Affirmation of God: My knee bows and my tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Today’s affirmation was  taken from Philippians 2:9-11:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Of course the corny little saying is that these verses start with “therefore” so what is it there for? Why has God also highly exalted Jesus so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess? What can we learn from this? 

This line of thought was started by Paul back in verse 3. Philippians 2:3 states: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (NIV) 

We are told we should consider others better than ourselves. As we approach others may we have the humility to lift them above ourselves. Not out of weakness or powerlessness but of humility. Jesus was not weak or powerless but chose this route. 

Next in verse 4: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (NIV)  

So, secondly after thinking others are better than us we are also to put their interests above our own. That’s a struggle for me. I have a hard time looking past my interests. In fact I am usually so consumed by my interests I fail to notice the interests of others. I also do not play well with others when someone seems to try to take me away from my interests. 

Verse 5 is the “Aha” moment for me. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (NKJ).  I chose this New King James version since it says “let this mind” be in you. The NIV and others says we should have the same “attitude” of Christ. Sorry but that gives me too much control and quite frankly I struggle with not being consumed by my own interests. In my mind. So I need this Mind, this mindset God gave to Jesus. 

In verses 6-8 we are reminded that Jesus was God and that He came to earth and became a man. A lowly one of us and yet in verse 8: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

Humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. THEREFORE…

You know the rest of the story. May we let this mind which is in Christ be in us. May we have the humility to place ourselves below all others we cross paths with today and place their interests above our own. I pray Father God that in my rushing around today to fulfill my own interests that I will slow to see the souls you place before me. That I see them as better than me and that I seek to know their interests and place them before my own. I need YOUR mind to do that Lord, please be with me.  What a better world this would be if we all would bow before Him and follow His example. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life