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 Luke 9:1-10:42.

Jesus commissioned the seventy (some manuscripts say seventy-two) to go forth and prepare the way for Him by teaching and healing. When the disciples returned to Jesus, they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). Jesus validates their joy but then pushes them to further maturity.

He let them feel joy in the work they were accomplishing by His name. But then He says something odd. “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

It seems odd that Jesus rejoiced with the disciples as He proclaimed, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18), but then He said don’t rejoice in that. What’s up with that?

I believe Jesus is using a figure of speech called the ellipsis. That is He purposefully left out understood words in order to emphasize His point. If we were to supply the words He left out the statement would be something like this: “Nevertheless, do not merely rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but more importantly rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Using the ellipsis figure of speech really highlights the point. It is as if to say, “As much as you are rejoicing in this, you need to rejoice so much that your names are written in heaven that it seems like your rejoicing over these miracles is no rejoicing at all.”

The point is that as great as being able to perform miracles is, it is greater that our names are written in heaven. This is important today. I believe the Spirit no longer use miraculous gifts because His will is now recorded for us. (If you disagree with me, perhaps we can talk about that sometime, please don’t get distracted by it just now, keep reading.) I remember studying with a woman who was certain they did exist. I was very saddened because as we studied the Scriptures, she said she saw that the Bible does say what I was teaching, but she simply couldn’t believe that was right because, “If God doesn’t give me miraculous gifts, then I’m not special.”

Even though that is not a scriptural argument, I understand the emotion behind it. We want to be special. I want to be special. In our minds, what could be more special than God granting me some amazing power that makes us stand out? I so desperately want to be worth something because as I look at my sins and as I consider how I’ve been treated by many people, I often feel worth nothing. I want to feel special and wouldn’t it be great if I could say the word and someone would be healed? Wouldn’t it be great if I could evangelize the hispanics because I can speak their language miraculously? Then I’d know I’m special.

Of course, I don’t believe God works that way in the modern day. So what do I do? I try to prove I’m special by still looking at all the things I do. Look at my preaching. Look at my writing. Look at the people I’ve baptized. Look at the folks I’ve helped. See, I’m special. I’ll give a nod to God’s strength and God working through me, but really I’m rejoicing in me trying to prove I’m special.

Jesus says, that isn’t the way I should think or act. Sure, God working through us to accomplish things is great. But I’m special without that. My name is written in heaven. God looked at me and sent His Son to die for me. He adopted me and redeemed me. My name is in His book of Life. It just doesn’t get anymore special than that.

I’m going to rejoice today because my name is written in heaven. I hope you can rejoice with me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is Luke 5:1-6:49.

In Luke 5:33-39, the Pharisees and scribes questioned why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast like the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees. Jesus essentially responded, “Would you try to make wedding guests fast? That would be silly. Would you put a new piece of cloth on an old garment? Would you put new wine in old wineskins? Do those used to old wine want the new?”

There may be some deep meanings in these verses about old and new covenants. I’ve heard those sermons all my life, but I have trouble finding that in these responses. I think Jesus is making one point. Our religion is to be real, not ritual. The Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). What was the reason for their fasting? Was it mourning their own sinfulness? Was it begging God for mercy? Apparently not. It seems they fasted because they had decided they would really be spiritual if they fasted that often. So, rain or shine, joy or sad, they would fast. It was their checklist item to make them feel righteous. It was also their checklist item to make them appear righteous to others (see Jesus’ rebuke of them in Matthew 6:16-18). 

Is fasting a real part of life and submission to God? Sure it is. Jesus expected His followers to fast (again see His comments in Matthew 6:16-18). But fasting is about mourning, confession, struggle, and entreating God for some blessing. The thing with Jesus’ disciples was they were in the midst of the greatest blessing of their lives. The Messiah was with them, teaching them, helping them, blessing them. They were in the midst of joy, not mourning. They were growing with Jesus. They were being blessed. If they fasted then, it wouldn’t be out of a real response to God and His blessing in their lives. It would have been nothing more than a checklist ritual to mark off their to-do list.

How many of my spiritual activities are nothing more than checklist items. How many times do I do things because I need to mark them off my list instead of having a real response to God. James said, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13). This is about real responses, not marking off the checklists of acts of worship. 

Why do I pray? Do I pray because I need to connect to God? Or do I pray simply because, I’m a Christian that’s what I’m supposed to do? Why do I sing? Do I sing because I’m cheerful in Christ? Or do I sing because I’m “at church” at that’s one of those “acts of worship”? Why do I read the Bible? Do I read it because I know it has the words of life and I want to connect with the God of life? Or do I read it simply because I run a blog that says I’m supposed to read two chapters every day?

Serving God is about being real. It is not about going through motions. It is about seeing God in my life and responding based on that. Sometimes it means mourning. Sometimes it means rejoicing. Sometimes it means praying. Sometimes it means singing. If I’m only going through motions, it isn’t doing me any good.

I’m glad for today’s reminder to get real with God.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is Luke 9:1-10:42.

I’m in a bit of a time crunch today; I’ll have to be brief, which is tough because there are several things I’d like to talk about including Martha, the Good Samaritan, going out two by two and others.

However, what keeps hitting me even as I think of all these other amazing lessons in today’s reading is Luke 10:18-20.

“And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

How often do I wish I could command spirits, tread on serpents and perform miracles. That would be so cool. But why? Is it not because I wish I had some kind of special power? Because then people would have to reckon with me. Even when Jesus offered that power to some, He said that wasn’t the important part. That wasn’t the part on which they should focus and rejoice. Yes, they had a specific role in God’s plan. Yes, because of that role, they were able to do some pretty amazing things. But that wasn’t what was important.

The important point was their name was recorded in heaven. They were saved by the blood of Christ (even though they had no concept of Christ’s blood yet and even though it had not yet been shed).

If they should rejoice at that, how much more should I? Sure, I get to preach lessons. Sure, I get to baptize people. Sure, I’ve taught people and their lives have been changed. But rejoicing in all that is rejoicing in me. I need to rejoice in God and His grace in recording my name in His book of life. The fact is without His grace, none of those other things would have happened anyway.

Let’s take some time to rejoice today not for what God lets us do, but for what God has done for us. He has saved us and recorded our names in heaven.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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