Exalted by God
30 Days in Philippians - day 15
Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This second half of Paul’s grand statement about Christ is as profound as the first. In these verses, Paul takes us from the incarnation to the glorification of Christ by way of the cross. What is striking is that he does this in the context of urging the church at Philippi toward unity through humble, selfless service.
We sometimes treat theology as if it were impractical, as if it doesn’t intersect with the realities of daily life. To be fair, the way it is sometimes taught can leave that impression. But passages like this correct that thinking. Here, Paul ties the highest truths about Christ directly to the way we live with one another.
The point is clear: the way up is down.
True honor is not seized by the proud; it is given by God to the humble. Christ humbled Himself, even to the point of death, and God exalted Him. That pattern is not incidental—it is instructive.
We are not promised the same glory that belongs to Christ alone. He is the One before whom every knee will bow. But that does not lessen the force of Paul’s point. God is the One who exalts. God is the One who gives honor.
And we should be clear—this honor may not come in this life. Jesus was exalted after the cross. So this is not a promise of recognition here and now. God may grant honor to a humble servant in this life, but even then, it will be small compared to what is to come.
Paul is echoing the teaching of Jesus. The humble servant will one day stand before God and hear, “Well done.” There are crowns to receive and a kingdom to enter.
This world may never give you the honor you deserve. But humble service in following Christ never goes unnoticed and never goes unrewarded by the One who matters most.
So the question is not whether or not we will be honored, but whose honor are we living for?
