“Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names”
(Philippians 2:5, 8-9, CEB ).

     I love babies. I am excited to become a grandfather for the second time. It’s good to be a grandpa. I can hand my grandson back over to my children when he gets fussy.

     All kidding aside, I am fascinated by babies. They are so amazingly complex. They also are exceptionally vulnerable.

     The Scriptures declare that Jesus left the grandeur and safety of heaven to be born as a baby. Jesus chose to become vulnerable. He was as vulnerable to disease just like you and me. He was as vulnerable to criticism just like you and me. And, though he came from immortality, Jesus became equally as vulnerable to death just like you and me.

     Jesus chose vulnerability, whereas making ourselves vulnerable is something we desperately avoid. Yet, Paul claims in his letter to the Philippians that God exalted Jesus in response to Christ’s willingness to make himself vulnerable before God. I wonder. Could it be that the pathway to victorious living begins on our knees?

     In his greatest moment of desperation, Jesus poured his heart out to God from the cross when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, NIV). Once again, Jesus chose to make himself vulnerable before God and as a result, Jesus was raised from death into new life.

     Perhaps this is the reason as to why God invites us to pour our hearts out to Him. God knows that when we do, He’ll expose the conflicts, struggles, and transgressions of our hearts. Yet, God doesn’t expose such matters in order to condemn us but rather to heal and transform us into new life.

     So, the next time you find yourself holding a baby in your arms, your prayer could sound something like this:

“O Lord, you search the deepest parts of my being regardless of how hard I might try to hide from you. You know my thoughts before I can crystallize them. Grant me the grace to become as vulnerable as a child. Make me willing to expose my heart before you, so that you can recreate new life in me. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.”