Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 WEB

Paul penned his letter to the Philippians while in prison in either Rome or Ephesus. In it, he expresses his gratitude to the church in Philippi for their support and devotion to his ministry. Offering thanksgiving and prayer, Paul rejoices in sharing with his readers that his captivity serves a purpose. Because of his imprisonment, even the palace guards know the gospel message of salvation through Christ. 

The second chapter of Philippians begins with Paul urging his readers to imitate the humility of Christ. Having pointed out in chapter one that some individuals share the gospel message out of selfish ambition and vanity, Paul urges the church members to be humble. He encourages his readers to serve the needs of others rather than seek glory for themselves. In this, he teaches the church to follow the example of Christ.

He Humbled Himself

Although Jesus Christ is Lord and fully God himself, he did not seek to glorify himself. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. WEB”

The lesson is that God exalts those who humble themselves in obedience to his word and will as Christ did. Jesus teaches this principle in Matthew 23:12 saying, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. WEB” We read the wisdom of this same teaching in Proverbs 29:23 which says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. KJV” 

Jesus Glorified God

Humble in nature and obedient to the point of death, Jesus demonstrated the way to exaltation in the kingdom of heaven. Today, hundreds of millions, even over one billion people proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord.” But more significantly than that, God himself exalted Christ for his obedient service to our heavenly Father, mankind, and the Kingdom of Heaven.

There will come a time when everyone that ever lived will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The glory of our heavenly Father is to exalt eveyone who submits to him. As Jesus prayed to God in John 17:4-5, “I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. WEB” 

Yesterday’s Devotional: A Man Traveling