Humility and Power

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Philippians 2.3-11]

Humility brings honor.

It is in the genuine attitude of humility, demonstrated by Jesus and making us one with Jesus, that every knee must bow. It is no mistake that it was written that every knee would be located in heaven and on earth and even under the earth.

In consistency with all Paul's writing, when Paul speaks of heaven and earth, he is speaking of authorities - powers unseen by human eyes, but realities nonetheless. This is no stretch of imagination because Jesus Himself used this same language in Matthew 28:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

I think what Paul is saying is that when we humble ourselves, making ourselves look and act like Jesus, there is no power on heaven or earth that can stand in our way. Yes, I believe "every knee" can mean humans in the opening passage above, but I also believe it means ANY authority in heaven or on earth.

Think about this: When Jesus cast out demons, many times they cried out acknowledging that He was the Son of God. That's kind of like every tongue declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord...

When Jesus taught us to pray, May Your Kingdom come, He was talking about this authority. Jesus was trying to get us to see the responsibility of the Kingdom that we are to humbly exercise in the very manner He demonstrated. Our lives should look like Jesus to every "knee" in heaven, on earth, and even under the earth. When our lives effectively look like Jesus, every reality must be subject to that authority.

But this authority is not for the proud. It never has been and never will be.

Father, help us to see the importance of humility in our lives so that Your power might be evident in them!