Week 4 - Philippians 3:17-4:7

Following his example - Paul encourages the Philippians to watch him and imitate him. This is not out of arrogance or self-confidence. Paul knows that he's following Christ's example (remember verse 10 of chapter 3?), and therefore, the example he presents to the Philippians is not of his design, but God's. How wonderful for these folks to have a living, breathing example of what a Christian looks like right in front of them! I'll bet there is someone you could name who offers you that example, as well. This is God's plan for us, our mission, if you will, while occupying earth - to be discipled and to disciple others.

• Who are you an example for? Who is your example?

There are plenty of poor examples, and this is where our reference to Christ needs to be completely clear. We need to know enough of Christ to be able to identify poor examples: Christians (or those who claim to be) who consistently deal with things as any other person might. I must confess my example to my daughters or neighbors or friends may be very similar to what a non-believer might offer them. To myself (and to you) I would say to go back and study Jesus' pattern of living; the frequency and regularity in His prayer life, His compassion, His obedience. "Shine like stars" as Paul wrote in chapter 2.

Did you like Paul's words: their god is their stomach - verse 19? Yikes! As one who enjoys food, this convicts me somewhat. I believe he's referring to their preoccupation with fleshly endeavors, which isn't exclusively food. It does cause me to stop and think about what things in my world have come to own me, and wonder if some inventory down-sizing is in order. Ah, spring cleaning!

• What areas (habits) could you name that maybe need to be eliminated?

Week 3 - Philippians 3:1-16

"I say again, 'Rejoice!'" - I think I'm beginning to get a message here! Paul says 'it is a safeguard for you (3:1).' Could rejoicing, remembering who we are in Christ and celebrating that each and every day, could that be our protection, our safety net? I think in this crazy world we're in today, it is a great defense and the perfect witness.

Paul goes on to warn the Philippians about the 'mutilators of the flesh' (3:2) referring to the Judaizers who insisted that converts to Christianity who were Gentile would be required to endure circumcision (as God required of the Jews - Genesis 17:9-10). Paul counters that circumcision is a heart matter. I think it's important to mention here that there are many versions of Christianity around us (like the Judaizers) who add their own ideas, mixing them in with the truth of God's Word. Peeling back their ideas, underneath it is either a lack of belief in the complete truth of the Scriptures - so they need alterations; or a display of pride ('we can improve it') or even plain old ignorance - that is, lack of Biblical knowledge. For me, denominations are unimportant, but teaching the Word correctly and completely is essential in a church. One can't determine if this is the sort of church we want if one doesn't know what the Bible says about life and salvation! We are the ones responsible for the truth we've received (between the covers of your Bible, not on TV or even in church on Sunday), so shame on us if we never check it out. So, here I go again - you can't study the Bible enough!

• How big a priority is Bible study in your week? What changes will you make to move it to the top of your list?

Paul recites his resume in verses 5-6. It's pretty impressive, he seems to have had it all - but he counts it all loss, worthless, rubbish, - when he compares all that human effort to knowing Christ. Philippians 3:10 is one verse I keep revisiting. Years ago, I participated in a 24-hour prayer relay during the Gulf War. It was during my time segment that this verse's address popped into my head, so I turned to it, read it and, quite honestly, didn't really get it. But I knew God wanted me to have it, to keep it and so I have continued to keep it close and He's revealing more and more of the truth of it to me. You see, I think Jesus wants us to know Him more than Paul wanted to know Him. He wants us to realize that the very best thing this life can offer us is a chance to walk in intimacy with Him, through whatever comes, experiencing everything - good or bad - in His power. Jobs, homes, even family are loss compared to this. I would encourage you to keep this verse close, memorize it, live it.

• How well would you say you 'know' Christ?

In verse 11-16, Paul explains that this is a process that requires some focus and discipline on our part - much like an athlete needs to train to win a race. Even Paul wasn't 'there' yet, nor will we be. But the journey waits for us every morning. Yesterday doesn't matter and we can't touch tomorrow. Today's the day.

• What's on your list today? How can you make this a day when you included Jesus in each item?

Chapter 2:19-30 My boy, Timothy ~ In verses 19-24 we get a little insight on Timothy, the young man that was really Paul's right-hand-man. Paul exposes some character qualities in Timothy to us that we should pause a minute to discuss. Look at verse 20. Not a casual interest. Not a passing interest. No, a genuine interest in the welfare of other Christians. Paul was so confident of Timothy's care-giving qualities that he felt Tim was the only one to adequately care for this loving group of believers. At a time when I know Paul would have liked to keep him close, he prepared to send him along to the Philippians as their new pastor.

• Are there some ways you could express or develop an interest in other Christians' welfare? In your church? Across the world?

E-paph-ro-di-tus - means charming. I think he must have been at least that. Obviously, he was trustworthy & reliable or the Philippian church wouldn't have sent him all that way with the help they offered Paul. Verse 26 describes his distress at the church's distress! It is apparent that they loved the guy, and worried when they heard he was ill. I think I'll enjoy visiting with him someday in heaven. How about you?

• Who is depending on you today? Would you describe yourself as trustworthy and reliable? How do you deal with another's distress?

It concerns me today that we leave people alone too much. I mean, here I am writing some ideas about the Scriptures on a computer - not seeing your faces or hearing your reactions. This misses the opportunity to 'be distressed' for someone else, to 'genuinely care' in a real way for another. Have we gotten too remote, too isolated? We can blame technology, I suppose, for offering us this crutch. Or should we place the blame on a culture that moves soooo fast, that we don't feel like we have time to make a real difference in someone else's life? I think it's just me. I'm the one who doesn't elevate another's concerns above my own, go the extra mile, actually pray when I promise to. Join me in looking for opportunities to show the kind of concern Timothy and Epaphroditus showed - and let us know how it goes!

Week 3 - Philippians 2:12 - 30

Shining stars - Just as stars illuminate a dark night, so Christians are to illuminate a dark culture. One of the things that makes my blood boil the most is to see public figures who have said they follow Christ then do something, publically, that denounces Him! If you're going to behave that way then don't claim to be a Christian! Paul writes about being the same no matter who's watching and to take our salvation seriously. See how he writes - "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Notice, he said 'work out' not 'work for' your salvation. The work we do because of our faith is work God is doing through us for His purpose. And we take it seriously - with fear and trembling!

• What are you doing today because you've been saved by grace?

God can't work in a grumbling, complaining arguer. He needs us to be "blameless, pure, children of God without fault". We have to be in the world, but we don't want to be of the world. I understand that we have to know how to 'speak the language' of the world, but the danger lies in spending time and energy learning the lingo. Pretty soon we forgot who we're working for and how we are to respond.

I joined facebook recently, and I've got to say it can really suck up your time! Plus, the stuff written there seems, well, like fluff. No one wants to really speak their heart - out in open like that - or ask for prayer, or anything really relevant. I do like that it helps re-connect with those who have moved away, or are distant in some other way. But, if we aren't spending time studying the Bible or talking to Jesus, can we justify the time we spend with fluff?

Cultural relevance, in other words, must be tempered with the attitude of Christ. Remember Philippians 2:5-11? Jesus knew where true north was - He continually went back to His reference points - His Father, His mission, His purpose. These are our reference points too.

• What is your day filled with? Are you 'holding out the word of life' to someone else today? Who needs to hear that from you?

Philippians 2:1-11
All for one...and One for all - Now, this is a recurring theme in the New Testament: the unity of believers. John 17 - Jesus' prayer describes a state of being one with each other and one with the Father; 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Paul exhorts about 'no divisions' and 'perfectly united in mind and thought;' 1 Peter 3:8 - Peter writes about living in harmony with one another...loving as brothers.

• How would this ('being one in spirit and purpose') look in our church? In the big 'c' Church?

A key ingredient to achieving this is what Paul describes next in Philippians 2:3-4 - humility. I love his definitions of what that means here: not indulging in 'selfish ambition or vain conceit, but consider others better than yourself.' He goes on, 'look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. In other words, "get over yourself and take care of someone else first for a change."

• I bet you've done this already today (especially if you're a mom). But, are there areas where 'selfish ambition' sets the course of action? How are you at 'considering others better than yourself?'

The next seven verses in chapter 2 (5-11) are some of the most precious in the Bible, I think. Take a minute to read them a few times right now. Let us know what phrase thrilled you the most, or convicted you, or encouraged you, OK?

Hanging in there...yeah, I know - who wants to talk about suffering? Paul felt compelled to explain to the Philippian church that it is a part of the deal. He was going through it, they would go through it - and we go through it. I read a book once containing story after story of Christian martyrs through the centuries - horrendous physical anguish, death. The thing that amazed me about each of the stories was the strength of conviction each one displayed at 'the moment' he or she needed it. That may be what Paul is talking about in verse 28 of chapter 1 when he writes, "you will be saved - and that by God." Suffering is a frequently visited topic - don't you love that God doesn't pull any punches with us, lays it all out? - in Scriptures. Jesus pointed out that we should expect it (Matthew 10:22, John 16:33).

So how do we deal with it? I like to look at the up side of things generally, but suffering isn't good on any level - or is it? One thing I've observed many times is that when things are going badly, our relationship with God gets very important, true? Perhaps suffering's 'up side' is that we get back to our 'first love.' We're talking to Him more, pouring over His Word more, meditating on Him more. I know that this is what God wants most from us - this intimacy.

Suffering could also be a true identifier of a Christ-follower. (I guess you could be labeled a nut-case, too - but God knows our hearts!) 1 Peter 4:14 says we are blessed if we are reproached for the name of Christ, because His glory rests on us. Romans 8:17 identifies us as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if we share in His sufferings. Sounds more like an honor than a problem. I don't think God intends that we 'prove' our devotion to Him by getting ourselves burned at the stake (that would be the nut-case scenario), but He does expect us to follow Christ. Even Jesus' family thought He was a nut-case!

• Have you ever been ostracized or penalized because of a stand you took on your path of following Christ?

I guess the most beautiful part about suffering is the promise God makes regarding it. Romans 8:18 talks about a 'glory that will be revealed in us.' For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17) I like that one. It reminds us to keep these trials in perspective, and keep our eyes on the prize.

Ok, I've inflicted enough suffering by all this rambling - hope it helped you, if you are enduring something hard for Christ's sake right now. If you are, get closer to the One Who Saves.

I would be encouraged to read your ideas of any or all of this - you are welcome to comment!

Week 2 - Philippians 1:27 - 2:11

Watch your walk - "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (Philippians 1:27) Sounds like Paul expects the Philippians to establish a code (even a strategy) of behavior that reflects what they believe in their heart and mind. I read that 'conduct' here is from the Greek verb politeuo which translates "to live as a citizen."

As a nation, we have turned a new page, we're told. Paul's words here would remind us that we are citizens of the United States and should consider loyalty to our nation a mark of integrity. I would urge all of us to pray for our new President - it seems a lot of expectations have been placed on his shoulders already. I would pray for his tasks, his decisions, and his heart to be fully yielded to the will of God the Father.

On a bigger screen, we are, as believers, citizens of heaven. There are times when we all get bogged down with the details, frustrations, weariness of our day to day lives. If we could retain a vision of who we really (eternally) are (you are a daughter or son of the King!), wouldn't it put these daily sufferings in perspective? Wouldn't it keep us on the track of living what we believe - no matter who is watching?

• How's your conduct today? What struggles challenge you and how do others see you handling them?