⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,^[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,^[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[c] being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7 ESV)

Jesus emptied himself, his divine state, to become man and die on a cross for our sins. He did not lose his divine nature, but he did give up his divine state of being.

This “emptying” of one’s self so that Christ may fill us is also something we should strive for. The less we are us, the more we have the potential to be like Christ.

Thus, to be emptied should mean that we are being filled with the Spirit. We are taking on His attributes so that the selfish and basal nature of who we are as humans is replaced with something far better. We are no longer focused wholly upon our wants and desires, but we are focused on our great need to become more like Christ.

This is not a simple task. It is one that will require a lifetime of trying and failing. But as we inch closer to emptying us of who we are, the better chance we have of being more like Christ. As we are less, He is more, if that is our greatest desire. Which it should be.