# He emptied himself

Advent devotional for Tuesday, December 22, 2026. Day 24 of 27.

> Let your thinking among yourselves be the same as it was in Christ Jesus: Though he was in the form of God, he did not think of being equal with God as something to grasp. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a servant, coming in the likeness of human beings. ([Philippians 2:5-7](https://www.lumin.faith/read/philippians/2#5-7), Lumin Translation)

Paul tells Christmas in one sentence: though Jesus was in the form of God, he emptied himself and took the form of a servant.

He did not stop being God. He let go of his rights. He came as a baby, grew up to work with his hands, washed his friends’ feet, and died on a cross.

Paul wrote this to a church that was quarreling. Think the way Jesus thought, he says. December brings crowded tables and old tensions. Christmas shows a way to sit at them: let go of being right.

## Prayer

Lord Jesus, you let go of so much for me. Teach me to let go of my rights and serve the people at my table this Christmas. Amen.

## A question to carry

Where do you need to let go of being right?

Read the whole chapter: [Philippians 2](https://www.lumin.faith/read/philippians/2)

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/advent/december-22