Emptied Himself...

Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

But - nevertheless, notwithstanding

made himself- (kenoo) emptied himself.

of no reputation - (kenoo)  emptied himself

and took upon - laid hold of, to take upon one's self, to take in order to carry away.

the form - external appearance

of a servant - (doulos) a slave, bondman, in the Hebrew sense one who gives himself up to another's will.  Those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men.

and was made - to become, to come into existence, begin to be

in the likeness - made after the likeness of something, image, resemblance...Christ became fully God and fully man. He took on all the essential attributes of humanity and could identify with human needs and weaknesses.  Whatever He did here...He did not do them in His deity but in His humanity totally dependent on the Spirit of God.

of men - a human being, whether male or female.

Christ "emptied" Himself of His own will and His own ambitions and voluntarily gave Himself up to His Father's will. He submitted Himself to the Spirit's direction.  Philippians 2:8 reads: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. As believers and bondservants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to empty ourselves of our own will and live unto God.

I want to live like that...emptying me of me and living for what matters.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So then death is working in us, but life in you.--2nd Corinthians 4:6-12