Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory Of God the Father

The letter to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul who was a prisoner in Rome for preaching the gospel. Our verses today today tell us that Jesus, son of God, having the full nature of God, was willing to adopt a manner of existence and submerge his deity when he, willingly, took upon Himself the nature of man at His incarnation. Taking the nature of man imposed certain restrictions on Christ Jesus but that did not include a sinful nature; taking on the likeness of man – appearing as a human being – and becoming obedient to the Father to death, even death by crucifixion which was so terrible that Roman citizens were exempt from this end is our supreme example to follow. Jesus taught us that the test of the submissive mind is not how much suffering we are willing to take but how much we are willing to give. Because of his true and acceptable sacrifice Christ saved us from our sins. and is is acknowledged by universal exclamation by the Father and He is Lord of of those in heaven, and on earth and under the earth – over all created beings; all will bow before Christ Jesus.

To glorify Jesus is to glorify the Father because Jesus is God and God’s glory is the aim of this eternal purpose. If people who will not willingly glorify Christ on earth their will do so against their will throughout eternity.
If Jesus is Lord we need to dethrone ourselves. We are not to take on humility, service and obedience to be exalted in Christ Jesus but we do it because we are transformed and reborn in faith in Christ – we are new people and cannot do any other and verbal confession of Lordship will accompany physical submission.

God’s eternal purpose is accomplished in the most unlikely ways and by the most unlikely people. All through the Bible God shows us He values humility, love, submission and perseverance. In this so very secular society, we, as His people, must live as from this world and not of it. Because of Christ’s actions “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)