A Closer Walk
"Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Philippians 2:9-11 NASB. The time will come, on some day in the near or distant future, that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every knee. Every tongue. Like it or not, want to or not. Some day each and every knee will bow, and each and every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. To the glory of God the Father.
As believers we do this willingly, joyfully, repeatedly. The children of God will not need coaxing or coercion to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. We have already confessed that. It is part of our testimony. We recognized and acknowledged our sinfulness, and that we were in need of a Savior. Christ took the penalty we owed, and paid it in full. Then He imputed to us (gave to us, or thrust upon us) His righteousness. He transferred our sin and its penalty to His own account, then transferred His righteousness, with its benefits, to our account. We are forgiven and righteous and justified in the sight of God; redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. John the Baptist proclaimed it. "The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'," John 1:29 NASB.
His arrival was prophesied. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom. To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this,” Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB.
His birth was announced. “...Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins,” Matthew 1:20-21 NASB. And further, “And...there were some shepherds staying out in the fields...And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them...And the angel said to them. “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2:8-11 NASB.
He has been found worthy. “And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; For Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood Men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; And they will reign upon the earth',” Revelation 5:9-10 NASB. And in addition, “saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing',” Revelation 5:12 NASB.
Why shouldn't He have the name above all names? Why shouldn't He be highly exalted? The Savior that takes away the sin of the whole entire world? Why shouldn't Ludwig von Beethoven compose "Ode to Joy," an Ode to Jesus? Why shouldn't Johann Sebastian Bach compose "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring?" Why shouldn't George Friderick Handel compose "The Messiah" with its “Hallelujah Chorus”? “The Messiah” may be one of the greatest pieces of choral music ever written. All for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We children of the Living God bow on our knees and confess with our tongues that Jesus is Lord because we know Him, we love Him, and we rejoice that He is our Savior and Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!