kenosis

As I occasionally do, I taught a new word to the congregation yesterday. I used the word "kenosis" in my sermon. The sermon was about the emptying of self that Jesus did in order to save us from ourselves. God the Son became less of what he was (as God) so that we could become more of what we should always have been.

My thoughts today are not about the doctrine of kenosis itself, but rather what it means for me. What it means to "give up ourselves to your service." (General Thanksgiving) How many of us have really done this - given up self to serve God? Or are we still serving other gods?