"Good to the last drop" - that's a popular slogan for a famous brand of coffee. But what good is the disposable coffee cup once that last drop is gone? Emptied of its contents, we consider it worthless and discard it. It's a good thing God has a different perspective. No, I'm not suggesting that God has to have His morning coffee like so many of us do, but that His perspective on "emptying" is far different than ours.

We consider that which is empty to be devoid of value, but in God's economy just the opposite is true. Consider this remarkable statement about His Son, Jesus:

"although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8)

Through an ongoing and deliberate act of selflessness, the One who alone had the right to assert His God-given status and nature, chose instead to pour out His ambition, status, and personal aspirations through humble service and sacrifice. The coming King deliberately chose the role of lowly servant. He who had been given divine rights chose earthy service. The pan and towel were substituted for the palace; the needs of the throngs superseded the promise of the throne.

While we may admire the example of the self-emptying Son of God, His example is to be emulated, and not just admired: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Those who belong to the King who drained Himself in humble service are called to the same. Rather than grasping the greatness we are promised to inherit, our mindset and lifestyle is that of the "good-to-the-last-drop" (blood, sweat, and tears; not coffee) Christ. We are not truly Christ-like until we are totally drained of self.

Nothing is more challenging or humbling than this call to "kenosis" - the process of emptying. I want what I want. I desire recognition, status, success. And I know I'm not alone in this; every human with a drop of Adam's blood in his/her bloodstream wants to scratch and claw their way to "grasp equality with God". Truly, nothing goes more against the grain of our human existence than this primordial drive to fill, rather than empty ourselves.

There is nothing more ironic in the natural world than to find oneself through emptying. May we each find out truest worth today through the emptiness that brings ultimate fullness.

Steve