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The Daily Devotional
Monday, July 13, 2026
The Name Above Every Name
Reflection
Philippians 2:9–11 rises like a great mountain peak in the New Testament. Just before these verses, Paul has described the humility of Christ in some of the most beautiful and sobering words ever written. Jesus, though existing in the form of God, did not cling to His divine privilege for selfish gain. He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Then comes the great “therefore.”
Because Christ humbled Himself, God highly exalted Him. Because He descended in obedience, God lifted Him in glory. Because He accepted the shame of the cross, God gave Him the name above every name. The way upward in the kingdom of God was not pride, force, self-display, or grasping for honor. The way upward was humility, surrender, obedience, and sacrificial love.
This is one of the great reversals of the gospel. The world often teaches us to climb, compete, defend our image, protect our status, and make ourselves known. But Jesus shows us another way. He did not seize glory; He received it from the Father. He did not build His kingdom by crushing others beneath Him; He bore the weight of sin, suffering, and death for the salvation of the world. His lordship is not the rule of a tyrant, but the reign of the crucified and risen Savior.
Paul says that God gave Him “the name which is above every name.” This is more than honor in a general sense. It points to the full recognition of Jesus as Lord. In the language of Scripture, lordship means authority, sovereignty, worship, and allegiance. Jesus is not merely a teacher to admire, a moral example to respect, or a comforter to call upon in trouble. He is Lord over heaven and earth. He is Lord over history. He is Lord over every power, every kingdom, every hidden thing, every fearful place, and every human heart.
An everyday picture may help us receive this truth. Imagine a military ceremony where a commanding officer is being honored. The room quiets, people stand at attention, and every movement shows respect for the rank and authority represented there. Yet the deepest honor is not given merely because of a title on a uniform. It is often given because those present know the cost behind the service—the years of sacrifice, the burdens carried, the dangers faced, the obedience required, and the lives protected.
In a far greater and holier way, every knee will one day bow before Jesus. But His authority is not empty rank. His glory bears the marks of the cross. His exaltation is tied forever to His humility. The One before whom creation bows is the One who washed feet, welcomed sinners, touched lepers, blessed children, wept at a tomb, and gave His life for the world. The Lord of glory is also the Lamb who was slain.
That changes how we understand surrender. To bow before Jesus is not to be crushed by cruelty, but to be gathered under the authority of perfect love. To confess that Jesus Christ is Lord is not merely to say correct words with our lips, but to bring our lives into alignment with His reign. It means our plans belong to Him. Our speech belongs to Him. Our relationships belong to Him. Our fears, ambitions, wounds, habits, choices, and hidden thoughts are all invited under His gracious rule.
This is where the devotional truth becomes very personal. It is possible to believe that Jesus is Lord over creation while quietly resisting His lordship over one area of daily life. We may want Him to comfort us, but not correct us. We may want Him to bless our plans, but not redirect them. We may call Him Lord in worship, yet hold tightly to resentment, pride, anxiety, or self-will.
Philippians 2:9–11 invites us to a deeper surrender. Today, we can ask: Where do I need to bow before Christ more fully? Is there an attitude that needs to be humbled? Is there a conversation that needs to be shaped by grace? Is there a decision that needs to be brought before Him in prayer? Is there a burden I keep trying to control that I need to place under His lordship?
The exalted Christ is not distant from us. He reigns with compassion. He rules with mercy. He calls us not only to kneel someday, but to bow today in trust, love, and obedience. And when we do, we discover that His lordship is not bondage, but freedom. The heart that bows before Jesus is lifted by His grace.
One day, every knee will bow—those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Until that day, we are given the holy privilege of confessing Him now, not by force, but by faith; not with fear alone, but with love; not only in words, but in lives shaped by His humility, obedience, and glory.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, exalted above every name, we bow before You with grateful hearts. Teach us to behold Your glory without forgetting Your humility, and to confess Your lordship not only with our lips but through our daily obedience. Bring our thoughts, words, plans, relationships, and burdens under Your loving rule. Where pride has taken root, form humility in us. Where fear has ruled us, renew our trust. Where we have resisted Your way, lead us gently back to surrender. May our lives honor You today, and may every act of faith, mercy, patience, and love bear witness that You are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is a Public Domain Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible, first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form and is currently being edited for accuracy and readability. All rights reserved.
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