands stretched out, waiting to lift us up out of our chaos, haze, darkness! Day after day, hour after hour, moment after moment, He is there! Glory be to God! Thank you for this amazing study!!
You're right, Saira! Explaining Truth to a slug would be extremely frustrating! The Lord is so gracious to us!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Such an uplift this morning… As my three kids and I are battling colds and trying to make sure all gets done before Christmas gets here I have been in a foggy rush and I forget to look up and thank the one who, without him, this season would be nothing.
Rebecca, I am reading this with a box of tissue at my elbow! Struggling through a cold, preparing for baby's first birthday, the scurry of the season–thank you for for the reminder to look up!
It is not Christmasy at all, but it makes me think of the opening song from Les Miserables:
Look down! Look down!
You'll always be a slave.
Look down! Look down!
You're standing in your grave!
Today's encouragement to "Look up!" stands in stark contrast to that gloomy message that hangs over our heads during busy and stressful times. When we fail to look up, we can be overcome with discouragement and hopelessness. When we look up, we see the One who came to redeem us from our mess and bring us Hope.
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.
(Les Miserables – Epilogue)
Oh my goodness thank you so much for sharing this, Kelly! Les Mis is my FAVORITE musical and I have always loved the contrast between the beginning and end of the musical. To be honest, I've never even thought of that last stanza from a Christian standpoint (look at me, disconnecting the physical from the spiritual yet again!), but how beautiful are those words when we know that CHRIST is that flame that never dies. Wow. I'm blown away. Thank you so much for your insight, really. I hope you have a blessed day and look UP to Christ who saves us from any "misery."
Love that, Kelly! Les Mis is one of my favorites, and I had never considered the lyrics in this way! Praying for rest for you this season!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
"yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich"
Jesus became poor:
tender
no beauty
no majesty
nothing to attract
nothing to desire
despised
rejected
man of suffering
familiar with pain
people hid their faces from Him
held in low esteem
considered punished by God
pierced
crushed
our punishment was on Him
so that i could be rich:
i can know peace
i can be healed
"For Kendall knows the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though Jesus was rich, yet for Kendall's sake He became poor, so that Kendall through His poverty might become rich." [personalized] 2 Cor. 8:9
thank you Father for your greatest gift. Your Son.
Jesus not only sacrificed Himself on the cross, but He also sacrificed to step into our world as a baby who had to be cared for and raised by His creation. It’s hard to wrap our brains around how much He gave for us, being that we’re not deity. And then to come in such lowly and humble form – first as a helpless infant, then growing into a man who was all those things you listed – unattractive, sorrowful, despised, turned away from, and so on. Wow. What an overwhelmingly huge thing to try and grasp for us. Yet it is everything for us.
Thank you Dianne, I was just coming here to ask the very thing. You really helped me to understand what God did give up to come on earth and live like a human. You are so right, it is so hard for us to understand!
I love that Kendall, thank you so much for sharing and giving me a new perspective with you personalizing it!
A sweet reminder not to lose Christ in the busyness of Christmas. Thank you, Rebecca, for the reminder to realign my focus!!
Thank you, Theresa! It’s so hard for me to remember!
Hehe yes, what a great metaphor! I am learning to appreciate the rhythm that our calendar affords us, that every year we celebrate Christmas, and easter, and in all of the commercialism we’re invited to remember how great our God and his love is.
A slug! Okay, that really struck home since just last night one was crawling across my kitchen counter. I love that sometimes the deepest points are downright humorous. What an amazing, and crazy, love He displays for us.
Ah!! A slug in your kitchen! God's timing is so funny sometimes!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Oh boy, this hit home. I opened my app thinking I haven’t sat down in the dark with the Christmas lights on just to READ and reflect all season… And it’s almost Christmas! And my baby and husband have a cold… And the physical world is so so loud. Loved the reminder that maybe I need to look past my sluggy slime and take the time to see the spiritual.
Love that thought, Emily. Blessings to you and prayers for rest this season!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
The imagery of us becoming slugs was perfect. It seems much more natural for Jesus to be a man since we are man but when you think about it as us becoming slugs sounds so much more extreme. The combination with that and the description of the authors business really hit home with me!! Loved this.
Absolutely, Amanda! You bring up a good point-it is easy for us to accept Him becoming man because that's all we know! Thanks for sharing today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I always love a good C. S. Lewis quote, and I am grateful for this reminder to set aside the chaos of the world and turn towards Jesus.