Jesus' humble birth in a lowly place predicts his lifelong humility and salvation mission.
The ongoing battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of self demands loyalty and worship, encouraging listeners to embrace the life-giving kingdom of God.
Deep dives
The Humility of Jesus' Birth
In the podcast episode, the speaker reflects on the humble birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, emphasizing that it was not in a grand palace or influential family's home, but in a lowly and undesirable place. This humble birth serves as a prediction of the humility displayed throughout Jesus' life and his ultimate purpose of salvation. The speaker highlights that Jesus' humility is a story of grace, where his willingness to leave splendor and endure a humble life and death results in the salvation and exaltation of believers.
The Battle of Two Kingdoms
The podcast also explores the ongoing battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of self. The speaker asserts that these two kingdoms cannot coexist peacefully within an individual's heart, as they both demand loyalty and worship. While the kingdom of self may appear beautiful and promising, it is ultimately deceptive and dark. In contrast, Jesus came as a king to dethrone all other rulers and establish his reign of grace in believers' hearts. The podcast encourages listeners to remind themselves during Christmas that they have been given the incredible gift of a kingdom through Jesus' sacrifice, inviting them to reject the empty promises of the kingdom of self and embrace the life-giving kingdom of God.
This week, we’ll hear another poem from Paul called “Thou Art Not Thy King”.
Join us for a weekly narration of Paul Tripp's popular devotional. You can subscribe to our email list to receive this devotional straight to your inbox each week, or read online at PaulTripp.com/Wednesday or on Facebook, Instagram, and the Paul Tripp App.
If you’ve been enjoying the Wednesday’s Word podcast, please leave us a review! Each review helps us reach more people with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
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