What Should Be Our Response to Jesus?

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. (Philippians 2:10–11)

Today’s big question: what should our response be to Jesus?

The quick answer to this question is worship. 

Acknowledging Jesus’ authority as Lord, Creator, and Savior is a must for every Christian. However, today’s verse says much more than this. Regardless of where we are and what position we are in, we will all inevitably bow our knee to Christ. For some, it will be too late. Jesus is God the Son, the One who created the world by His spoken Word, and the One who created us in His image. He is also the One we sinned against in a prideful attempt to place ourselves over Him as the authority. 

Our sin did not overthrow the Son’s authority. As the ultimate authority, Jesus both judges and saves. There is not one soul He has redeemed that can be taken from Him (John 10:29), and not one soul has rejected Him that will escape His wrath (Colossians 3:6).

Those who reject Christ’s authority today will only do so for a time. One day Christ will return and all will see His majesty and lordship. Some will bow knees in utter praise and adoration of the coming King, and some will drop to their knees in utter dismay at their own rejection of the Savior. 

Those who truly know the Savior can rejoice in the words of today’s verse. We willingly rejoice in bowing our knee to Him right now. It is our obligation, privilege, and desire to regularly bow our knee to the Savior and recognize His name as far superior to all. Because of the greatness of His humility and grace (as we have seen in the past several devotionals), we esteem in our hearts the opportunity we have to live our life in constant and reverent fear of His name. Those who know Christ should desire that they would decrease and He would increase (John 3:30). We desire to see Him elevated to the highest of heights. When we hear verses telling us that all will bow to Him, our heart should shout amen!

The apostle Paul, who is known for gushing praises in respect to the wonder of Jesus Christ, has in today’s verse given us another reason for such gushing. Paul not only points out that all will bow, but also that every tongue will “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

May we bow to and confess His lordship today in willingness and gratitude.

Today’s big idea: Jesus is Lord. Whether we confess that now or when it is too late is the most important choice we face in this world.

What to pray: confess the lordship of Jesus Christ.