For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospels will save it. (Mark 8:35 NKJV)
What's interesting about this is the verse says that if we desire to save our lives it is a problem. Not whethever we do or not is immaterial it is more the intention of the heart. if it is our desire, where springs the outome of our lives. So it boils down to what is your heart set on? Is it set on growing in the matters of God? Or is it set on keeping everything as it is, the status quo.
If our desire is truly to grow in Christ, I mean that growth in Christ becomes the desire of our heart then we have an alignment of our will and God's will. When this happens all of the things that come our way whether they are good, bad or indifferent can be useful in God's hands toward growing us into the image of Christ. Conversely if our desire is to remain as we are which is another way of saying "saving our lives" if we are intent on keeping things the same and comfortable around us then we will be disturbed by almost everything that comes our way. Good, bad or indifferent, it will not matter. So what is your heart set on. God is always teaching, always urging us to grow. Are we willing to be in on what He is doing in us or are we trying to save or preserve our lives as they are?
APPLICATION
Today I will ask my wife to keep me accountable to any stubborn way in me and to point it out so that I am more plyable and attentive to what God may be doing in my life.
Welcome
One of the most effective ways to allow the Word of God to affect your life is to study it inductively. That is what this blog is all about. Typically one verse per day will be mined for insight and then followed up with how I plan to implement that insight practically. My prayer is that in some way you find this useful in your journey and that it may impact you positively. -G
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Mark 8:34 - Get With It
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
I find it interesting that He called the crowd to him and told them along with the disciples that if they want to be a disciple they must deny themselves. die to self. be willing, daily to put to death their own selfish ambitions and desires and surrender them over to the will of the Father.
For the crowd this might be new news however for the disciples is it possible that they needed to be reminded of this principle in order to remain in the right attitude and be worthy of the term disciple. As we consider what was just going on that prompted this in the first place was a disciple, namely Peter who had the audacity to rebuke Jesus trying to persuade him toward some other path besides the one laid out by the Father. You see anything that is not of faith, or that is outside of the will of God is of this world and is at it's core evil. This is why Jesus rebukes Peter back with the famous, "get behind me Satan" statement. Harsh? yes. Correct? yes, Was this term "satan" necessary? absolutely. For we so easily fall away from the path of holiness and get distracted by our own prevailing, deceitful ways.
APPLICATION
I need to examine myself and see if there be any thought, attitude or intention that is not of God. When I find such I need ask the HS to reveal to me the lie that I am believing and then to find the truth that is the antidote to that lie and then memorize it.
I find it interesting that He called the crowd to him and told them along with the disciples that if they want to be a disciple they must deny themselves. die to self. be willing, daily to put to death their own selfish ambitions and desires and surrender them over to the will of the Father.
For the crowd this might be new news however for the disciples is it possible that they needed to be reminded of this principle in order to remain in the right attitude and be worthy of the term disciple. As we consider what was just going on that prompted this in the first place was a disciple, namely Peter who had the audacity to rebuke Jesus trying to persuade him toward some other path besides the one laid out by the Father. You see anything that is not of faith, or that is outside of the will of God is of this world and is at it's core evil. This is why Jesus rebukes Peter back with the famous, "get behind me Satan" statement. Harsh? yes. Correct? yes, Was this term "satan" necessary? absolutely. For we so easily fall away from the path of holiness and get distracted by our own prevailing, deceitful ways.
APPLICATION
I need to examine myself and see if there be any thought, attitude or intention that is not of God. When I find such I need ask the HS to reveal to me the lie that I am believing and then to find the truth that is the antidote to that lie and then memorize it.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Phil. 2:6 - Selfish vs. Selfish Ambition
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very naturet God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Oh my, how often do I use my position to my own advantage? It happens all the time, from the way I make my way around traffic to the way I make my way around a dinner party and everything in between. How can I extract out of self this predisposition of desiring to have some advantage of some sort. The flesh is in constant pursuit of this elevation, yet the Spirit is yearning to show us the better way. In Christ we have the most excellent example of selfless ambition.
APPLICATION
As a reminder of my desire to rid myself of this pretension I will go for a walk in the woods and meditate on the following verse:
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Oh my, how often do I use my position to my own advantage? It happens all the time, from the way I make my way around traffic to the way I make my way around a dinner party and everything in between. How can I extract out of self this predisposition of desiring to have some advantage of some sort. The flesh is in constant pursuit of this elevation, yet the Spirit is yearning to show us the better way. In Christ we have the most excellent example of selfless ambition.
APPLICATION
As a reminder of my desire to rid myself of this pretension I will go for a walk in the woods and meditate on the following verse:
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Phil. 2:5 - Broken Grids
Phil 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
What is a mindset? I believe it can be grasped by likening it to a grid pattern, or a piece of graph paper. Each line on that pattern is placed there specifically and as the various lines cross one another they create points on the grid. Likening this to the way we think or our mindset, all of our experiences up to now form these grid points, all of the data or knowledge we have gathered up to now also create the pattern on the grid. When we mis interpret data and misunderstand something we have created what I call a broken grid, likewise if we believe something that is not true that also is a broken grid. How much of the grid pattern of our lives has been conformed to the truth of God's Word reveals how much we have attained the mindset of Christ. Conversely how much of our thinking has its root in the pattern of the world and the influence of culture instead of the truths of God's Word?
The process of renewing the mind is just that, a process. When we renew something like the finish on furniture or the nail polish on fingernails we first have to remove the old by sanding or using a solvent to remove all residue of the former finish. Then we can apply the new. Adding the new on top of the old does not work, it creates a mess. Likewise in our lives we need to dismantle the old patterns of thinking and replace them with the truth. We need to be willing to recognize the broken grids we have developed in our thinking process and uproot the lie at the heart of that harmful pattern and replace it with the truth found in God's Word. Thusly renewing our minds.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
and further
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
APPLICATION
Today I will memorize:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Matt. 3:8 - Be Fruitty
Matt 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
What does it look like to produce fruit in keeping with repentance? When a person repents they are turning away from their sin and turning toward God or godly behavior. When we repent and turn it is like planting a seed of correct action, or activity into the garden of our lives. That seed needs to be nurtured and nourished so that it can take root, grow strong, develop to maturity and then when it is mature, just like a fruit tree it can produce fruit. Some fruit trees may need to grow for several years before they are mature enough to produce fruit. In the meantime there is a struggle of sorts that goes on in the garden, a variety of elements have to come together in order for sustained healthy growth to occur. The right amounts of clean water, sunshine, warmth and nutrients from the soil all have to be consistently available for the plants to flourish. Then there are the weeds that sop up these things from the plants and also there are the birds and the deer etc that are lurking to consume these tender shoots even before they are anywhere near ready to bear fruit. So much care and nurturing and protection must go into the development of a healthy garden that produces a fruitful return.
Likewise our souls are also in need of nourishment, nurturing and tending to develop into maturity that has the potential to bear fruit. This takes time, patience, guidance and self inspection, it cannot be done by someone else only the individual can truly keep to the right course and develop maturity.
APPLICATION
I need to be careful of what thoughts I allow to come to rest in my heart. There are some that can be classified as weeds and need to be uprooted. Other thoughts are like nutrients and they need to be encouraged and amplified. Today I will ask the Lord to place a guard over my mind. I will memorize
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
What does it look like to produce fruit in keeping with repentance? When a person repents they are turning away from their sin and turning toward God or godly behavior. When we repent and turn it is like planting a seed of correct action, or activity into the garden of our lives. That seed needs to be nurtured and nourished so that it can take root, grow strong, develop to maturity and then when it is mature, just like a fruit tree it can produce fruit. Some fruit trees may need to grow for several years before they are mature enough to produce fruit. In the meantime there is a struggle of sorts that goes on in the garden, a variety of elements have to come together in order for sustained healthy growth to occur. The right amounts of clean water, sunshine, warmth and nutrients from the soil all have to be consistently available for the plants to flourish. Then there are the weeds that sop up these things from the plants and also there are the birds and the deer etc that are lurking to consume these tender shoots even before they are anywhere near ready to bear fruit. So much care and nurturing and protection must go into the development of a healthy garden that produces a fruitful return.
Likewise our souls are also in need of nourishment, nurturing and tending to develop into maturity that has the potential to bear fruit. This takes time, patience, guidance and self inspection, it cannot be done by someone else only the individual can truly keep to the right course and develop maturity.
APPLICATION
I need to be careful of what thoughts I allow to come to rest in my heart. There are some that can be classified as weeds and need to be uprooted. Other thoughts are like nutrients and they need to be encouraged and amplified. Today I will ask the Lord to place a guard over my mind. I will memorize
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
1Tim. 6:9 - A Matter of Prerogitive
1Tim 6:9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction
This is a controversial tenet of the faith. Should one therefore say that a desire for wealth is not godly? Conversely some will look at this verse and use it as an excuse for not excelling or having ambition to earn a living. It is a matter of priority, being wealthy in itself does not exclude one from being Godly it is a matter of where we put our value of greatest importance. It is however a dangerous and hazardous path to navigate. It is so easy to become distracted by the things or events or people that riches brings. The wealthy have always had a place in the architecture of God's plan. Was is not a wealthy man Joseph of Aramethea who allowed Jesus to be buried in his own tomb? or Was it not Abraham a man of great wealth the patriarch of our faith and then Solomon was blessed by God with wisdom and substantial treasure and prosperity perhaps more than any other. As an example of how riches can lead a person off track we have the record of Solomon to learn from. Wealth in itself is not the problem it is still a matter of the heart and of what consistently leads a person's passion. Wealth in the hands of a Godly man can create amazing and wonderful avenues for the Kingdom of God to advance and thrive.
APPLICATION
Today I will memorize the verse Matt. 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
1Tim. 6:7 - Time vs. Things
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
It has been said that the wise discuss ideas; that many are taken by the discussion of other people; and that the masses are occupied with things.
Time is life. The time we occupy this planet is the extent of our lives. How we spend our time determines the value and benefit of our lives. Time is our most precious commodity. It is finite, we only have so much. Once a minute is spent it is gone forever. Time that is wasted is time lost. So the question becomes what shall we spend our time on?
As Christians we have redemption. Our time can be spent on building a trove of value for eternity. No thing of this world will be included in that trove not one thing. But the way we love others and the benefit we can bring to them through the manner in which we spend our time creates value.
A fools errand to spend our most precious commodity, our time on the preponderance of things. The wise will use their ideas and their time to benefit others, building value that endures beyond this life and the finite amount of time it holds.
APPLICATION
Today I will mark down the 5 most important things I need to accomplish and then proceed to work on them beginning with the most important one first and the others in descending order.
It has been said that the wise discuss ideas; that many are taken by the discussion of other people; and that the masses are occupied with things.
Time is life. The time we occupy this planet is the extent of our lives. How we spend our time determines the value and benefit of our lives. Time is our most precious commodity. It is finite, we only have so much. Once a minute is spent it is gone forever. Time that is wasted is time lost. So the question becomes what shall we spend our time on?
As Christians we have redemption. Our time can be spent on building a trove of value for eternity. No thing of this world will be included in that trove not one thing. But the way we love others and the benefit we can bring to them through the manner in which we spend our time creates value.
A fools errand to spend our most precious commodity, our time on the preponderance of things. The wise will use their ideas and their time to benefit others, building value that endures beyond this life and the finite amount of time it holds.
APPLICATION
Today I will mark down the 5 most important things I need to accomplish and then proceed to work on them beginning with the most important one first and the others in descending order.
Monday, August 6, 2012
1Tim. 6:6 - Grateful One
1Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Is it possible to have godliness without contentment? I think so, Paul for example was indeed a godly man but was distressed over the loss of his fellow jews not knowing Christ. Then John the baptist when he was in prison even questioning his faith was still godly yet lost his contentment over the circumstances he found himself in. Then also perhaps Jesus in the garden pleaded for another way, certainly godly yet vexed in His spirit and desired different arrangement.
Conversely is it possible to have contentment without godliness? Perhaps there are many who would argue that for example a buddhist monk in Tibet may be able to find contentment apart from God, we will never really know for sure but one thing that is for sure is that when we arrive at the combination of both Godliness and Contentement we find something Great.
APPLICATION
I will list all of the things that I am and have in my life that bring me contentement and offer to God my gratefulness over them.
Is it possible to have godliness without contentment? I think so, Paul for example was indeed a godly man but was distressed over the loss of his fellow jews not knowing Christ. Then John the baptist when he was in prison even questioning his faith was still godly yet lost his contentment over the circumstances he found himself in. Then also perhaps Jesus in the garden pleaded for another way, certainly godly yet vexed in His spirit and desired different arrangement.
Conversely is it possible to have contentment without godliness? Perhaps there are many who would argue that for example a buddhist monk in Tibet may be able to find contentment apart from God, we will never really know for sure but one thing that is for sure is that when we arrive at the combination of both Godliness and Contentement we find something Great.
APPLICATION
I will list all of the things that I am and have in my life that bring me contentement and offer to God my gratefulness over them.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Who You Gonna Call? - Luke 22:44
LUKE 22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.t
Being in anguish, He prayed more... When we are in trouble or under intense stress or pressure what do you naturally do? Here we see Jesus' immediate reaction He went to prayer. It has been said that when you are in a stressful circumstance you turn to your god (little g). An alcoholic turns to the bottle, a dreamer type person will tend to run away, and others will turn according to their propensities and immaturities to the vain gods of their imagination be it gambling, sex, anger or any other form of destructive pattern they have developed over their lives. But not so for the Christian. A Christian when pressed should not be fooled or ensnared by any of these lesser gods, we have the incomparable relationship with the one and only true God of all. So when we are in turmoil it is to Him alone we should turn to for our peace and resolution of our concerns.
APPLICATION
Today I will train myself to go to God with any and all concerns and at the end of this day I will list them and pray again for His solutions for my problems.
Being in anguish, He prayed more... When we are in trouble or under intense stress or pressure what do you naturally do? Here we see Jesus' immediate reaction He went to prayer. It has been said that when you are in a stressful circumstance you turn to your god (little g). An alcoholic turns to the bottle, a dreamer type person will tend to run away, and others will turn according to their propensities and immaturities to the vain gods of their imagination be it gambling, sex, anger or any other form of destructive pattern they have developed over their lives. But not so for the Christian. A Christian when pressed should not be fooled or ensnared by any of these lesser gods, we have the incomparable relationship with the one and only true God of all. So when we are in turmoil it is to Him alone we should turn to for our peace and resolution of our concerns.
APPLICATION
Today I will train myself to go to God with any and all concerns and at the end of this day I will list them and pray again for His solutions for my problems.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Get Alone
Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
At times it is necessary to get alone with God. If Jesus the Son of God did this how much more shall we need to do the same.
APPLICATION
Today I will set aside some time to be with the Lord apart from my studies and other devotionals.
At times it is necessary to get alone with God. If Jesus the Son of God did this how much more shall we need to do the same.
APPLICATION
Today I will set aside some time to be with the Lord apart from my studies and other devotionals.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Proverbs 3:15 - Seek Wisdom
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
This is a principle that does not come naturally.
nothing you desire can compare with her.
This is a principle that does not come naturally.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. Pr. 22:15
We all start out as fools, and only discipline will purge fooishness out of the heart of mankind. As we transform our minds to conform to the truths of God's Word we discipline our hearts to learn, to grow and to become mature by applying what we learn.
There have been many things that have taken the seat in my heart that belongs to that of wisdom, and seeking after it. As I have disciplined myself over the years I have learned that
the Word of God is true and every man a liar. Ro. 3:4
Therefore today I will commit to memory this verse:
Proverbs 24:3-4
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Proverbs 3:13-14 True Richness
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14
Here the Lord is giving us the key to happiness, He says that we will be joyful when we find wisdom. He then adds value to it by comparing it to silver and gold, which represents money. Many of us chase after riches thinking that it will bring us joy or happiness but we know that to not be true as there are many miserable rich people. What are they rich in is the real question. When we project our lives out to the old swing on the porch and we are 90+ years old what will we survey as we ponder our lives and how we lived it. There are few guarantees in life but this one thing I can surely expect, it will not be how many dollars I have in the bank that will bring me joy in the end, but the richness of the relationships I have created and nurtured and even persevered and fought for. The enemy is forever trying to divide and bring dis unity to the family of God. Our richness will hinge on how well we care for nurture and develop of our relationships.
APPLICATION
Therefore today I will make a list of the currently most important people in my life. I will then pray over that list, then by weeks end I will contact them and encourage them, and tell them they are appreciated.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Philippians 1:12 -A Matter of Perspective
Phil 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,t that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
Going back to the great affection that Paul has for the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he imagines that it pains them to know that he is in prison and being an elderly man at this time having to deal with the harsh conditions there he tries to comfort them by shifting their attention from his personal peril and discomfort to the glory of his mission, the furtherance of the Gospel.
We can do likewise if we apprehend the viewpoint and attitude of eternity, and see our circumstances as the value they have on our mission and not focused on how they affect details of our discomfort.
APPLICATION
Therefore I will memorize this verse today:
2Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Going back to the great affection that Paul has for the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he imagines that it pains them to know that he is in prison and being an elderly man at this time having to deal with the harsh conditions there he tries to comfort them by shifting their attention from his personal peril and discomfort to the glory of his mission, the furtherance of the Gospel.
We can do likewise if we apprehend the viewpoint and attitude of eternity, and see our circumstances as the value they have on our mission and not focused on how they affect details of our discomfort.
APPLICATION
Therefore I will memorize this verse today:
2Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Philippians 1:11 -Random Acts of Kindness
Phil. 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It is the fullness of both grace and truth. The exemplifying of the simplicity of love for one another without compromise of personal integrity toward God and His statutes. The ability to walk out the holy life yet being attractive to those who are indeed unholy. To be unwavering in our convictions yet to wear those convictions not condemningly but humbly and in such a way as to lead people to see God as irresistible.
Our good deeds or behavior is not the bulls eye but doing good in such a way that the Father in heaven is credited is the goal.
APPLICATION
I will seek the Lord to lead me to perpetrate a secret act of random kindness today. I will be on guard and ready to serve Him in this way.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It is the fullness of both grace and truth. The exemplifying of the simplicity of love for one another without compromise of personal integrity toward God and His statutes. The ability to walk out the holy life yet being attractive to those who are indeed unholy. To be unwavering in our convictions yet to wear those convictions not condemningly but humbly and in such a way as to lead people to see God as irresistible.
Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Our good deeds or behavior is not the bulls eye but doing good in such a way that the Father in heaven is credited is the goal.
APPLICATION
I will seek the Lord to lead me to perpetrate a secret act of random kindness today. I will be on guard and ready to serve Him in this way.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Philippians 1:10 -BEST
Phil. 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
The corollary verse to this is found in the infamous Romans 12...
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These verses correspond with each other because they go to the principle of discerning what is God's best plan for us. However the verse in Phillippians goes even further and holds out that if we choose what is best we may be pure and blameless.
All of this is hanging not on our performance of adhering to the law per se but in increasing our knowledge of Him in Spirit and in truth and governing ourselves according to the better and best ways to love one another. As we learned in the previous verse:
Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Again focusing on not the balance of truth and grace, but embodying the fulness of both. When we mistakenly try to balance them we dilute one or the other or worse, both. Like Jesus was the fullness of both we need to strive toward that as well.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
There is good, there is better and then there is best. To love one another with the mind of Christ in Spirit and truth is... Best.
APPLICATION
Today, I will intentionally put my mind on guard and be generous in my thoughts toward others, believing the best, and not assuming the worst. I will make note of the instances of this today and consider how they unfolded as I ponder my day as I prepare for sleep tonight.
The corollary verse to this is found in the infamous Romans 12...
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These verses correspond with each other because they go to the principle of discerning what is God's best plan for us. However the verse in Phillippians goes even further and holds out that if we choose what is best we may be pure and blameless.
All of this is hanging not on our performance of adhering to the law per se but in increasing our knowledge of Him in Spirit and in truth and governing ourselves according to the better and best ways to love one another. As we learned in the previous verse:
Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Again focusing on not the balance of truth and grace, but embodying the fulness of both. When we mistakenly try to balance them we dilute one or the other or worse, both. Like Jesus was the fullness of both we need to strive toward that as well.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
There is good, there is better and then there is best. To love one another with the mind of Christ in Spirit and truth is... Best.
APPLICATION
Today, I will intentionally put my mind on guard and be generous in my thoughts toward others, believing the best, and not assuming the worst. I will make note of the instances of this today and consider how they unfolded as I ponder my day as I prepare for sleep tonight.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Phil. 1:9 - Irresistible Jesus
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight
Here is the crux of the Christian experience. To love others more and more as time goes by all the while also increasing in knowledge and insight into the truths of God. In the moment of Jesus' last opportunity to speak into the lives of his disciples at the end of the passover meal He gave them the ultimate summation of the three years He had been with them in this one statement:
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Somehow the world will know that we are His disciples not by how well we are committed to go to church or by how well we understand the Scriptures but by how obviously we love one another.
It is also interesting that in the beginning of the Gospel of John as John is introducing Jesus to his readers he states the following:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Full of grace and truth, isn't it interesting how Paul in this verse in the book of Phillippians also echoes this same principle, to love more and more but to also increase in understanding of the truth. One without the other becomes unbalanced and harsh or useless. It is the light of truth to illuminate and the warmth of love to attract those who do not know God toward himself, and when we get this right The Lord Jesus is irresistible.
APPLICATION
Today I will commit to memory these verses in John 13:34-35
Here is the crux of the Christian experience. To love others more and more as time goes by all the while also increasing in knowledge and insight into the truths of God. In the moment of Jesus' last opportunity to speak into the lives of his disciples at the end of the passover meal He gave them the ultimate summation of the three years He had been with them in this one statement:
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Somehow the world will know that we are His disciples not by how well we are committed to go to church or by how well we understand the Scriptures but by how obviously we love one another.
It is also interesting that in the beginning of the Gospel of John as John is introducing Jesus to his readers he states the following:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Full of grace and truth, isn't it interesting how Paul in this verse in the book of Phillippians also echoes this same principle, to love more and more but to also increase in understanding of the truth. One without the other becomes unbalanced and harsh or useless. It is the light of truth to illuminate and the warmth of love to attract those who do not know God toward himself, and when we get this right The Lord Jesus is irresistible.
APPLICATION
Today I will commit to memory these verses in John 13:34-35
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Phil. 1:8 -Paul's Great Affection for the Phillippians
8 God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows I care for you in the same way Christ Jesus does. CEV
Though I have never been in prison or incarcerated in any way I could only imagine how a person would long to be elsewhere, and how that longing could seem like an ache from the deepest part of the heart. It seems that Paul is going through something like this here as he expresses his concern for and desire to be with the Philippians.
Paul says that he cares for them in the same way that Christ Jesus does. Which is that he is concerned for their souls, and is their advocate, encourager and protector. The evidence will be clear as we read the rest of this epistle, that it was crafted with great love and care for his hearers. The book of Phillippians stands out as one of the most encouraging and uplifting books of the entire Bible.
APPLICATION
I will read through the book of Phillippians today, to appreciate it in its entirety. Considering the backdrop of Paul's great affection for these people of Phillipi.
Though I have never been in prison or incarcerated in any way I could only imagine how a person would long to be elsewhere, and how that longing could seem like an ache from the deepest part of the heart. It seems that Paul is going through something like this here as he expresses his concern for and desire to be with the Philippians.
Paul says that he cares for them in the same way that Christ Jesus does. Which is that he is concerned for their souls, and is their advocate, encourager and protector. The evidence will be clear as we read the rest of this epistle, that it was crafted with great love and care for his hearers. The book of Phillippians stands out as one of the most encouraging and uplifting books of the entire Bible.
APPLICATION
I will read through the book of Phillippians today, to appreciate it in its entirety. Considering the backdrop of Paul's great affection for these people of Phillipi.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Philippians 1:7 - Where Is Your Compassion
Phil. 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.
This verse is quite unique in all of the New Testament in that in employs the word "feel" here in the NIV as well as other versions such as NASB. The premise is clear, Paul is communicating that he is sentimental toward this group of people, the Phillippians. Who in the previous verse he just pronounced a most precious and fervently kept promise of God that the Lord will carry on and complete the good work He once began in us. We all want that promise. We all need that promise. Paul in his great affection toward his Phillippian disciples reveals the extent of his concern and love for them by his choice of terms. Using the word "feeling" is not typical of Paul since he always in every other circumstance is grounded in fact and not usually expressing himself in terms of emotions. I just think that it underscores his great love toward these people.
APPLICATION
I need to examine my own heart to see what it is that I am really compassionate about. I need to align my emotions and concerns toward that which concerns the heart of God. When I do this I will be more in tune with the Spirit.
This verse is quite unique in all of the New Testament in that in employs the word "feel" here in the NIV as well as other versions such as NASB. The premise is clear, Paul is communicating that he is sentimental toward this group of people, the Phillippians. Who in the previous verse he just pronounced a most precious and fervently kept promise of God that the Lord will carry on and complete the good work He once began in us. We all want that promise. We all need that promise. Paul in his great affection toward his Phillippian disciples reveals the extent of his concern and love for them by his choice of terms. Using the word "feeling" is not typical of Paul since he always in every other circumstance is grounded in fact and not usually expressing himself in terms of emotions. I just think that it underscores his great love toward these people.
APPLICATION
I need to examine my own heart to see what it is that I am really compassionate about. I need to align my emotions and concerns toward that which concerns the heart of God. When I do this I will be more in tune with the Spirit.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Phil. 1:6 -Rest in Him
Philippians 1:66 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Do you believe that? I do, I need to. Otherwise I will walk in condemnation never expecting eternal life to be mine. I know that in myself I am not capable of being a Disciple apart from the work that Christ is doing in me. Left to myself I will mess up my life innumerably. So I have nothing else to trust except that God in me will continue and complete the work He started and the only thing that I can do is get myself out of the way and not interfere or disturb that which He is doing. Then in the end easily it will be to the glory of God and not of anything that I have done to deserve eternal rest in Him.
APPLICATION
I will meditate on this verse today.
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