January 29, 2018

Every Knee Will Bow

Philippians 2:5-11

I am God, and there is no other. . . . Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.

—  Isaiah 45:22-23

The beautiful words of Philip­pians 2 draw from Isaiah 45 to emphasize the glory and honor given to Jesus, our risen and ascended Savior. To him every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess he is Lord.

The term “Lord” was applied to God in the Old Testament, and Christians now apply this title to Jesus as well, recognizing his exaltation and rule in ­heaven. The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:6, “For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” God the Father and Jesus Christ are one, along with the Holy Spirit. God and Jesus must be confessed in the same sentence, because Jesus is God.

Peter calls Jesus “our God and Savior” (2 Peter 1:1), and Hebrews 1:3 says he is “the exact representation of [God’s] being.”

So, today and every day we should take on the mindset of Jesus Christ: “Who, being in very nature God . . . made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.” Today is the day to kneel before Jesus and take on his humility so that we can serve others. Today our plans should align with his will, having our thoughts, words, and deeds cleansed from selfishness and directed by Jesus, our Lord and Savior, “to the glory of God the Father.”

Lord Jesus, Savior, Messiah, Word of God, exalted Son of God and King, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we praise your holy name! Amen.

About the author — Dean Deppe

Dean Deppe has been a pastor in inner-city, suburban, and rural ­churches. Currently he teaches New Testament theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. His courses include one on the parables of Jesus. He and his wife have four grown children.

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