2.12.2026 - Lisa Liou

Thursday, February 12, 2026

The devotions this week are written by Lisa Liou. Lisa is the founder and executive director of All Gen Movement, a Christian ministry dedicated to healing the generations and renewing the Church. She previously served over 20 years with InterVarsity, most recently as Regional Director in the Western US. She is married to Jeff, an ordained CRC minister, and together they live in Monrovia, CA with their two teenagers.

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Today is our fourth day in Philippians 2 and we will now turn to verses 9-11. After Jesus’ obedience comes his exaltation and glory. If you were charting a graph, you would now begin to see the line that had plummeted to zero begin to move up and end higher than where it began. A transformation has taken place. Jesus’ willingness to empty himself, humble himself, and obey unto death has moved him to an even higher place.

He is now the risen Son of God, his name above every other name. It is the name to which we bend our knees and bow. He is Lord and brings glory to his Father.

God’s plan was not for Jesus to merely die, but for Jesus to resurrect from the dead, proving God's power over sin and death.

Death is a part of the curse, brought about by the sin and disobedience of Adam and Eve. A people and world meant for life and flourishing became broken and dysfunctional. God’s response is redemption, resurrection, and reversal of the fall through Jesus.

Adam was the man who brought sin into the world, but Jesus is the second Adam who brought resurrection life into the world. The possibility of living eternally with God and one another has been resumed in his resurrection.

What this poem depicts for us both in words and the visual it creates of Jesus going lower and then to an even higher place than where he started is that sacrifice is not only for the present moment. When we die to ourselves, participate in Jesus’ love in the world, we are preparing for a future glory.

2 Timothy 2:11 says, “If we die with him, we also live with him.” It is a unique aspect of the Christian faith that we are so fused together with Jesus, existing inside of him, that we replicate his path of self-sacrifice, death, and then resurrection in the Christian life. This is what the mechanics of immersion baptism depict, death to self and resurrected life in Jesus.

Is there any area of your life where you feel like you are dying that you want to offer to Jesus? If it is an involuntary suffering, ask Jesus to turn it into an opportunity to join with Christ, your companion in suffering. Is there any area where you feel compelled to willingly suffer more than you are? To stand with the suffering? To give up something so you can share more?

Open your palms again in a posture of release and receiving. Ask Jesus how he wants to meet you today.