Day 2: Above every name
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11).
O Lord, our Lord, You have declared, "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5).
You are not dependent on, or obligated to mortals: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth... And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24-25). Your plans and purposes prevail without human "permission", "approval", or "acknowledgement":
...So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things (Isaiah 45:6-7).
Yet, those who know You trust You (Psalm 9:10), and understand that You are not a God of caprice, or whim, or of evil intent. They understand that You are “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6).
They understand that true and just are Your judgments (Revelation 19:2), and realize that God's kindness is intended to lead...to repentance. They do not show contempt for the riches of Your kindness, forbearance and patience (Romans 2:4).
Lord, You are holy, apart, and completely "other". Deliver us from the folly, the arrogance, and the rebellion of our faulty, limited measurements and expectations—our reckless contentions with the Almighty (Job 40:2). Teach us holy fear and reverence at Your words:
“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but [earthenware fragments] among the [earthenware fragments] on the ground” (Isaiah 45:9).
Thank You, O Lord, that You still hold open Your doors of grace in these turbulent and uncertain times! There is no hope—no refuge but You. Teach us to acknowledge that ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength,’ before the time comes when All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame (Isaiah 45:24).
Through Your grace, You have made Your salvation known and revealed Your righteousness to the nations (Psalm 98:2):
[Jesus] did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing... And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11; see also Isaiah 45:23).
O Lord God of mercy, whose kindness leads to repentance, teach us to bow now!
Comments