Worthy of Honor

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Philippians 2:5-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The highest honor given by the United States military is the Medal of Honor. It is awarded for personal acts of valor “above and beyond the call of duty.” The Medal of Honor was created in 1861 during the Civil War and only 3,468 medals have been awarded. It just so happens that I live around the corner from a Medal of Honor recipient. He is one of the 246 people to have received the award for an act of heroism in Vietnam. The Medal of Honor is truly a prestigious award.

If you follow the liturgical calendar, we are celebrating the Holy Week. It is a time when we remember what Jesus went through — His suffering and death — to pay for our sins. What He did for you and me was “above and beyond the call of duty!” 

In writing to the Philippian Christ followers, Paul listed some of what Jesus did for us. Although He was true God, He willingly became true man. Furthermore, in humility, He suffered an agonizing death on a cross. Here’s how, in part, the Nicene Confession states it:

[I believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures.

During this Holy Week, we remember and proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection. I don’t know what that does for you, but it drives me to confess my sinfulness that made His death necessary. But I don’t stop there, no! I throw my hands into the air and rejoice that He went “above and beyond the call of duty.” He fought the battle over sin and won the victory for each of us! I say, “Hallelujah!” What do you say?  

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. Revelation 4:11a