I just read the shocking account of Spain’s king Juan Carlos, who, after 39 years on the throne, decided to step down and leave his son, Prince Felipe, in charge. A source at the palace stated that he was stepping down for political reasons, and not because of his many health problems. However, the story went on to say that King Juan Carlos was leaving Spain in “the worst economic crisis in memory.”*
“I have decided to end my reign and abdicate the crown of Spain. A new generation is quite rightly demanding to take the lead role.”*
How thoughtful and unselfish of him to think of others…
It’s All About Your Motivation
As we enter the season of Christmas, I have a story to tell you of another King who decided to willingly step down from His throne for others—but His motivation was pure. Jesus was born to die for us all!
“Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2b, NLT).
And, by the way, when He left heaven, His kingdom, things were great…better than things in Spain–in fact, they were perfect! But, God, in the form of His Son, Jesus, willingly gave up His rights to come down and be a human being on this earth.
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23, NLT).
He came to be born from the very beings He created. What?
God’s Humiliation
If you really want to get specific about it, you could say that God humiliated Himself for humanity’s sake. My man Paul put it this way:
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 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 a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8, NLT).
Sharing in God’s Kingdom
So as you go about preparing your shopping lists and vacation plans, take some time to prepare your heart by meditating on how the rightful King of the universe gave you, yes you, the gift of the mind-blowing opportunity to share in His kingdom with Him. As a daily practice to rewire your mind away from the prevalent culture of selfishness, I recommend meditating on these four texts:
1. “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’ ” (Matthew 19:28, NLT).
2. “If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12, NLT).
3. “And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10, NLT).
4. “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6, NLT).
The Key to It All!
One Christmas many years ago, my parents gave me a simple, single key in a large TV-sized box. I waited until all my other presents were opened before I turned to open this one, simply because, first thing, I shook the box, and I heard the weak echo of the one small, seemingly insignificant surprise. To be honest with you, I forgot about the box and was about to throw it away, into the fire, with the rest of the torn boxes and wrapping paper, when my parents reminded me of that last unopened gift. I rolled my eyes at them and sighing heavily, slowly opened the box–only to find to my shock that it held a key . . . to my first car!
I almost lost out on this incredible gift simply because I overlooked a simple, single, solitary key.
This Christmas season, please don’t miss out on receiving God’s greatest gift of salvation to you; simply because of the fact that you don’t take the time to consciously change your focus and begin to consider, not only the enormity of all God gave us all, but all He gave up for us all, in order to ensure eternity for us all–when He stepped up for you by stepping down.
* Downloaded on December 08 from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2646032/BREAKING-NEWS-King-Juan-Carlos-Spain-abdicate-hand-crown-son-Filipe.html
This piece is both thoughtful and deeply moving, and the writer deserves commendation for the clarity and depth with which a historical event is woven into a powerful spiritual reflection. The contrast between King Juan Carlos’s abdication and Christ’s voluntary humility is skillfully handled, drawing the reader naturally from earthly leadership to the eternal example of Jesus. The author’s use of Scripture is well-balanced and purposeful, reinforcing the central theme without overwhelming the narrative.
What stands out most is the emphasis on motivation—highlighting that while human decisions may be shaped by circumstance, Christ’s sacrifice was driven purely by love and obedience. The personal illustration of the “key” is especially effective, making a profound spiritual truth relatable and memorable. Overall, this write-up is inspiring, Christ-centered, and well-suited for devotional reading, particularly for youth and those seeking to grow in faith during the Christmas season.