Working together with one mind and purpose ...
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. -Philippians 2:1-2 NLT
The words that Paul first speaks in these verse are "together" ones. One cannot receive encouragement or comfort from Christ apart from another person. When he speaks of fellowship together in the Spirit Paul is accenting the word together. And, apart from being together there would be no need for tenderness or compassion. In truth, the best that we ever have to offer can only be accomplished when we are together with another person.
Paul speaks as a spiritual father when he tells his readers that he wants them to make him happy. I sense that these are the things that make our heavenly father happy as well - we bring a smile to the face of God when we are working together with one mind and purpose. Even so, it sometimes seems to be such a struggle to find common purpose when working with folks who go to a different church. Perhaps it is in those times that we need to love the most?
Help us to see past our minor theological differences Lord. Teach us to love each other and work together.
Live as citizens of heaven ...
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. ... For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. -Philippians 1:27,29-30 NLT,
In your day-to-day life, when you look around, is it obvious to you which people are living as citizens of heaven? Sometimes it is hard to tell, even in our own lives, what one of these citizens look like. In this passage Paul tells us that they are people who are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith. He also says that these have the privilege of suffering for him. And he tells us that we citizens are in this struggle together
The thing that stands out to me in these words is the idea of togetherness. Following God is never something that one does alone. Being a citizen of heaven encapsulates the idea that we who believe in Jesus are members together of something greater than ourselves and greater than the churches that we attend. In truth we all belong to the church of heaven and should therefore act like we do. We who name the name of Jesus must always stand and suffer together.
Help us today Lord to look past ourselves and embrace those who attend churches that are not like ours.
I’m torn between two desires ...
I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. -Philippians 1:20-25 NLT
For a Christian, the main thing in life is living for Someone who is greater than life itself. It reminds me how Paul writes to the Corinthians that each of us, on the cross of Christ, were bought with a price and therefore should honor God with our bodies. The concept of honor and integrity plays out in our lives every day in the way that we walk out the values that we know in our hearts to be true. Honoring God is usually about doing the small things that no one ever sees.
Can you relate to Paul's dilemma? Has life ever been so hard that you simply wanted to die and be with Jesus in heaven? I have known that experience. Sometimes the only thing that keeps us tied to this life is our responsibilities to the ones that we love. The parent lives for the needs of the child. The caregiver for the life of the one that they love so much. It is a way that Paul, and many others since, have honored God by putting the needs of others before their own.
Help us to awake each day Lord Jesus knowing that our lives are not our own and that we are called to live for you.
Others do not have pure motives ...
It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. -Philippians 1:15-18 NLT
I rarely consider people who minister in church When I think of people with bad motives. It is surprising to hear Paul speak of such people as he sits in chains. I wish that this whole idea of religious jealousy and rivalry ceased back in Paul's day. For even today religious leaders brag about the number who attend their services and revel in the tithes that are collected on Sunday mornings. I would get angry if not for these words written so very long ago.
Are you not amazed how Paul can see good coming out of bad motives? Instead of fixating on the selfish ambition he chooses to continue to rejoice that, even with bad motives, the message about Christ is being preached. He seems to also understand that others are preaching from pure motives. This is where I choose to land today. I am not qualified to judge the motives of others so I will (with Paul) choose to rejoice that the name of Jesus is proclaimed.
Help us to be people of pure motives dear Lord. Cause our hearts to rejoice that the gospel is being preached.
I am in chains because of Christ.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. -Philippians 1:12-14 NLT
The most amazing aspect of this epistle is that Paul writes it from a prison in Rome. Of the one hundred and four verses in it he mentions joy sixteen times. Some of the most inspirational ideas are contained here. In chapter two Paul speaks of how Christ humbled himself as an example for us. In the third chapter he speaks of pressing on. In the fourth chapter he says that he can do all things though Christ. So inspiring when we consider the jail he wrote from.
Paul's chains move me - they cause me to want to follow him as he followed Christ. Could it be possible that those who suffer can be like Paul? Perhaps the invisible chains that we each bear are an opportunity for us to inspire others as we joyfully persevere? Maybe the image of Paul joyfully writing this letter from jail is meant to give hope to those who suffer? I think that we can each be an epistle to the world that testifies that all things are possible through Christ.
Help us Lord to rejoice each day and in every situation. Cause us to be your epistles to the world.
What really matters ...
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. -Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
As I read these words I get an image of a fountain overflowing as water bubbles up from it. Perhaps that is the image that we saw when Christ walked the earth? Did not love bubble up in his heart and overflow to all he touched? Isn't that the desire of our hearts as we grow in knowledge and understanding? Does not the path to a pure and blameless life entail an embracing of the love of God for each person we encounter? Is not love what really matters in our lives?
I love how Paul speaks of the righteous character produced in your life as being the fruit of your salvation. In his letter to the Galatians he describes this righteous character as one made up of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In essence, a life filled with these qualities is one that will bring much glory and praise to God. This is the kind of life that is filled with things that really matter - now and forever.
We pray that the righteous fruit of our lives will overflow like a fountain and touch those who need you today.
Every time I think of you ...
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. -Philippians 1:3-6 NLT
These last few days I have been sharing here about the people that Paul first met and ministered to in Philippi. There was Lydia who believed after the Lord opened her heart - Paul stayed at her place while in that city. There was the fortune teller who was delivered of a demon as Paul cast it out in the name of Jesus. And there was the jailer and his family who all believed and were baptized. I imagine that Paul was thinking of these friends as he opened this epistle.
I love thinking about how God began a good work in these people and was continuing it even as Paul was writing to them. Even though Paul had left them the Holy Spirit remained with them teaching, comforting and encouraging them in every good work. Perhaps that is the how we should look at our fellow believers. Maybe we would be easier on them if we saw them as a divine work in progress? Maybe this is one way we can learn to give thanks to God for them?
Thank you for the works in progress that you have placed in my life Lord. Help me to encourage them today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)