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Philippians 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3).

Sadly, even among Christians discord arises. This reminds me that we are being perfected; we aren’t perfect yet. Since Christianity is about growth, some of that old man will rear its ugly head at times and cause discord even among fellow laborers.

But I am really struck by Paul’s final statement in this paragraph: “…whose names are in the book of life.” I wonder if Euodia and Syntyche recognized that about each other. I know when I get into discord with someone, I can criminalize and evilize them. Because they are in discord with me, they must be wicked, evil people who can’t really be a real Christian like me. I know, I know, I’m not perfect. But I tend to judge myself based on intentions and not on actions, while I judge others based on actions and not intentions.

I wonder how many people I’ve had discord with began to think my name must not be written in the book of life? I don’t want that. Which means I need to offer my brothers and sisters the same courtesy. Perhaps if I can remember that their name is also written in the book of life, I will learn to work harder at resolving the discord. After all, we are both in the Lord. We ought to be able to come to some harmony within Him.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Philippians 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

“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” (Philippians 1:6).

This passage just smacked me this morning. Who is Paul convinced will complete this good work in the Philippians? He doesn’t say, “And I am sure of this, that you who began this good work will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Instead, he is convinced God will do it.

What freedom. What comfort. What joy. What peace. I don’t have to put my confidence in me to complete this good work, which only leads me to despair. I can put my confidence in God to complete it, which leads to peace and hope. That sets me free to quit worrying about where I’ll be at my death or when Christ returns. All I have to focus on today is doing the next right thing. God is working on the outcomes. He will bring this good work in me to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. No need to despair when God is the one who is at work within me both to will and to work for His good pleasure (cf. Philippians 2:13).

Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

PPS. Thanks to all of you for the positive comments you gave me here, on Facebook, via e-mail, and person to person about this blog. That was very encouraging and uplifting.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12).

I’m in good company. I’m not perfect, which means I’m a lot like Paul. This passage provides me some of the most comfort I’ve had in a long, long time. This apostle who claims imperfection is the very same apostle who in Philippians 1:21-23 claimed that death would be better for him because it meant going to be with Jesus. He was going to be resurrected and spend eternity in the presence of His Savior.

WOW! He wasn’t perfect yet. That is, he still sinned. But, he was perfected by Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 10:14). But if he died that day, he was convinced he was saved. I’m so glad to hear that. I’m not perfect yet, but I have been perfected by the sacrifice of Jesus. If I die today, I don’t have to fear. I will be saved.

No, this doesn’t mean sitting on my backside. Because Paul knew this, he continued to press on. So will I. But it is sure a comfort to know that my imperfection doesn’t have to scare me anymore. I am free to keep pressing on because my mess ups don’t destroy my salvation.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

I’m glad to read Philippians 3:7-11 today. It reminds me of what is most important for me today. It is not most important that I make money today or that I sell any books today. It is not most important that I rub elbows with some important person today. It is not most important that I pass on some great knowledge and education to my children today. It is not most important that I solve some great problem facing our world. What is most important is that I get to know Jesus just a little bit better today. If that means I have to give up something else, then so be it. 

Only by knowing Jesus will I attain the resurrection and have my lowly body transformed to be like his glorious body. 

I think I’ll go spend a little bit more time reading His word and praying. Perhaps I should spend some time with His other brethren. I will probably also take some time to do some meditating on what I learn of Him through the word. All of these things can help me know Him better and draw me closer to Him. That is what is most important today. Maybe God will use me to do some other things today as well, but most importantly, I need to know Jesus.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

Sometimes, I learn that the chapter and verse breaks were simply unfortunate. In today’s reading, I noticed a pattern from Philippians 1:27-2:18. Prior to that section, Paul was talking about his own circumstances and how he was able to find joy despite what was going on his life. After that section, he wrote about the companions he hoped to send to Philippi. It would have been easier to notice this if this section had been a chapter all by itself.

In this section, he has two parallel movements. Notice in Philippians 1:27 his statement about how the Philippians should walk whether he is present or absent. Then in Philippians 2:12, he spoke again about how they should live whether he was present or absent. The first occurrence says they should stand firm, striving side by side for the faith of gospel. Fighting as a team, they should not be frightened by the opponents who will cause them to suffer just as Paul suffered. In the second occurrence, Paul encourages them to obey God and work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they are not alone, God is working with them.

However, the parallels do not stop here. In the first movement, Paul moves from talking about how they should behave whether he is present or absent to say in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit.” In the second movement, he moves from talking about how to live whether he is present or absent to saying in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.”

Both sections are talking about our relationships with one another. We need to view each other as more important. Instead of being like those erring brethren in Philippians 1:15-18, who preach out of rivalry with Paul wishing to cause him affliction, we must seek good for each other. We must not grumble and complain against each other. The terms translated “grumbling” and “questioning” often carry the idea of an internal complaint or questioning that is not voiced, but can also refer to private quarrels and complaints. I think the point is twofold. We shouldn’t “go along” with our brethren externally while muttering under our breath against them. At the same time, we must not clump together in secret groups forming up party lines and complaining secretly among ourselves against others.

This entire section is about our relationships with one another. In contrast with the conceited rivals of Paul, we must learn to get along. The “one mind” of Philippians 2:2 is not saying we must have 100% agreement on every detail, but that we must all have Jesus’ mind that puts others first.

We have enemies in the world that will attack and make us suffer. We shouldn’t act like enemies within the body, competing, politicizing, complaining, and grumbling. We must learn to love each other and lift each other up, working out our own salvation while strengthening our brethren to face the struggles Satan will launch our way.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

It often seems we ride the pendulum at the extremes. I hear people argue, and have been involved in the arguments where everything seems like polar opposites. For instance, if someone says salvation is by faith we immediately conclude they think what we do doesn’t matter at all. On the other hand, if someone says we have to do something, we immediately conclude they think we must work really hard to earn salvation and faith in Jesus’ work doesn’t matter. Sadly, of course, some folk really do fit those two extremes. Sadly, sometimes we’ve allowed ourselves to be polarized into extremes as we argue against something we think is clearly erroneous.

On many posts, I’ve pointed out that I’m learning we will not be saved by keeping even Christ’s law and that I won’t be saved by establishing my own righteousness through holding to the pattern. Gratefully, no one has gotten too upset with me. I hope that means they have understood my point and not simply decided to write me off. I fear that some will view me as another extremist that says, “It’s about what we believe, not what we do.” That couldn’t be further from the truth and today’s reading reminds me of that.

Both of those other posts were based on Paul’s writings. He was the one who taught us that no law has been written that could give us life. He was the one who taught us we cannot be saved by establishing our own righteousness. He was the one who taught us that the righteousness that saves comes by faith in Christ (he says that in today’s reading-Philippians 3:9). He was the one that explained that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).

However, having taught all of this, in Philippians 3:12 Paul claims that he hasn’t already obtained the resurrection or become perfect. Rather, he is pressing on. Understand the great significance of this statement. he is the great proponent that our righteousness won’t come because we’ve worked really hard and established our own righteousness. He’s the one who teaches that we only have righteousness if God gives it to us through our faith. If what he meant was at a moment of faith, salvation was suddenly and irrevocably his because it didn’t matter how he lived and worked, he couldn’t say this in Philippians 3:12. If he really was teaching the extreme that salvation is about mental assent and not a faith that impacts action, then he had already attained the resurrection. It didn’t matter what he did or even if he continued on, he would have life. But Paul said he hadn’t attained it yet. And he is definitely no just speaking about reaching that moment in time. He’s not saying, “I haven’t gotten to the moment of the resurrection but I keep putting one foot in front of the other until I get there.” No. He’s saying based on where he has been and what he has done, he hasn’t attained the resurrection. He can’t coast on his past. He can’t coast on the faith he has had. Rather, he must continue to press on. He must continue to walk by faith or he’ll miss out on the resurrection.

This is where we need to walk down the middle instead of hanging out in the extremes. We can’t establish our own righteousness. If we are going to teach the extreme of trying to be good enough to go to heaven, we’ll fail miserably. On the other hand, we can’t say salvation is only a matter of mental assent to some facts. If those facts didn’t change our lives, then we don’t have faith. Faith in Jesus saves us, when we live by that faith. When our faith is a surrender of our control to Jesus and we begin to walk the path of progressive victory over sin by the power and grace of Jesus Christ, then we’ll attain the resurrection in the end.

At no point can we say, “I had enough faith yesterday, I don’t have to keep living by it. I can do what I want now.” On the other hand, at no point do we have to say, “Oh no, I just messed up and sinned, I’m not perfect, maybe I won’t go to heaven.” If we are growing in Christ, pressing on for that goal by our faith in Him, then the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus will be ours and we will attain the resurrection. Not because we were good enough, but because Jesus Christ is good enough.

***Question: What do you do to help you live by faith each day and press on for the resurrection to life?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

Once again, the New Testament smacks me right between the eyes with what I needed to hear today. Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Ouch!

Paul didn’t just say, “You should eventually get around to doing everything God asks no matter how you feel about it.” He said, “Do all things without grumbling.” I hear people talk about the church’s collection and refer to the passage that says God loves a cheerful giver. Contributing to the church’s collection is not the only action God wants us to take cheerfully. We must not simply work on doing the right things. We must also work on having the right attitude. God loves a cheerful obeyer.

I don’t need to be doing God’s will grudgingly. I shouldn’t have an attitude of having to every little thing I do proven that I must do it or I won’t. I shouldn’t moan and complain about how God is asking me to do such hard things all the time. I need to work on obeying God without complaint. I can’t help but think about my kids. Ask one of those kids to get out of their easy chair and vacuum the living room and you would think I’d asked them to cut off their right arm for me. “Oh, it’s so hard. I don’t want to work. Can’t I do it later.” Then see those eyes while they are running the vacuum. I lecture them but then have to look at me. I know where they get that from. Marita. No, I’m just kidding. They actually get it from me.

Today, I’m going to work on keeping a smile on my face no matter what I have to do and completely removing grunts, groans, sighs, and all complaining about what I have to do. That means no complaining about who I live with, who I work with, who I come in contact with. That means no complaining about treating them the way God wants me to. That means being cheerfully obedient. I’m sure I’ll botch it. But I’ll be better for the attempt.

***Question: How do you maintain a cheerful and willing obedience despite all the things that make you want to complain?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

In Philippians 3:21, Paul talked about our lowly bodies. Every time I look in the mirror, I’m reminded, I have a lowly body. I mean really lowly. Big behind. Big gut. Wide thighs and hips. Flabby cheeks. I’ve been able to get a lot of things in check. Eating and exercise haven’t made it on that list yet. The result–a really lowly body.

No doubt, for my health and my family’s sake, I need to do something about that. If I work really hard, maybe I can transform my body into something more glorious.

That, however, is not what Paul is talking about. His point is about eternity. The fact is, no matter what I do with my body here on earth, it is still going to be lowly. I may work hard and attain super-model status (okay, that may be stretching it a bit), but I can really look a lot better. Yet, I still just have a lowly body that in the end will start to whither and decay. Sooner or later, no matter how hard I work, this body will lose its health and appearance. Eventually it will die. 

However, this life is not merely about this life. There is another life coming. We don’t actually end up in the graveyard. That is merely a transition to something else. If I’m in Christ, my lowly body will be transformed in the end into a really glorious body. No, it doesn’t mean I’ll be Charles Atlas. I won’t be a super-model. Women won’t swoon at the sight of me. Instead, I’ll have a spiritual body that doesn’t have the weaknesses of this flesh. My body will be transformed to be like Jesus’. 

No wonder bodily exercise profits only a little but godliness is profitable in all ways, both in this life and the next (I Timothy 4:8). Sure, I need to exercise. I’ll get to that tomorrow. Today, however, I better make sure I work on the godliness.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

I don’t have much to say today. Philippians 1:19 really convicted me.

“For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (ESV).

What got me as I read this was Paul’s assurance that the Philippians were actually praying for him. He doesn’t ask them to pray for him. He assumes they are praying and has faith that through those prayers he will be delivered. 

I am convicted to ask, can anyone have that kind of faith about me? Can anyone assume and have assurance that I’m praying for them? I need to work on that.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?