When I go as far back as my memory serves, I still remember that the very first lesson I learned in English grammar was the distinction and application of the active and passive voices. When we speak in active voice, it means that we are in control of our action and it is a predictable consequence. On the other hand, the control is out of our hands when we choose to use passive voice to describe the particular action and its unpredictable outcome.

Now please read Philippians 2:5-11(NIV) regarding Christ’s action in His incarnation.

“Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Can you identify the verbs, the action words with their active and passive voices in this passage? Yes! “(Christ Jesus) made Himself nothing” is in active voice; and, “(Christ Jesus) being made in human likeness” is in passive voice. Take a look of the consequent results of these actions. Christ Jesus made Himself nothing; God made Christ Jesus (being made) a human, a servant, and a Savior! The incarnation of Christ compels us to look squarely in the eyes of Christian service and all its ramifications. The example of His coming into humanity 2,000 years ago challenges Christians to see their roles of service in active voice and in passive voice. For Paul says that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus made Himself nothing. And yet Christ and His Father made everything. Christ deliberately made Himself from everything to nothing. He actively initiated the plan and made the sacrifice in self-giving. In this world that we live in, we always expect something in return when we make an offer of ourselves. Don’t be fooled and click too soon when you see some free gifts being offered to you on the web site. There is always a catch! This world is not offering itself for philanthropic reason; it awaits a return!

Here is the difference in the Christian world: total investment of oneself with zero expectation in return. It was when Christ made Himself such a sacrifice first that only then He subjected Himself to the process of being made by God to be the Benefactor as a Savior to the world.

The lesson of this passage is very clear, and Paul urges us not to take it lightly: Make ourselves nothing; then be made, as Christ has exemplified in His life. Paul followed Christ. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:19, and 22: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Paul testified, saying, “I made myself a servant...I am made all things to all men....” Once again, active voice is followed by a passive voice: make first and be made second. Paul gave up control over his own life and offered his life to God whose hands made Paul a great vessel.

The truth is here; the examples are here. But why are we not practicing it? The answer is found in the cost of submission. If we honestly give up control of our lives and say, “Lord, make me, mold me, and use me in whatever way You will,” we are opening the door to possible disturbance and difficulty. Turning around from a give-me-mine natural life to a make-me-yours committed life is not an easy task. It would take the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit to prompt understanding in our hearts before we come to our senses. God is no man’s debtor. As we begin to give up the imperative of running our own lives, God will begin to bless us and to use us for His glory. First, the prodigal son said to his father, “Give me.” When he came to his senses, he returned home and said to his father, “Make me.” The father showered his riches upon the son!

Fifty years ago in 1953, I took my hands off my life and committed it to God to be His servant. I made the decision in a prayer meeting that Wednesday night in early September and God took over my days from that moment on. I found myself in the registrar’s office of a seminary the next day instead of in the office of a Canadian consulate to apply for a visa to begin a college life and eventually a professional career. During these past years, my Lord has made me His servant and has led me through 10 years of academic preparation, 28 years of pastoral ministry, and more than 14 years of missionary involvement. It all began by making myself available; and I have been made by God into who I am today, better than I could have ever dared to dream of.

(Johnny Wang, General Secretary of CCM)