Daily Devotions for Difficult Days [127] The Highest Name

The Highest Awards

My sweet and godly mother paid no attention to man-made awards and gave no quarter to toffs. I remember when her hip had to be replaced she playfully joked with the surgeon who vainly insisted on being called a "Mr" rather than a "Dr." Apparently, Masters are higher than Doctors in the rarified world of medical consultants.

In the even stranger world of Royal Awards, we have, in the order of greatest award to smallest:

• CBE denotes Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,
• OBE - Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and
  
• MBE - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

As we make our way through The First Christian Hymn, we have arrived at The Highest  Name:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

⁶ who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death –
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father."

God the Father, writes Paul, gave Jesus the Name that is above Every Name. In human terms, God the Father knighted Jesus, not with an MBE but with a CBE.

Universal Worship

The next line of our hymn indicates the outcome of that award, "at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow."  One day every knee - made of flesh or made of spirit - will bow at Jesus' feet. Paul insists that there will be no avoiding this duty and command. Beings in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bow at his feet.

I will bow and you will bow. People who long to bow and want to bow will bow, and rebels will also bow. Angels will bow, demons will bow. Satan too will one day fall at the feet of King Jesus. He must be cross at the prospect, though he knows his doom is writ.

At the head of God's invincible army sits the Man with the Highest Name and the greatest title that anyone can be given.

Why then should we fear?

Jesus is King? We have nothing to fear.

Whatever the difficulties and setbacks we face, let us boldly walk and act and witness and live for Him, our Good, our Great and our Glorious head.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

So, reader, come, for now is the time to worship.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship.
Come, Now Is The Time To Give Your Heart.
Come, Just As You Are, To Worship.
Come, Just As You Are, Before Your God.
Come.

One Day Every Tongue Will Confess
You Are God.
One Day Every Knee Will Bow.
Still The Greatest Treasure Remains For Those
Who Gladly Choose You Now.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship.
Come, Now Is The Time To Give Your Heart.
Come, Just As You Are, To Worship.
Come, Just As You Are, Before Your God.
Come.

One Day Every Tongue Will Confess
You Are God.
One Day Every Knee Will Bow.
Still The Greatest Treasure Remains For Those
Who Gladly Choose You Now.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship.
Come, Now Is The Time To Give Your Heart.
Come, Just As You Are, To Worship.
Come, Just As You Are, Before Your God.
Come.

One Day Every Tongue Will Confess
You Are God.
One Day Every Knee Will Bow.
Still The Greatest Treasure Remains For Those
Who Gladly Choose You Now. 

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship.
Come, Now Is The Time To Give Your Heart.
Come, Just As You Are, To Worship.
Come, Just As You Are, Before Your God.
Come.

Brian Doerksen

You can sing along HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our loving Father in heaven,

Help us in these days to love your people, your children, with a practical love.  We thank you for every act of kindness we hear about and every deed known only to you.

We thank you that you have called us to be among those who willingly bow our knees at the Saviour's feet. We honour and worship him, and crown him with a thousand crowns.

We pray for those who will not kiss the Son. We pray that you will have mercy on them while there is still time.

We ask these things in  the precious Name of Jesus

Amen

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