Philippians Study (Part 17)

I make it my purpose to let my nephews and nieces know that I love them. Even though I don’t get the opportunities to see them, as I would like, I feel it is important to stay in some form of contact with them so they know whom I am. In these next few passages, Paul will mention a few people. I think one of the reasons Paul mentions them specifically, is because he wants the people of Philippi to find joy in their mention. We also learn a few things about these individuals that give us a deep perspective into Paul’s thoughts into a couple of individuals that accompanied him in prison. With that, we will begin.

The Text:

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of your. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

First Observations:

Paul wants to send Timothy on a reporting mission to Philippi.

Paul has full confidence that he will receive great news.

Paul has a deep love for Timothy and his heart for loving others.

Other people seek their own interests.

Digging Deeper:

Since Paul is prison, he would send other people to see how the churches were doing. Titus, Timothy, Luke, and others would go and spend a period of time within the community, collect an offering, pray over leaders, commission new leaders, and return to Paul and report on how things were going. I find it quite interesting that Timothy and the others were so willing to make these trips. It isn’t like Timothy and the others got paid for their efforts. Timothy was devoted to the work of an overseer and took the responsibility seriously. Paul even says that he has no one like Timothy that cares as much about them as he does. So Timothy was sent to check up on the church Paul had established there.

It is interesting how people generally only care about themselves. I am talking about myself at times. What is important to understand however is selfish ambitions are not God’s ambitions for our lives. If we have godly ambitions, it is impossible for us to seek our desires. We must then place our weight in the desires of Christ and give up our own ambitions because His ways are better and bring joy.

Conclusion:

There really isn’t much to comment on in these three verses. As I have already mentioned, we get a small glimpse into Paul’s personal world. We are beginning to see how he feels about individuals who are in close with him. Maybe after we have established a few individuals, we will be able to draw out some thoughts about Paul’s comments about their lifestyles, their character qualities, and their motives. For now, I will encourage you to continue reading with me through the book of Philippians. It is a great book we all can enjoy. God bless.

Philippians Study (Part 16)

Tonight, I was a part of a group that discussed the matter of trust. Who do we trust? What do we trust? Can we really trust? If God is truth, shouldn’t we trust Him? What if we didn’t trust God? Could we be a Christian and not trust God? How can we trust when we have had our trust taken for granted? These are all great questions to ask and explore. What I took away from the night – and I ask you to test it out for yourselves – is that trust is something that can only happen when a relationship is established through continual and intentional community. It can only happen in an environment where we are able to be most like ourselves and not like we normally are in new situations. Finally, trust can only happen when we are willing to abandon our will and place ourselves in another. With respects to our faith, I have come to recognize the importance of trusting God. With other relationships, I trust those I have known for many years – my close friends. When I think about Paul, I can only imagine how strong his trust was in God to maintain a positive attitude in his circumstance. Lord knows it would not be easy. Paul’s trust in God is worth considering when we read his letters. You can almost feel it as you read the words off the pages.

The Text:

“Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice wit you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

First Observations:

Paul understands that holding on to the Word will result in not laboring or running in vain.

Paul likens himself to a drink offering from Numbers 28:7 – it is a sacrifice that he is happy to offer.

Paul calls us to be glad and rejoice with him.

Digging Deeper:

I think sometimes the reason we don’t read the Word of God as much as we could or should is because we don’t realize how it will affect us when we read it. It has the ability to change us from the inside out and to create in us a pure heart. It has the ability to shape us and mold us into the kind of people we were made to be in Christ. If we really understood the importance of reading the Word, we would do it more and see the benefits more often in our day-in/day-out lives.

Anytime I build a tower of blocks with my 1-year-old nephew, he comes over and knocks it down. It doesn’t matter how many times I do it he will knock it down again and again. That is what kids do at that age. What if you were building something bigger though that costs more time, effort, sweat, blood, and tears and someone knocked it down? I am sure you would be upset, as I would be. Paul doesn’t want to labor in vain or run in vain. He is working hard for a purpose. If there is no fruit to his work, it is no different than a man who built a tower out of play blocks and his nephew knocked them down a moment later.

Even if these things were to be knocked down like block tower, Paul is okay with that. Cause it is God who built it and has a right to knock it down. Paul then says that he would rejoice. We should rejoice with him because God is in control of our circumstances. That is what makes God different than us.

Conclusion:

I am learning to be more thankful for all that God does in my life. I hope that my walk with Christ produces good fruit and that I too have not labored in vain. Am I willing to be a drink offering for someone else’s faith? I am not there yet, but I am working on it. It is probably something we all could work on from time to time. For God’s sake, let us continue to become more like Him in Word and in deed. God bless.

Philippians Study (Part 15)

If any of you have ever read Velvet Elvis, you would know that there is this section in the very beginning where Rob Bell, in my own words, says that we should be willing to test the doctrines we have deemed as important. We should be willing to discuss them and test them. We are never in a position to throw them away. He likens doctrines to the springs that hold a trampoline pad to the frame. You can test the springs by jumping on it, but you cannot remove the springs. If you were to do that, the pad – your religion – would fall to the ground, because it has no support or structure. The only reason I mention this aspect of “Trampoline Theology” concerns the very reason we are doing this study. As we read these verses, I encourage you to challenge the Scriptures. Test them. Invite others to jump with you on the trampoline and jump away.

The Text:

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the mist of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

First Observations:

God somehow works in us

God has a will

The result of God’s working in us produces pleasure

We are to do things with out grumbling or questioning

We are to be a blameless, innocent child – unlike the twisted generation of the world

We shine among the world because of who we are.

Digging Deeper:

When I think about work, I think abut sweating. I think about doing a task that has a beginning and an end. When I begin the task, there seems to be a lot to do. When it is all done though, I can stand back and see what I have accomplished. I can take pride in my work, because I spent the time and effort to complete the task at hand. It could have been something simple like cleaning my room or something more difficult like doing a tune-up on a car. It doesn’t matter what the task is. This is how I picture it.

God has a task in us, or so it seems that way. Somehow God works in us. I don’t know how that happens. I don’t feel God “working” in me I don’t feel God doing much in me at all, if I am totally honest. I don’t get little tingly sparks when I read the Bible or have grand epiphanies. I am who I am. Have there been significant changes in my life? Absolutely! What I am getting at though is that it happens in ways I cannot explain or “feel.” It seems to happen in very small ways, yet ends up being significant when I lest expect it.

The crazy thing about this, as Paul states, is that God isn’t doing this work for us, but for Himself. This work isn’t so we can be prideful in what “we” have done, but is done because God takes pleasure in us and desires to use us for His will. So He works in us somehow. I don’t know how to explain it, but He does. If anyone actually understands how God “works in us,” let me know, because I think it is something we are not meant to understand.

I like to complain a lot. I am sure I am not alone in that either. I complain about my joy, my finances, my car, my relationship status, and several other things in my life. The problem is, when I complain, I usually bring other people into the equation. Instead of seeing a person who loves life and is encouraged by God, they see a complaining idiot. How on earth are they supposed to get excited about God or the Gospel when I am giving such a bad example for them to see? That is something I have to work on a lot.

Conclusion:

We are called to be lights in this world. We shine and the darkness cannot overcome us. We are to shine brightly for Christ in every aspect of our lives, because He has spent His sovereign time working on us for His good pleasure. So let us attempt to do things without complaining and present ourselves as perfect, clean, unblemished sacrifices for the work of Christ. When we do that, we will surely shine and the world will come to see the truth of the Gospel and want to know why we are so different from the darkness. Test it. Probe it. Give it a try. Allow God to show you it is trustworthy and invite others to jump along with you.

Philippians Study (Part 14)

I stayed home today and spent some time with my family. I don’t get opportunities to do that much, so I thought I would. It was nice sitting around the table with the TV off and soft classical music in the background. With lots of laughs and plenty of food to eat, it was a nice change from the hustle and bustle. I don’t know the next time I will have the opportunity to spend time at home with the family, but I do know that it was worth it. I hope you all get the opportunity as well to put aside the busyness of life and sit at home and enjoy a great dinner around the table. I know for me, it was a lot of fun. As I think about Philippians, I think family is a key ingredient to the picture Paul paints. We are family and family should spend time together in fellowship and worship. For our family tonight, it was a meal. Maybe for you all, it is something else. Whatever it is, I hope you will agree that family is essential in living. With that, we will continue our study.

The Text:

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

First Observations:

There is something about the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus causes people to get on their knees and confess He is Lord

Jesus is Lord = the Gospel. This is the good news Paul speaks about.

We are called to work out our salvation in humility.

Digging Deeper:

When I think about people in my life-when I say their name, I get a picture of their face in my mind.  As I see their picture, I usually smile, because I think about all the good times we had. For me, one of those names or persons would be my grandfather. He passed away about five years ago. I remember so much of him that when I think about him, I smile. The name of Jesus should do something to us as well. In fact, Paul says that the name of Jesus brings us to our knees and causes us to confess that He is Lord. It is important to understand is that the confession of Jesus as Lord is the Gospel the Bible speaks about.

Some people have considered the Gospel to be what Jesus did. They give a whole speech, as it was to what Christ did and call that the Gospel. The Gospel though actually means an “announcement.” The announcement is that Jesus is Lord. How does that change things? A lot. Caesar is not Lord, though he gave himself that title. Only Jesus can be and is Lord. No one else has that title.

Therefore, Paul calls the people to work out their salvation in fear and trembling. It does not mean that we should sit in the corner and be fearful of God. It means, because His name causes us to kneel and confess Him as Lord, that we should consider that every day in humility. This is one of the biggest struggles we have as believers in Jesus. We forget to be thankful or consider Christ each and every day. Paul calls the people of Philippi to “continue to work out their salvation.” It isn’t a one-time deal. It shouldn’t be that way for us either.

Conclusion:

I think we would be wise to remember Christ in our daily lives. We should work out our salvation in fear and trembling. His name is great. It causes us to kneel and confess the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. It should cause us to react. This is what Paul calls the Philippians to do and, as I have already stated, something we should be doing in our daily lives as well.

Philippians Study (Part 13)

I am sorry that it has been a couple of days since I have last posted. I haven’t forgotten. The past couple of days have been difficult with school, work and other things that have been bogging me down. Things are looking better now that I have gotten a little ahead of where I need to be. We are working through chapter 2 of Philippians. This is a fun study for me because it gives me the opportunity to ask questions I normally don’t ask and challenge myself in ways I normally don’t challenge myself. I am glad you are all on this road with me. Together, we will go through the book and hopefully learn a lot through it. With that, we will begin.

The Text:

“But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”

First Observations:

God made Himself nothing.

Compared to God’s glory, humanity is nothing.

The Creator became a servant.

He was obedient – even to the point of death.

The Father raised His name above every other name.

Digging Deeper:

I like to play with clay every once in a while. I can fashion it and make animals or abnormal creations. I can only make what my mind allows me to perceive and make. If it is outside of my mind, I am unable to form it or fashion it. Can you imagine what it was like for Jesus, in glory, making yourself nothing and taking on the form of a servant? Can you imagine what it would be like to be in glory one minute and the next you are in the likeness of man – in the flesh? No matter how hard I try, my mind cannot understand that process. I guess it would be like having a pitcher of water then emptying the pitcher of water into something else. I think that is the closest I can get to understand what Jesus did for us.

This whole humbling thing is something we take for granted about Jesus all the time. If Jesus were born in a palace, it wouldn’t have been good enough for Him. It would have been trash compared to glory. He went beyond trash to filth. He was born in a smelly cave in a no name town with no-name people as parents and He did it because He loved us so much.

He was then crucified – the worst type of punishment anyone could have received. The Romans had perfected crucifixion over the past 250 years. It would be a lot less painful to be stoned outside of the city. Jesus was obedient though. He didn’t complain or get upset. He knew that was why God had brought Him to earth. He knew the Father’s intentions.

When Christ was resurrected from the dead, he was exalted. His name was raised about every other name ever. No other name would be worthy to receive what Jesus received. Salvation – for both the Jew and for the Gentile – was made possible through Jesus.

Conclusion:

I think we take for granted the cost Jesus paid for our sins. I think we oftentimes forget what Jesus left behind so that you and I can live with Him and the Father forever. I think we need to get on our knees more often and thank Him for what He has done for us. Maybe I just think a lot though. I hope I don’t. I can only think that I am wrong. When we learn to be more grateful for what Christ has done, He does things through us that are significant and exciting. I think our lives would be a lot better off though if we just learned to be thankful. That’s what I am learning anyway.

Philippians Study (Part 12)

It is so easy to be selfish. My grandfather always used to say, “If you are more concerned about how someone would react to the message of the Gospel more than their eternal salvation, you need to get the focus off yourself and put it back on God.” I think my grandfather was right – right about a lot of things – but especially this. We seem to have no problem sharing the Gospel with people across the world in countries we will only visit for a short period of time. When we come home however, we seem to hide our faith from those we know well. I think my grandfather’s words are valuable. The reason I share this is because his words seem to fall in line with Paul’s.

The Text:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”

First Observations:

Other people’s interests should be worthy of our interests. There should be a balance.

We are given this mind through Christ.

Jesus was in the form of God.

We can’t grasp God in His form.

Digging Deeper:

As I have already stated, it is so easy to think about our own interests. We do it everyday. We are naturally selfish and need to learn to care about other people. No one cares about others before themselves automatically. Even when we are born, we grow up selfish. We need people to do everything for us. Think about babies. They cry when they need to be burped, when they need to be changed, when they are hungry – the list goes on. When children move from babies to toddlers, one phrase that seems to be universal is “mine!” You could be playing with a truck on the other side of the room and the toddler will come over, grab your toy and say, “Mine!” Paul is reminding us that it is our natural tendency to be selfish but to care about others just as much as we care about ourselves. There needs to be a worthy balance of how much we look out for ourselves and now much we look out for others.

What is amazing to me is that God gives us the ability to care about others as much as we care about ourselves. He knows it is difficult. He gives us a mind though to make positive decisions to care about others. We do not always need to care about ourselves. Sometimes, we will be put in situations where we have to care about others 100 percent and ourselves 0. That happens sometimes. With the mind of Christ, we are able to make those decisions with joy. It isn’t always easy but we have been given that mind to think that way. We simply need to choose the right mind to have. Thank goodness for God’s grace and mercy.

Before Christ came to earth, God was in the form of God. That might not be too deep or seem significant, but it is. God’s form is not our form. He is distinct from anything and everything we have ever seen. His shape is unknown. So, when Paul states, “Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” we need to understand that we are unable to understand God’s form. We would not be able to touch God in His Godly form. We would not be able to look at God in His Godly form. We would die. Our imperfections, because of sin, would cause us to die – literally. The only way for us to know God then would be for God to do something significantly radical. Tomorrow, we will see what radical thing Jesus does so that we are able to grasp Jesus – at least in some small degree.

Conclusion:

The reason I picked the book of Philippians to study this way is because it has always been a challenge for me to read some of the statements Philippians shares. I have never memorized a whole book of the Bible before, but I think if I were to try, I would attempt Philippians because so much of this is familiar to my upbringing and yet continually challenges me to live a life worthy of the Gospel. I am learning, and I hope we are learning together. Please feel free to share any thoughts you might have. Remember: A friend’s salvation is more important than their initial reaction to the message of Jesus. Share and pray often. Let your life live out what you share and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. God bless.

Philippians Study (Part 11)

We are now beginning chapter two of Philippians. Going through the first chapter was awesome. We cannot stop there however. We must continue on and continue to ask questions, challenge the text and learn what God has for us through Paul’s missionary letter. We will continue at the same pace we have been going at – three verses or so at a time. With that, we will begin.

The Text:

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy be being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

First Observations:

This is Paul’s climax in his letter. This is where everything draws.

Paul is calling the community to be in agreement with his thought patterns here.

He wants his joy to be complete – be one – be the body of Christ together.

It is important to consider others more important than oneself.

Digging Deeper:

What we need to understand first and foremost is this “if” clause Paul writes. In Greek, there are three different types of “if” clauses. They are important because they have three significantly different meanings that can be confusing if not read in the right manner. This if clause is called the “first case conditional.” It is the most popular if clause in the Bible. The first case conditional ultimately assumes that the “if” is actually true. Paul is basically saying; “If there is any encouragement in Christ – and we know that there is,” then complete my joy. If we were to take each phrase and put, “and we know there is” after it, we get the full meaning of what Paul is writing here in this text. To some, it might be a small thing, but it is important to understand. If we do not read it in the right light, then we might assume that these things are not happening or that Paul is pleading for these things to be true. They are true and Paul knows it.

“Complete my joy” is an interesting phrase. Paul is a master of words and phrases. Realize that Paul didn’t write, “Give me joy” or any other phrase with regards to his joy. He is asking the people of Philippi to complete it. Paul’s joy comes not from the people, but from Christ, who gave him the ability to bring the good news to them. If the people were to follow Paul’s commands for the church, they would be completing his joy, because all that Paul had worked for would come full circle. Paul’s joy then is something that cannot be established by the people of Philippi or given. They can only complete it.

The final thoughts here are probably one of the most counter-cultural things you and I can do as believers. If we were to live in such a way that our humility shined brighter than our conceit or haughtiness, I think the Gospel would be received more. We always strive to be noticed and well liked. We are willing to pursue things that give us the competitive edge or make us more noticeable. When was the last time I have put other people before me for the sake of humility? When was the last time you have been challenged with such a challenge to live in that kind of way? I think we see glimpses of it from time to time, but never live it out like we can or should. I guess we just have a lot to work on.

Conclusion:

I think one thing we have to grasp here is community. The community heals the brake or fragmentation it experiences. For the context of the passage, the break or fragmentation derives from Jew and Gentile. For us, our break could be denominational or religious. It could be racial or ethical. It could be the outcast or the disenfranchised. Whatever your break or fragmentation might be, complete Paul’s joy and be of the same mind. Imitate love for others to follow and live in such a way that glorifies Christ and leaves a lasting impression for the sake of the Gospel. Then we can see what true beauty looks like – the good news. God bless.

Philippians Study (Reflection 1)

We have finished the first chapter of Philippians in ten days. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go through these verses at a much slower pace and really enjoy them, struggle with them, and ask questions. I think all too often, we rush to find an answer so that we don’t have to struggle with the passages we face. For me, I can think of at least five or six one-word answers I used to give to some of the most difficult questions about being a Christian. There finally came a point through were I had to grow up and ask the same questions over again without giving one-word answers. It was a lot harder this time around.

So far, the book of Philippians has been overwhelmingly encouraging to me. I am learning that it is important to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1:27) and how important it really is to pray every time I think about a friend or a family member (1:3). Some of the challenges for me have been to grasp Paul’s thought process of being in this body for the benefit of others. There is no doubt that being in heaven with Christ would be far better as Paul says, but I am learning that my purpose here is to glorify God with the time I have  – a small amount of time – on this earth (1:24).

The following post will start chapter two of Philippians. We will continue in the same fashion we have gone through chapter one. With thirty verses in chapter two, like chapter one, we will take three verses at a time and see what God has for us each day.

On a final note, I just want to thank those who have been reading along with me. It is never fun to go on a journey alone. It is a joy and I am honored to have to accompany me through the verses of Paul’s missionary letter to the Philippians. God bless.

Philippians Study (Part 10)

I think sometimes we buy into the commercialism of Christianity too easily. If it has a “Christian” message or looks cool for that matter, it seems most of us are quick to buy it or give free advertising through word of mouth before actually understanding or reading up on some of the stuff we endorse. WWJD? Bracelets are not bad. They can be a way to strike up conversations with individuals who has never seen one before. When I think about Paul though, he only had his ministry and his integrity. He didn’t use tracts or shirts with Christian messages. He sent letters that spoke of encouragement, trials, love, and difficulties. It seems as though the message of the Gospel was a lot more pure in Paul’s day then the message we give others in our culture. Paul let his life display the message of Christ. Maybe we could put away the Christian tee shirts and paraphernalia for while and work on living in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Paul thought it was a good idea and I agree. Though I don’t always get it right – I rarely do – that doesn’t mean I have a right to give up. I have a lot of work to do. Paul’s message challenges me in that way. In the last three verses of the first chapter of Philippians, Paul concludes some thoughts about what he has previously written.

The Text:

“And not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”

First Observations:

We aren’t to fear opposition.

Destruction and Salvation come from God alone.

We are called to believe in Christ and also suffer for His sake.

Paul reminds the people that he has been an example to them in this suffering – both in person and in prison.

Digging Deeper:

I have said this before, but I find it interesting how frightened we can be when we experience any form of resistance to the Gospel. I am almost blown away of how quickly we can run from it. We have the good news to share with others and we seem to be more concerned about how people will receive it than their salvation. We are more concerned about their response to our words rather than their eternal state separated from God. Though it might be scary and uncomfortable, we must be willing to remain bold for His name. We must walk in boldness and joy. This is what we are called to as believers.

God is judge of destruction and salvation. It isn’t ours. We cannot judge someone in a manner that only God can judge. We can perceive and see the fruit of people, but that doesn’t mean we are able to cast eternal judgment on an individual. That also means that we should remain a solid in our faith and walk with Christ. We should never become lax in our walk with Christ. We are called to love, to pray, to hope, and to trust in God’s never ending love for His Creation.

Being a believer in Christ doesn’t just believe in Christ. As Christians, we will suffer – some situations will be easier to go through while others will be more difficult. If we walk with Christ and walk according to His ways, people will not be happy campers. Since we are to walk against the worldly grain, people will notice who we are and respond in a manner that the world usually responds to believers. We must strive to continue in our pursuit of living for Christ. We must never let down our guard. It will be difficult. Paul shows us in example that he knows what it is like to suffer for Christ. With his knowledge, Paul encourages us to remain sold out for Christ. The suffering will only last for a period of time and then it will end. For some it will be longer than some, but it will end. So – my encouragement (and Paul’s) – is to continue to grow in our faith and walk according to His Word to the best of our abilities. God will see our efforts and our heart and reward us according to how we live this life here on earth.

Conclusion:

We have finished now the first chapter of Philippians in ten days. I have learned a lot so far about my responsibility as a believer in Christ. The next post will summarize the first chapter of Philippians and finial thoughts on the chapter will be given. If you are just joining these posts, I encourage you to go back to day one and read through what we have gone through together. It is never fun being out of the loop. Thank you in advance for being a part of these readings and responses. For me, I am greatly encouraged by the Word of God and His daily love and support. Without Him, I would not be the person I am today. For that, I am so thankful. God bless.

Philippians Study (Part 9)

I have been challenged today to think about the Bible in a missional perspective. For the past six years, I have been attempting to understand the Bible in this fashion. It has taken me almost six years to get to a point where I can visibly see how God the Father, wanting a relationship with His creation, sent His Son to the earth to reconcile creation to the Father. In John 20:21, Jesus states, “As the Father has sent me, and so I send you…” This sparked the disciples who had followed Jesus for a period of about three years to go out and do what Jesus has taught them. In other words, the disciples are to the Church what Jesus was to the disciples. Jesus also used a man named Paul, who would change the world and write a large portion of the New Testament. As we read these three verses of Philippians, I hope you will see the missional aspect of Paul’s message here. With that, we will begin.

The Text:

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

First Observations:

Paul has come to grips with his current state of being. He will remain in the flesh and continue to serve Christ.

He so desperately wants to see the people of Philippi. He knows that they will be filled with joy to see him again.

Paul exhorts them to be worthy of the gospel.

No matter if Paul is able to be with them or not, he wants to know that they have remained strong in their faith.

Unity of the body of Christ is really important to Paul.

Digging Deeper:

We talked about this yesterday, but I feel it can be said again. Paul is content to remain on earth and serve God here. His “new found” understanding does not upset him. Though I am sure Paul would rather be in heaven with Christ – in glory – Paul understands the importance of being here and serving God. Life here on earth – compared to eternity with Christ – is short. On average, a human will live 77.2 years here on earth. What we do with that time is important. For Paul, the life expectancy wasn’t that long – perhaps about 50. His time was shorter than the average human lives today. As we think about Paul’s life, think about all he did in the amount of time he did it. No matter what you might think about Paul, you have to at least admit that he accomplished a lot of work in a short amount of time he had left on this earth before the Lord took him home. What would be another ten years to Paul? I am guessing – not much.

When I read letters from friends who are on the mission field, I am excited to read their updates. When they come home and spend time with friends and family, I am really excited. Paul was in prison for a period of time. Could you imagine the kind of homecoming procession the people would have had if Paul, after being in prison for so long – had received if he had shown up unannounced? It would have been a wild party to say the least.

Being worthy of the Gospel is an interesting phrase. To be worthy – in the Greek sense – means to be balanced. It is to be weighed and measured well. It is like taking a balance scale and the weight on one side is equal to the weight on the other. Paul is essentially saying then, “Only let your manner of life be equally balanced and weighed. I wonder if we are balanced and weighed in our manner of life in relationship to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can only speak for myself and say that it isn’t always where it should be. Being balanced is essential for living out the Christian life well. I can only hope that I can reach a point in my life where I am worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ – at least to some degree.

Finally, there is this aspect of unity we oftentimes overlook in the Bible. Paul is all about being one unit – one body – one incarnation of the Gospel. When we are gathered as one, we are stronger. When we are one, we build one another up. When we are one, there really is nothing we cannot accomplish for the gospel of Jesus. Paul loves unity. Maybe that is a great place for the Church to be challenged in our culture.

Conclusion:

We – as the body of Christ – have this one mission that comes from Jesus, which came from the Father who is in heaven. It is a serious task in which we must all agree upon and strive to complete. It isn’t easy but we have one another to help us through it. We are called to live a life worthy of the Gospel – to be balanced and weighed. Paul’s challenges to you and me are the same challenges he faced as an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ. In one of his letters, Paul said that he finished his fight well. I can only hope that we attain the same satisfaction as well through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.