When I lived in Boston, I once drove to an event called "Jesus for President." The speaker said that our ultimate allegiance had to be to Jesus, not any politician or political group. The scandal felt thrilling. Can you imagine singing a song to "Jesus our President" at your church? In the Roman colony of Philippi, Caesar was Lord. They ascended to their thrones through military conquest, buying loyalty, and backstabbing threats. But unlike our democracy, Roman rulers were less tolerant of rivals. To claim that "Jesus is Lord" would sound like treason. After all, Paul was writing from one of his prisons. I love the idea that Jesus serves me. I find it harder to get on my knees, stretch out my arms, and confess my absolute loyalty to him. I'm afraid he will look down on me, and ask me to do the impossible. But before Jesus was exalted to the highest place, he took the form of a slave. He carries his scars to the throne room. He's the only Lord who humbled himself before he asked us to follow him. He bowed first. Then God exalted him to the highest place. Paul is giving us the joyful second stanza of an early Christian hymn. Can you see them crowded into Lydia's home, singing in harmony, confessing together that their Lord is greater than Caesar? Even as they were suffering for their faith, they knew their God was forever exalted to the highest place.