What an Example!

I Thess. 1:8-10

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God  has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 

Paul gave thanks for these believers. From the very beginning they were gripped with the gospel and shared it wherever they went. Even though chapter 1 is not a list, Paul mentioned very many of their great qualities.

• their work of faith
• their labor of love
• their steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ
• the gospel came to them not only in word but also in power, the Holy Spirit with full conviction
• they imitated Paul, his crew, and the Lord
• they received the word in great affliction but with the joy of the Spirit
• they were examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia
• their faith in God had gone forth everywhere
• turned to God from idols
• served the living and true God
• waited for Jesus from heaven

Wow! What a reputation! I wonder if the key to their amazing lives was becoming believers in the midst of great affliction. It seems like wherever there is affliction, the gospel flourishes. There is every reason to drop off the old life because time and life are so precious. I know that no believer desires persecution, but what a blessing it is [in disguise]! Living in America life has been too easy. We are too soft. I pray that when persecution comes we can stand the test and remain steadfast to the end. I pray that our reputation may be like the Thessalonians. I pray that my life might be like theirs.

Father,

You have spoken to me strongly about what my life is. Help me to stand steadfastly for You in every situation You bring my way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Walk in Wisdom

Col. 4:5-6

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Oh, that is the question. How to walk wisely? How to make the best use of my time? These questions are so subjective. What I might consider wise and good use of time another person might not. But basically, I am concerned about God. What does He think? I think this issue underlies the powerful need for prayer. Every single thing should be a topic for prayer. I think I should simply pray and ask if this is wise or if that is wise. Ask Him! I am sure that He would lead. But sadly, I often plow ahead in my own strength and in my own flawed wisdom. Not only sad but foolish! How can I expect to have wisdom without asking?

The same goes for my speech. If I want it to be gracious, I need to go to the throne of grace to get it. I need to go to the author of all grace, the one who gives freely and without reproach. It is then that I will have the salt that I need to season my tongue and make it something useful to God. Without this seasoning, my tongue is wild and uncontrolled. Definitely gamy! I do want to know how to answer each person. I want to know how to show grace and be godly. I must pray more! I must ask!

Father,

I confess my lack of asking and my plowing ahead in my own strength. Forgive me! Cleanse me and help me start anew. Lord, give me grace and wisdom for today. Help my speech to be gracious, seasoned with salt and wise.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Put On Then...

Col. 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is to be my new attire! Just as I dress each morning, so I am to put on these qualities of Christian character, qualities which directly impact my attitudes and actions and influence how I interact with others. When I walk about wearing only the garments of my flesh, then trouble ensues. I become self-centered and controlling. But when I put on love, kindness, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and thankfulness, then something altogether different ensues. I think of others first, how I can meet their needs, how I can bless their lives, and how I can show them grace, the same grace that Jesus has shown me. But how is this possible? Who can allow these traits to rule in their lives? I can't sustain them for the long haul. But through Christ, I can do all things! He is my strength and my fortitude. He is all that I need for any and every situation. How blessed am I! I not only have a new life but also have the strength to live it.

Father,

Thank You for this passage that speaks to me so frequently. Increase my desire to live like this and strengthen me with your grace for my resolve. You are a gracious and wonderful God! You have blessed my life is so many ways. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

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The Mystery

 Col. 1:21-29-Passage

Col. 1:27 

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the rices of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in me! How great is that! I worship a God who is living and real and who makes His residence within me. But it wasn't always so. I was once alienated and hostile in my mind toward God. But God chose me before the foundation of the world, and Jesus reconciled me to the Father by His death and resurrection. And why? To present me holy and blames and above reproach before Him. This is the plan from God's point of view, but from my point of view, I must continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that I heard. 

It is amazing to think that this mystery was hidden for ages. That even in Christ's lifetime, it was a foreign concept. Thankfully, Paul was chosen as this ambassador to the Gentiles to spread the message of the gospel and make known the word of God. It is in the word that I truly know God and know what He has done for me. Paul used every bit of his physical body preaching, teaching, and discipling. Tortured, shipwrecked, beaten, starved, and imprisoned! All for the sake of the gospel! Most men would have thrown in the towel, but not Paul. That is how earth shattering this message was! He proclaimed Jesus, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this he toiled, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me. I love how Paul expresses the relationship of human effort and God's grace. It is the same for me. His energy is within me allowing Him to work powerfully within me. Praise God!

Father,

I am so thankful this morning, for the mystery, for Christ in me, for You working within me, for the word, for Christ wanting to present me blameless and holy. All of it Lord. It is so wonderful! Help me to be steadfast and stable, not shifting from the hope of the gospel. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Thoughts and Feelings

Phil. 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

How much anxiety, stress, anger, tears, rage, depression, and any other negative energy drain would be averted by thinking on things that were true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable? It would totally bring health and goodness into a person's life. Peace would abound! Yet for knowing all this, how often does this verse become a way of life for the Christian? And why? Basically, it goes counter to the way of the flesh, and the flesh seems to be the easiest way to go even though it brings turmoil and unrest. Such foolishness!

Another great way of living and thinking is found in verse 11, Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Contentment counters the flesh as well. Paul had learned to be low and to abound, to be hungry and to be full, to have need and have abundance. If contentment can be mastered no matter the situation, then peace abounds. Thoughts and attitudes are so very important. But how can a person master the flesh in all these areas? I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. My life with Christ must be first and foremost. It must consume all that I think, feel, and do. When Christ is controlling my life, then I will be thinking and feeling right. I will be walking and living in His light and by His Spirit.

Father,

I confess my poor thought, my frustrations, and my anger. I have let my flesh get the better of me. I ask for Your help and strength. Fill me, Spirit. Make me rest contentedly in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Anxiety

Phil. 4:6-7

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Immediately before these verses it says The Lord is at hand; This then must be the primary focus for the believer. I must constantly gaze forward, ever looking and longing for the return of Jesus. I am also assured that He is at hand, but many say that people have been saying that for years. And so they have! But God's timing is vastly different than human timing! A fact I often forget. 

Since He is at hand, I must not worry about life here in this world, my health, family matters, or even spiritual matters. Worry is the antithesis of Jesus. He controls all. His Father set all events in their course, so why worry? Will my anxiety alter the course of anything? No, but it certainly undoes me. To quell worry when it gets a foothold, I need to pray with a thankful heart. As I pray, I can ask God to intervene or to change, but even if the answer is no, I must be thankful! Thankfulness is the key to having the peace of God guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. He has done so much for me. How can I ever thank Him enough? Well, I can't, but I can trust Him and not worry. I can trust Him and see His hand in every detail of my life. I can trust Him as I wait for Him to return and call me home to live with Him for eternity.

Father,

Thank You for Jesus and for the gift of prayer. Help me to trust and not to worry. Thank You for this great promise.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen

Citizenship

Phil. 3:20

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. 

How wonderful that my future is set! I don't have to worry about where I will be going or if I will even exist. Instead I can claim this promise knowing full well that it is true! I will be heaven! In the meantime I am in a holding pattern as I wait for Jesus my Savior, the One who made my future possible. When He comes in the clouds and calls me to Himself, He will transform my flawed and failing body of flesh into a glorious body like His. That concept alone is mind bending! Shedding this body and this life and stepping into a glorious body. And how can Jesus do this? By the power given Him by God, the power that enables Him to make all things subject to Him in that day. Because Jesus paid the horrendous and humbling cost on the cross, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Father,

Thank You for citizenship in heaven. Help me grow and be pleasing to You as I wait for Jesus to come and transform me completely.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Redemption and LIfe

Ps. 119:153

Look on my affliction and deliver me; for I do not forget your law. 

The psalmist knew that life and deliverance were in the promises of God. He did not seek it from any other source. In the next verse he said, Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promises! This verse is punctuated with an exclamation point. No doubt David felt strongly about this redemption since David lived the life of a fugitive for many years. It was far from a poetic thought. In the flesh, he knew God's words were all he had, his only hope; but in the spiritual realm, he knew they were the very best thing that he could seek. 

In v. 156 he said, Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. God's mercy must precede his gift of life. Without mercy, no human would ever be worthy of the life that only He can give. David comprehended the foolishness of his pursuers because they had no knowledge of God or His laws. He asked, Consider how I love Your precepts! Give me life according to you steadfast love. The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.  Such a closing statement to this strophe. God's word is truth! God's word endures forever!

Father,

Thank you for Your great words and Your gift of life. I know that YOur words are truth. Help me to hold fast to them.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Rubbish

Phil. 3:7

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

What a mindset! How did Paul change so drastically? I know he saw Jesus personally, but still shouldn't we be able to replicate this attitude? Even though our encounter with Jesus is much more intangible, He should transform our desires. Are we struggling against the Spirit and clutching desperately to the flesh? Is the world so tempting that we can't let go? Whatever it is, it's not right! I must pray for an overwhelming desire, one that will make Jesus more important than anything else. I want to count everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus because knowing Jesus means eternal life.

In v. 8 Paul said, For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--Paul did suffer the loss of all things even his own life. Yet massive amounts of hardships and persecution did not deter him in his desire to be found in Christ. Thankfully, to be in Christ means being covered in His righteousness. Without Jesus, I would have no life and no hope for any righteousness. He is my all. So why do I still cling to the world? What a quandary! 

Amazingly, Paul struggled with these same issues in Rom. 7. 18-23. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. It is truly hard for me to fathom that Paul felt this way, but I imagine the flesh is the flesh. Obviously, Satan knows how powerful it is or he wouldn't have bothered to tempt Christ. All the more reason, to seek Jesus wholeheartedly and keep my focus singular.

Father,

I confess allowing the flesh to win repeatedly. Strengthen me to withstand temptation, and increase my desire for Jesus. Narrow my focus. Keep Jesus in my thoughts all throughout the day. 

In His name,

Amen

Comfort and Delight

Ps. 119: 143

Trouble and anguish have found me out, but Your commandments are my delight.

David began this strophe with a declaration concerning the righteousness of God: Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules. These facts are indisputable! Whether or not a person believes in God doesn't change the fact that God is and that He is righteous. It merely limits this person's exposure to the light and the life. David knew that the testimonies of the Lord were appointed in righteousness and faithfulness, both adjectives are attributes of God. Who God is affects all that He does and says. He must be true to His own character.

Even though David felt small at times, he never forgot the words of the Lord. When he was persecuted, afflicted, and in anguish, the words of the Lord were his comfort and his delight. They took him into the very presence of God. In Ps. 28:4 David said, One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. This is where David loved and longed to be. He knew that God's words would be righteous forever; so in light of eternity, he asked that God would grant him understanding of these words so that he too would live. What glorious words that can give life and understanding!

Father,

Give me understanding of Your words and Your ways. Thank You for giving me life and a place in Your kingdom for eternity.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Grumbling or Questioning

Phil. 2:14-16 a

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, holding fast to the word of life...

God surely knew the heart of man, his propensity to constantly grumble or question, when he inspired these verses. Unqualified obedience is rare. Perhaps we should question in a worldly setting, but in God's realm, never. In 1 Cor. 10:10-12 grumbling comes with a heavy warning. It says, ...nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for your instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. Here is a severe warning against grumbling. The word says that grumbling is the fast track to destruction. It is one of Satan's prime tools to defeat believers. So the command stands. Do all things...not some things or a few things, but all things without grumbling or questioning.And why? So that we may be blameless and innocent, without blemish in this terribly crooked and twisted life. Our purpose is not to blend in or imitate ungodly behaviors, but it is to shine as lights holding fast to the word. Shining is not possible when believers are grumbling and questioning God. 

Father,

I confess my questioning and grumbling and ask that You grant me to shine for You. Help me to be willing to stand apart from the world. Thank You for Your life-giving word that I may cling to.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Worthy

Phil. 1:27

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. 

In this passage being worthy of the gospel, is in reference to standing firm in unity, that is facing difficulty without fear and with each other. This unity in the good and the bad is a clear sign to those unsaved of their destruction. Unity in the face of affliction or persecution should solidify faith. 

2 Thess. 1:11 says, To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power. Here it is clear that God makes all believers worthy  of their calling. He is the one who empowers all to stand firmly in unity and to accomplish for good their resolves and work of faith. And why? It is so that believers may be glorified in Him and He in them. 

2 Thess. 2:12 says, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. Again it is God who makes us worthy and who empowers us to walk worthy. This passage connects worthiness to personal holiness, to being righteous and blameless in our conduct with one another. 

Col. 1:10 says, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Here worthiness is associated with fruit bearing, something that God would definitely need to supply. Also it is part of our worthiness that we increase in our knowledge of Him. That would include studying but also in that experiential knowledge that comes from growing deeper into the personal relationship. 

Eph. 4:1-3 says, I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Once again worthiness is speaking of interpersonal relationships. To live in the way that these verses describe is only sustainable through the power of the Spirit, that power that only God gives to those who are truly His. 

Acts 5:41 says, Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Worthiness, or in this case being counted worthy, is associated with suffering. Yikes! What an attitude these early Christians had! They rejoiced that God counted them worthy enough to suffer for Him. They thought of it as a privilege. 

So much to think about! How important this concept is! I must pray constantly asking God to make me worthy and then go forward in all these areas obediently. So many areas...the Christian walk demands every part of my being.

Father,

Thank You for making me worthy. If it were up to me, there would be no hope. Give me what I need to grow as You would want me to.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Abundant Love

Phil. 1:7

I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

How strong is the bond that believers hold! Paul thanked God for the Philippians. He always remembered them joyfully in his prayers. And why? Because of the gospel. They shared the same love of Jesus, the same message of hope, and the same mission and calling. He yearned for them with the affection of Jesus Christ. How do believers feel about each other today? Do we joyfully pray for one another, or is it a heavy duty, or worse than that, is it a forgotten bond? Do we yearn for one another with the affection of Jesus? Do we seek to see spiritual growth in each other and make this a matter of diligent prayer? 

In Gal. 4:19 Paul said, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! What deep feelings are these! His concern was unwavering for so many people. How would we characterize our feelings? Do we have anything remotely like the anguish of childbirth? In Rom. 13:8 Paul said, Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. We are bound together by this debt of love! And why? Because of the deep love that God showed us when He sent His Son to save us. In 2 Cor. 2:4 Paul said, For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Abundant love for one another! This is the model! In 2 Cor. 12:15 Paul declared, I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. He was willing to invest the time it took to truly love them. Personal relationships do not come quickly or easily. But this is no issue if the love of Christ is the motivation. Is the love of Christ pouring out of us to one another? Are we so bonded that we won't be deterred from seeing spiritual growth in each other?

Father,

Grow this kind of love in me. Help me to see other believers with the eyes of love that You saw me. Draw me close to You.

In His name,

Amen

Do All to the Lord

Eph. 6:8

Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slaved or free.

The principle in Christian human relations is simple: Do all to the Lord. If there is good, the Lord will reward. Although it is nice, it is not necessary to get human praise or reward. Since Paul has covered husband/ wife relationships in great detail, he moves on to child/parent relationships. Simply put, it is right for children to obey their parents.  As an added incentive, it is a commandment with promise. On the converse side, father stop provoking your children to anger, but instead raise them in the Lord. Does the overriding principle apply here? Yes, if children are obeying as to the Lord, then they are taking it out of the realm of human experience. Not everyone gets a godly or even a kind father [parent], yet if obedience is to the Lord and the reward is from Him, then the entire parameters are changed. The same goes for the parent. Not everyone gets a responsive and obedient child, but if the Lord is the most important consideration,  then the entire relationship is left up to Him.

 Paul then continued with slave/master relationships. [Interesting to note that Paul didn't advocate the overthrow of slavery.] Slaves are to obey with fear and trembling as they would to Christ. In this relationship there should be no obedience from eye-service or people pleasing, but it should be genuine, rendering service as to the Lord and not to man. The slave must always remember that when he does good, he will receive back from the Lord. This is especially crucial. There is no familial bond between slaves and masters like with children to parents. In fact, many times there was not a shred of kindness or decency. It was a demeaning existence where the slave had no personal rights at all and was even treated with abuse. Without Christ in the heart, this relationship was horrible! The slave had to keep this principle in the forefront of his mind at all times. What about the masters? Christian masters must be motivated by the same principle. They must stop threatening and being abusive even though society condoned it. They must remember that the God of the slave was also the God of the Master. In the eyes of God slave and master were the same. Wow! How that must have impacted the masters! What a wake-up call! 

Father,

In all my relationships help me to do all to Your name and for You. Help me not to be fettered by unkind words or actions but keep my focus ever on You.

In Jesus name,

Amen