God of power and light, brighten the path of this dear reader in all that they face and do; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Philippians 2: 5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 6 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! 8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. 9 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, 10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth - even those long ago dead and buried - will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, 11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. (The Message).
This version is easier to understand, but it just doesn't have the power behind it that does a more recognizable version, especially the last verses: 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Better? Yes! In a few days it will be that Friday that is set apart other Fridays. It was a day intended by His enemies to be a day of shame, pain and death. Yet for us, thanks to God, it became a day of exaltation. As His body was lifted high on that cross, so was the honor, praise and glory of God. The world saw then what the enemies of God wanted them to see; now the believers of Jesus see it as the greatest gift ever given. Every drop of blood shed by Christ was life for you and me. It should be that for the true believer right now, just the mention of the Name of Jesus, we should react. Paul says we should bend our knees and I say that the very least we can do is bend our hearts in worship and thankfulness for what Jesus did for us.
Lift up your hearts, we say in our ritual, yes, we lift them up to the Lord; as He was lifted up for us. May the glory of God's love shine brightly in You today and all days!
PRAYER: Loving God, may the mention of the name above all names bring honor and glory to You and may it bring back the recognition in us, in me, that I should be thankful for all You have done. I pray this in that precious name, Jesus, my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
