Take A Knee
These days, there is quite a bit of talk around the water cooler as well as chatter on the air waves surrounding the idea of taking a knee for this or that. Is it right? Is it wrong? Is it patriotic? Is it a right? Is taking a knee taking a stand?
Now before you think that you are reading a political or social commentary on the act of kneeling, keep reading, because the idea of taking a knee is a key idea in the Word of God, the Bible.
Part 1
The apostle Paul wrote in the letter to the Ephesian church that he “bows his knees before the Father”. Paul is saying here that when he takes the position of bowing on his knees, he is praying for others. Here is what he prays for them--”that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
WOW!! Wouldn’t you want someone praying these things for you? Or even better, how much joy could you bring someone by praying for them in this way?
Paul is praying for believers that they would be strengthened with the power of the Holy AND that they would have the strength to comprehend the vastness of the love of Christ AND that they would be filled with the fullness of God. And ALL of this is made possible because of the riches of the glory of God!!
Another thing Paul says in there is that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Christians have to realize that Christ does dwell in our hearts, yet this word “dwell” here means “be and feel at home”. That adds a new twist to what he is saying. Paul might say to us and ask us, “I know Christ does dwell in your heart, but does he feel at home, is he comfortable there? One pastor wrote concerning this passage, “That's sad that, though the Lord Jesus dwells in the hearts of Christians, in most of them He is unable to rest in comfort because there is so much self, there is so much sin, there is so much lust, so much disobedience, that He is busy cleaning.”
Is your heart a place where Christ settles down and is comfortable?
Part 2
Another passage of Scripture where people will take a knee is in Philippians 2:9-11 which states, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This presents us with a few questions to ask ourselves:
Do you believe that the name of Jesus is above every other name?
If so, do you live in such a way that elevates the name of Jesus over your own?
Have you bowed your knee in submission to Jesus as a subject would bow to the King in his court?
Have you confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord?
If so, do you live in such a way which lets the world around you know that Jesus is your Lord?
It has been said that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. God receives the most glory when the people of his creation bow their knee in humble subjection to King Jesus and confess and let the world know that He is Lord.
So how about taking a knee...will you take a knee in prayer for others and will you bow on your knees to King Jesus?