Favorites from Paul's Letter to the Philippians

I think everyone who reads the Bible finds they have favorite books to which they return often. One of mine is Paul's letter to the Philippians. What follows are some selections for you to meditate on, and some comments.

Several years ago when we lived in California, our then-Bible-study leader decided to teach from this book. I remember he stayed with this verse for some time: "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 that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" (1:27). Every time I have read this verse since, I have been struck by the phrase, "manner of life," and how other passages in the same letter seem to  reflect my "manner of life." For example: "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (2:3-4), verses which speak for themselves.

Later in the letter, Paul addresses an issue common to most of us: anxiety: "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (4:5b-8).

So if you struggle with anxiety, here is God's own "cure": recognize His presence, appeal to Him regarding whatever concerns you (prayer, supplication, not forgetting thanksgiving), and anticipate His peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Then use this grid through which to test your thoughts: Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it commendable? Is it excellent? Is it praiseworthy?

Any thoughts which do not pass these tests are not to be entertained.

Undeserved Mercies

Contemplating the undeserved mercies of
My Almighty Father,
I realize that is what mercies are:
Underserved.
Contemplating that,
What can I do but worship Him
With greater gratitude?

Contemplate the meeting of the Triune
Before time began to establish
Who would live,
When they would live,
Where they would live,
And all of the details of
Each life, concerning which we call
Here and now, or, time.

Contemplate the knowledge
Adam and Eve would sin as they did,
And that He would make a way for reconciliation--
Something God was not obligated to do--
The most costly way to God:
The Incarnation.

And all of those years Christ was subject
To temptation, yet
Never gave in, not
In thought nor in word nor in deed.
Yet He went to the cross as if
He were as guilty as those on
His right and His left.

He went, knowing what He would face.
He went, knowing for whom He would die.
He went, silent as a lamb before its shearers.
He went.
He suffered,
He died.
He died--verified.
Dead, He was buried.

Yet, mystery of all mysteries,
He was raised from the dead;
Raised--verified.
He was seen by twos and more--
500 at one time.

Ascended to the Father;
Ascended--verified.
Eyewitnesses to that would
Spread the word, would
Testify, would
Die once their testimonies were
Written.
Wrtten--verfied.
Ascended to the Father,
Christ the Intercessor.

Some day, determined before there was
One day, Christ will return.

Even so, come!
Receive the honor due
To You--
Worship in every language,
From every people,
For all eternity--
To the glory of the Father,
In the perfection of the Spirit.

Transition

We were in California for almost 19 years. Moving to Kentucky meant leaving many dear friends, not knowing as many where we were moving.  But what must have it been for the Lord to make the transition from heaven to earth? Philippians 2:5-11 tells us something about that:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by 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, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Because of that, this is possible:

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).

He Who Sits in the Heavens

He who sits in the heavens
Laughs at those who oppose His rule,
Leads those who submit to it,
Loves those who are called His own,
Listens to the prayers of His people.
He who sits in the heavens
Reigns in holiness,
Rules unchanging as Prophet, Priest, King,
Returns yet at a predetermined time.
He who sits in the heavens
Acts tirelessly for
His glory and the good of His people.
He who sits in the heavens
Ought to receive all praise and all glory
For His great goodness and mercy to the sons of men.

See Psalm 2, especially verses 10-12.