Sa halip, kusa niyang hinubad ang pagiging kapantay ng Diyos at naging katulad ng isang alipin. Ipinanganak siyang tulad ng mga karaniwang tao. At nang si Cristo’y maging tao, nagpakumbabá siya at naging masunurin hanggang kamatayan … At dahil dito, siya’y lubusang itinaas ng Diyos, at ibinigay sa kanya ang pangalang higit sa lahat ng pangalan.

Mga Taga-Filipos 2:7–9

Nitong panahon ng pandemya, we often heard the word “downgrade,” which means “reduce to a lower grade or level.” By choice, nag-downgrade ang mga nag-decide na iwan ang complicated city life at mamuhay nang simple sa probinsya.

But there are those who were forced to downgrade — either nawalan ng trabaho o na-bankrupt ang negosyo. Malungkot mang isipin ang naging negative effects ng pandemyasa karamihan, walang pinakamabuting gawin kundi ang tanggapin ang sitwasyon at ipagkatiwala ito sa Panginoon. Sabi nga sa Romans 10:11 “Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed.”

Maliban sa pagtitiwala sa Diyos, mahalaga rin na tayo ay magpakumbaba. The Bible challenges us to imitate Christ’s humility: “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on the cross” (Philippians 2: 6–8). Imagine, nag–“downgrade” si Jesus (although He did not stop being God) para iligtas tayo sa ating mga kasalanan at magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.

Christ’s choice to “downgrade” out of obedience led to the highest “upgrade.” 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 (Philippians 2:9–11). Nakaka-encourage isipin na ang pagda-downgrade ay maaaring magdulot ng “upgrade” para sa atin if we entrust our situation to God, seek His purpose, and obey Him.