More from Philippians

Several years ago when we lived in California, our Bible study leader decided to preach from this book. I remember he camped on 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" (Philippians 1:27). Every time I have read this since, I have been struck by the phrase "manner of life" and how other passages in this same letter can be seen 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 out not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4)--verses which speak for themselves.

Later in that 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, brothers, 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" (Philippians 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, thanksgiving) and anticipate His peace will guard your heart and your mind. 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? If not, do not entertain such thoughts.

For All of the Broken Hearts

For all of the broken hearts around the world this day, there is One who understands, who provides comfort beyond all comprehension.

"He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him" (Isaiah 53:3).

"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:17-18).

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strength your hearts in every good work and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

Revisting Paul and the Philippians

Recently our pastor began a series in which he will preach through Paul's letter to the Philippians.  This brought to mind some thoughts I formulated several years ago in reading and studying that New Testament book.  I trust and hope these observations will be helpful as we stand at the beginning of another year in our troubled world.

Paul encountered the Philippians in Acts 16 after going through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, reaching Mysia, and going down to Troas. It was while Paul and his companions were in Troas that he received what some refer to as the "Macedonian call." Luke wrote, "immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel there" (Acts 16:10; ESV).

The group sailed from Troas to Samothrace, traveling from there to Neapolis, and then to Phipippi, "a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony" (Acts 16:11-12; ESV).

Initial converts in Philippi included Lydia and her household and the Philippian jailer and his household (Acts 16:14-34).

Paul's letter to the believers at Philippi is chiefly one of joy. As one of the prison epistles (others include Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians), you might expect it to be otherwise. But Paul wasn't focused on his physical circumstances. His affection for the Christians flows in his initial section of the letter: "I thank my God in every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" (italics added; 1:3-5; ESV).

Then comes one of the most encouraging statements: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (1:6; ESV).

Isn't that an amazing promise?

But there is more.

There is Paul's prayer for them: "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, willed with the fruit of righteousnesss that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (italics added; 1:9-11; ESV).

Paul builds here: more love, knowledge, discernment, with the goal that they may approve what is excellent--which requires love, knowledge, discernment--and as a result will be pure and blameless and fruitful, not only for themselves but for the day of Christ, through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Reading through the rest of the letter, it is clear that this prayer was needed.

It is so easy to be focused on the horizontal relationships and lose sight of the vertical.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, time and again Paul reminds them--and us--to live this way: "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, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that is from God" (1:27-28; ESV).

I love Paul's letter to the Philippians, with its encouragements and its admonitions. I am encouraged by his humility and reminded to keep my focus not on this world but the eternal. As believers we have this to look forward to: "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 enabled him even to subject all things to himself" (3:20-21; ESV).

How is it that we have this to look forward to? Read this from chapter two: "Have this mind among yourselves, what 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, 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 obedience 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 is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (italics added; 2:6-11; ESV).

Even so, Lord, enable me by your Spirit to excel still more in love, knowledge, and discernment, that I might with other believers stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything. As we wait for the Day, make us fruitful in righteousness to the glory of the Father.

Last Year and This Year

2018 held a lot of surprises for our families and was a rather tiring year when all was said and done. Still getting caught up, truth be told.

What keeps me going after a year like that, or during a year like that?

God's Word in print and Incarnate.

As Isaiah 43:2: "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you."

As Nahum 1:7: "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him."

As His promise in Matthew 28:20b: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

As Romans 15:4: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

As Philippians 1:6: "For I am confident of this very things, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." This fulfills Psalm 138:8: "The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands."

As 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word."

As Hebrews 13:5b: "For He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU'" (boldface added).

As Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

As 2 Peter 1:2-4: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."

As Jude 24-25: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Resolved to Excel Still More

At the end of each year we are faced with this dilemma: New Year's resolutions. If we made any for the just-ending year, we look back to see how well we did or did not do at keeping them. Often such resolutions have to do with health of one kind or another. I quit making a year's worth of resolutions some time ago. I might make a to-do list for a week.

I am conscious that having reached the age of 70 years, I do not know how much longer I will live. Psalm 90:10-12 says, "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

My goal thus is to resolve to excel still more, however many my days may be--still more in humility, in patience, in self-control, in love, in service.

As Paul wrote to the church at Rome: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality" (Romans 12:9-13).

As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: "Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:1-4).

And finally as Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica: "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and to attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; emphasis added).

At Time's End

At time's end, Christ will condescend
To reveal His full glory and majesty,
To receive full acclamation from you and me,
As we bow our knees and engage our tongues
In the song of triumph for victory won:
Sin, death, Satan--vanquished;
Tears, pain, sorrow--vanished;
From those Christ purchased as His own,
Who now rejoice around His throne,
Representing every tribe, language, nation--
People from every one of life's stations,
Bringing glory to Father, Son, Spirit
Because they've been redeemed, however they did hear it.
Yes, at time's end, even so, come,
Crucified, risen, ascended Son;
Present to the Father those You have won,
At time's end, glorified One.

After the Party Is Over

Yesterday was NewYear's Eve Day, leading to today being the first day of the new year. This made me think. We have these holidays, but what difference do they make the rest of the year? Pick any holiday: Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Easter Sunday, Labor Day, Reformation Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, et al. Some places have holidays that are specific to their locale, and we can't forget birthdays or anniversaries either.

And after the celebration ends, what happens? Costumes are stored, candy eaten, wrapping paper disposed of, cookies and/or cake overeaten, turkey and fixings reconsituted for more meals.

Are most of us more thankful after Thanksgiving?

Does Christmas make us think of more of Christ or more of temporal gifts?

Are New Year's resolutions even made any more?

Do we skim past Easter once we no longer get excited about looking for eggs or getting baskets of candy or new clothes?

Does the significance of Reformation Day escape us in the run up to Halloween?

When your birthday comes, what do you think about?

After the party is over, what grips your mind?

I urge you to prayerfully make reading the Bible a priority in 2019. Begin in either Genesis or Matthew. Keep at it, a bit at a time, Keep a notebook handy so you can write down questions or observations; yes, you can do this online, too.

There is one verse you must realize the truth of and it is Hebrews 9:27: "It is appointed to men to die once, and after that comes judgement." Once means once.

How can you escape that judgement? I'm glad you asked.

Repent, and "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed'--for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'Whoever  will call on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-13).