One Name = Lord

Reflection: Welcome to our one-week One Name devotional as we discover together the power, beauty and authority of the name above every name; the only name by which we may be saved, Jesus Christ.

We begin with the famous verses in today's reading from Paul’s letter (AD mid 50s) to the Philippian church – the first in Europe. They’re part of an early Christian poem celebrating both the humility and supremacy of Jesus. We learn that the way we think about our life and world should be shaped entirely by our relationship to Jesus. His ‘attitude’ should be our attitude. His name changes everything.

The first part of the poem (vs 5-6) shows that these first-century Christians knew Jesus as God (the Son) who existed before the world began. Jesus is not just another prophet, teacher or ruler; he is God among us. Every other name is measured against the one name, Jesus.

The second part of the poem (vs 7-8) may have shocked the original audience. Instead of exploiting his position as other Greco-Roman ‘gods’ would do, Jesus humbled himself by becoming human, even submitting to a criminal’s death on the executioner’s cross. Our stance too should be one of humility and obedience before God, knowing that when he is in his rightful place in our life, we can be in our rightful place in the world.

The third part of the poem (vs 9-11) shows that having lived a life of humble obedience to God’s plan to save us through his death on the cross, Jesus is now risen and exalted so that his name is above or over every other name. (By his ‘name’, the Bible is referring to character, identity, position, authority, inheritance, promise, presence.)

There is only one right response to Jesus’ name – bow your knee and confess with your mouth that Jesus, the anointed one (Hebrew = Messiah, Greek = Christos) is Lord. One Name before every other name.

One Name today: If you haven’t before, or it’s been some time, submit yourself with humility to the One Name, the one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, praying: ‘Jesus, you are name above every name. You died for my sin and rose again, exalted to the highest place. Forgive me, heal me, fill me with your Spirit, rule over every detail of my life today and forever. In Jesus name, Amen.’