empty

My twitter/facebook status yesterday was stolen directly from Nadia Bolz-Weber who found a quote from Martin Luther that says, "God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, God can make something out of us."

So good.

And it lines up really well with the Epistle test for Palm Sunday. Jesus, as our perfect example of Godly living, was able to empty himself fully. He didn't exploit the fact that he was God. As Holy Week will show us he didn't put on a miracle show for Herod and he didn't hop off the cross and save himself, instead, he gave it all up. Any reason he could have given to those who wouldn't believe, he gave up. In five short days he went from "Hosanna" to "Crucify him" and he didn't do anything to stop it.

He didn't do anything because God requires nothing to make something. Had Jesus' pride gotten in the way and he filled himself up with himself, God's plan for salvation would have once again hit a wall, but Jesus showed us how to live as one who is empty, one who trusts fully.

May we empty ourselves. May we pour out our pride. May we become nothing so that God can make something out of us.