Do you ever arrive at a familiar passage of Scripture, one that you've read and studied many times, and God shows you an insight that you possibly missed several times before?
It's not uncommon for us to sometimes gloss over the truths He teaches us but I'm thankful for His patience toward us while we finally learn something He's likely been trying to teach us for a long time!
It's no doubt that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path just as Psalm 119:105 says and I'm thankful God illuminates us soul, minds, and spirit so we may live more faithfully for Him, His Kingdom, His glory.
As we abide in God's Word we are sure to find rich truths through His instructions for us.
Philippians 2:1-11 is no exception because the passage if full of truths to unpack and apply to our lives.
This passage speaks deeply about how we should humble ourselves and He gives us the clearest and most profound example through how Christ humbled Himself through sacrificing Himself for us. Then The Lord finishes the passage with truths that I wonder if while we quote, teach and believe it, maybe we gloss over it?
Philippians 2:9-11 says:
"9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."In this passage God emphasizes Jesus' sovereignty and that every knee should bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We should humble ourselves before Him and we should confess Him as our Lord always.
Sadly, many will choose not to humble themselves before Him and confess Him as Savior and Lord in this life. Unfortunately for them, they fail to realize that they will meet Him when they pass from this life. At that point, while it will be too late, they will finally see Him for Who He really is on their way to eternal judgment in the very real place called hell. This doesn't have to be the case if they will simply receive His free gift of salvation.
Now, for those of us in Christ, while our salvation and eternity is secure in Christ, we're not completely off the hook as far as how we supposedly should be living for Christ in the new life He's given us.
What I mean is we have to assess whether or not we daily humble ourselves before Him and confess that Jesus is Lord through our words, actions, and attitudes. Or, do we just say, "Yes, that's a nice passage" but I'm good...I've checked off the reading for today and don't really need to live it out?"
Are we going to let our light / His light shine in and through us or not?
We cannot segment our lives and we cannot pick and choose what we're to follow and live out when He clearly tells us what we're supposed to do, not just at some future date, but here and now.
We need to apply His Word to our lives and live it out day-by-day.
Some may read this and say, "That's legalistic", and to that I'd say, no it's not legalistic, but it is Biblical.
Here are a few examples of how this passage applies to you and I right now:
If you're in Christ, as a result of even just this passage, you have to ask yourself, (just for starters) do you humble yourself before Him and confess Him through:
-Your work?
-Your finances? (Including your tithes, offerings, investments, possessions and more.)
-Your relationships?
-Your priorities?
-Your goals?
-Your decisions?
-How you pray and what you pray for?
-Your behavior? (Words, Actions, and Thoughts)
-Your day-to-day life?
None of us will be perfect at this but we need to pursue Christ with all that is within us. Our pursuit of Him will be evident in our lives if we're truly living in humility and confessing Him as Savior and Lord as these are true earmarks of those who follow Jesus Christ and are bearing fruit for Him.
Let me encourage you to pray, asking The Lord to spotlight the areas of your life where you need to reflect more humility before Him and others as well areas where you may not be confessing Him as your Lord enough.
Let's pray for one another that we will look at familiar passages with fresh eyes and constantly ask The Lord what He through His Holy Spirit wants to teach us so that we might live it out for Him!
Let's also pray that our light will be shining brightly for Him including through a life earmarked by humility before Him and confession of Him. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
Your Brother and Servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch
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