Philippians 3:4-9
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
It's easy to get so caught up in who we are, what we have done and where we've been that we can miss the reality of why we are here in the first place. I think it is to know Christ and make him known to others.
If we only get a taste of what it means to have a real identity, a sense of what God has done, and a compelling life that shows that our faith is more than knowledge we begin to truly worship and draw others to the source of that worship. For what it's worth, I've been caught in a rut of thinking about my efforts only, more than the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
What an incredible gift..
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Phil 2:19-24
Wednesday's reading...
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul's description of this relationship with Timothy and E. (for short) is unique. He trusts them with the work of the church,
the message of the church
and the call to give up their lives.
Ultimately, to know Christ and make him known.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul's description of this relationship with Timothy and E. (for short) is unique. He trusts them with the work of the church,
the message of the church
and the call to give up their lives.
Ultimately, to know Christ and make him known.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hold Me Jesus
It's hard to believe it's been over ten years since Rich has been gone. Here is one of my favorite songs he wrote.
Working out our salvation with fear and trembling
I read this article and it seemed relevant based on the reading from Phil 2:12-16 today.
http://theresurgence.com/beaumont_words-and-deeds
http://theresurgence.com/beaumont_words-and-deeds
Phil 2:12-16
Today's reading is...
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
A couple of questions that stick out to me..
1. How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
2. How unique of a community was Phillipi that they were challenged to do everything with complaining or arguing?
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
A couple of questions that stick out to me..
1. How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
2. How unique of a community was Phillipi that they were challenged to do everything with complaining or arguing?
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