Have you ever wondered, “Is it worth it?” Is all the sacrifice and effort for the Kingdom really worth it? Is all the ridicule and mockery for following Jesus worth it? Well, friends, today we are going to find the answer. And that answer is: Yes. It is worth it! How do I know? Let’s look at Philippians 2:9-11 together. “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 ...
Have you ever wondered, “Is it worth it?” Is all the sacrifice and effort for the Kingdom really worth it? Is all the ridicule and mockery for following Jesus worth it?
Well, friends, today we are going to find the answer. And that answer is: Yes. It is worth it!
How do I know? Let’s look at Philippians 2:9-11 together.
“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.”
In the previous episode, we talked about how Jesus climbed down the ladder. From the glories of heaven, he lowered himself and became a human, a servant even, and ultimately gave His life to die on a cross.
Was it worth it? Hebrews 12:2-3 indicates that Jesus was able to endure all this because of what He knew was coming. Jesus, for the future joy set before Him, endured the present pain of sacrifice.
What is that future joy? Phil. 2 gives us a clue. It points to a coming day when God will:
- Exalt Jesus to the highest place.
The Greek term means “hyper-exalted.” Because of His sacrifice, the Father bestowed on the Son even more rights, privileges, and honors than He had before.
- Give Jesus the ultimate name.
Verse 11 tell us that name: Lord. The Greek is kurios – deity, sovereignty, and authority in the highest possible sense. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.
At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow:
- in heaven – the angels and the redeemed who’ve gone before us
- on earth – those alive when Jesus returns, whether saved or unsaved.
- under the earth – demonic spirits and those who died without Christ.
Jesus’ exaltation to the highest place guarantees our vindication. It proves we were right. Jesus really is Lord. We were right to give our lives to Him.
I love these words from Jesus Himself in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible:
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what He has done.” (Rev. 22:12)
One day, all who have given up everything, sacrificed, and served for the sake of Christ, will receive a reward from Jesus Himself.
So, as Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Cor. 15:58)
What’s the apostle saying? Even as a life of sacrifice was worth it for Jesus, it will be worth it for us.
Text: Philippians 2:9-11
Originally recorded on August 31, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN
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