always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
Philippians 1:4
How often do our prayers sound more like monotonous, monotonal repetitions than joyful choruses? It seems sad, and just plain wrong, that prayer is often the last thing we wish to do in a day. It takes the back seat to eating, to television, to checking our email or facebook accounts. And when we do pray it is often emotionless - just saying the right words as quickly as we can without feeling guilty so that we can get on to other activities.
When Paul prayed for his beloved Philippian brothers and sisters joy filled his heart. He experienced a true emotion that was inseparably attached to his pleas for them. May our prayers be more than just words. May our whole being - mind, body, spirit, emotion - be involved in our crying out to God.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thanksgiving
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
Philippians 1:3
Who are those people who have blessed you on your journey through life? Perhaps it was a grade six Sunday school teacher who taught every week with joy and showed a true interest in your life. Maybe it was a pastor who regularly invested time in you - walking you through the Word of God. Or possibly you find yourself thinking of a best friend who was available to listen whenever life didn't make sense. The list could go on: Mom, Dad, brother, sister, teacher, boss or coach.
When we reflect on these lives that have intersected with ours for our good it is good to turn to God in praise and thanksgiving, for every blessing that we receive comes from Him.
Philippians 1:3
Who are those people who have blessed you on your journey through life? Perhaps it was a grade six Sunday school teacher who taught every week with joy and showed a true interest in your life. Maybe it was a pastor who regularly invested time in you - walking you through the Word of God. Or possibly you find yourself thinking of a best friend who was available to listen whenever life didn't make sense. The list could go on: Mom, Dad, brother, sister, teacher, boss or coach.
When we reflect on these lives that have intersected with ours for our good it is good to turn to God in praise and thanksgiving, for every blessing that we receive comes from Him.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Grace and Peace
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2
Paul blesses the Philippian Christians here with a blessing that can be said to sum up the whole Christian life: grace and peace.
The word grace (Greek charis) is one which has behind it the idea of a free gift. God in His love chooses to deal with us in a way that we don't deserve. He chooses to pay for our sins Himself and offer us the joy of forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. Even obedience is an act of grace, as God puts His Holy Spirit within us and causes us to obey.
Peace (Greek eirene) is what we receive as a result of God's grace. At one time we were enemies with God, but now we are His beloved children through adoption. Once we struggled to live in harmony with those unlike ourselves but now God is at work creating a new community grounded in love for one another. And He is busy creating an inner, subjective peace for His people as well.
May God's grace and peace be poured out upon us all. And may we be full of thankfulness for these gifts.
Philippians 1:2
Paul blesses the Philippian Christians here with a blessing that can be said to sum up the whole Christian life: grace and peace.
The word grace (Greek charis) is one which has behind it the idea of a free gift. God in His love chooses to deal with us in a way that we don't deserve. He chooses to pay for our sins Himself and offer us the joy of forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. Even obedience is an act of grace, as God puts His Holy Spirit within us and causes us to obey.
Peace (Greek eirene) is what we receive as a result of God's grace. At one time we were enemies with God, but now we are His beloved children through adoption. Once we struggled to live in harmony with those unlike ourselves but now God is at work creating a new community grounded in love for one another. And He is busy creating an inner, subjective peace for His people as well.
May God's grace and peace be poured out upon us all. And may we be full of thankfulness for these gifts.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Saints
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Philippians 1:1b
Many of us have grown up with the belief that a saint is a very special Christian - a Christian who stands out above the rest, who has performed a certain number of miracles or who has led the Church in a dramatic fashion. We understand that Billy Graham and Mother Teresa can be called saints, but it strikes us as odd that all believers possess this title.
A saint is someone who is set apart to God. It is someone who is holy. And as such a saint is every and any believer in Jesus Christ. We are all holy ones. We are all set apart to God. Because of the washing of the blood of Christ we are all forgiven and are God's special possession.
The term "saint" speaks of incredible privilege. Through no merit of our own we were chosen, forgiven and adopted as God's people. We have a blessed position in creation. And for this we must stand in awe, wonder and thankfulness as we praise God for what He has done.
But "saint" also reminds us of the great responsibility that has been laid upon us. For as God's special possession we must strive to be like our Father and thereby bring praise and glory to His name.
How are we doing today at living as saints? May the Spirit of God shape our minds and hearts so that we become more like Christ today.
Philippians 1:1b
Many of us have grown up with the belief that a saint is a very special Christian - a Christian who stands out above the rest, who has performed a certain number of miracles or who has led the Church in a dramatic fashion. We understand that Billy Graham and Mother Teresa can be called saints, but it strikes us as odd that all believers possess this title.
A saint is someone who is set apart to God. It is someone who is holy. And as such a saint is every and any believer in Jesus Christ. We are all holy ones. We are all set apart to God. Because of the washing of the blood of Christ we are all forgiven and are God's special possession.
The term "saint" speaks of incredible privilege. Through no merit of our own we were chosen, forgiven and adopted as God's people. We have a blessed position in creation. And for this we must stand in awe, wonder and thankfulness as we praise God for what He has done.
But "saint" also reminds us of the great responsibility that has been laid upon us. For as God's special possession we must strive to be like our Father and thereby bring praise and glory to His name.
How are we doing today at living as saints? May the Spirit of God shape our minds and hearts so that we become more like Christ today.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Slaves?
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
Philippians 1:1a
In our world of personal rights and the pursuit of our dreams it is really quite shocking to read Paul's words here in Philippians. Paul refers to himself and Timothy as "servants" of Christ Jesus. Now, at first reading this might not seem disturbing in the least. For "servant" is certainly a digestable word for all of us within the context of Christianity. Which of us wouldn't want to serve the one who died for us?
But the Greek word used here - douloi - has a deeper meaning than servants. The primary meaning of doulos (the singular of douloi) is slave: someone who no longer has any personal rights and who is owned by and bound to the service of another. Paul realized that his life was no longer his own, for God had bought him at a great price. And he was going to spend his life doing whatever Christ called him to do.
Are we willing to lay down our "rights" before Christ and serve Him as slaves, regardless of the path He sets before us?
Philippians 1:1a
In our world of personal rights and the pursuit of our dreams it is really quite shocking to read Paul's words here in Philippians. Paul refers to himself and Timothy as "servants" of Christ Jesus. Now, at first reading this might not seem disturbing in the least. For "servant" is certainly a digestable word for all of us within the context of Christianity. Which of us wouldn't want to serve the one who died for us?
But the Greek word used here - douloi - has a deeper meaning than servants. The primary meaning of doulos (the singular of douloi) is slave: someone who no longer has any personal rights and who is owned by and bound to the service of another. Paul realized that his life was no longer his own, for God had bought him at a great price. And he was going to spend his life doing whatever Christ called him to do.
Are we willing to lay down our "rights" before Christ and serve Him as slaves, regardless of the path He sets before us?
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