Lose a grip.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, 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. (Philippians 2:5-7 NASB)

Every Christmas it seems as if there's that one item that everyone has to have. I remember some years back when "Tickle Me Elmo" was all the rage. Some parents who wished to be heroes to their kids waited at the 24-hour discount stores so they could grab one as soon as the stock came off the truck and through the swinging doors. With both arms around it, they'd dash like a football player to the checkout lanes. Deodorant and Q-tips would have to be picked up another day, as all available bodily resources were engaged in providing Secret Service-like protection to Elmo until he was safely whisked away in the awaiting car.

The word translated "grasped" in the above passage carries an idea similar to this holding on to of something precious, something that must not be let go. Paul's point is that the Son of God did not view his splendorous position in heaven this way. While coming to earth meant leaving behind perfect surroundings, assuming a state of being that was severely limited in comparison, and suffering tortuously, the Son of God did not hesitate. He didn't bargain for better circumstances. At the very least he should have been born to a rich family and enjoyed luxuries befitting his kingship, but he demanded no such thing. Rather than protectively clinging to what he had, he emptied himself. He set himself aside.

What often gets in the way of our obedience is our hesitance to empty ourselves, or to set ourselves aside. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called such an emptying being "finished with ourselves." Those things which please the flesh we tend to consider as things "to be grasped," held on to and protected. We burn precious time on the altar of "self."

Any Christian worth his salt wants to be effective in advancing the Lord's kingdom. He wants to have much spiritual fruit to show at the end of a life well spent. Such effectiveness and fruitfulness comes by following our Lord's example, emptying ourselves of...ourselves.