Category: Philippians - Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Passion Sunday

3/20/2021

3/20/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

On Palm Sunday we see Jesus entering Jerusalem as a king. He freely accepts the shouts of praise and the procession, which looks for all the world like a victory parade. Our Epistle reading for this week draws a sharp contrast. Jesus made himself nothing, even humbling himself to die a shameful death. He doesn't look so much like a king them, does he?

Perhaps he does look kingly. The role of a monarch involves the good of the people. The king does not belong to himself. He is not free to do whatever he wants. In fact, to be a good king involves many annoyances, inconveniences, and even mortal peril. The king lays down his life for the good of the kingdom. This is exactly what Jesus does. He cares more for the salvation of the world than he does for his own comfort or honor.

What is the outcome of Jesus' act of humiliation? He is raised from the dead, conquering death, and rescuing all who believe from sin and death. This is the true work of Christ, the king of heaven and earth.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 3:17-21 - Lectionary for Trinity 23

11/11/2020

11/11/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Our Epistle passage from Philippians chapter three makes a sharp distinction between Christ's people and Christ's enemies. What of the enemies of Christ? In verse 19 the end result is destruction. They follow a god called their "belly" in the Scripture. They are obedient to their appetites. they glory in things that are shameful. Their outlook is earthly.

We may have some very good appetites. Those are healthy. God created people with appetites and desires. It's significant that Paul here speaks of the belly, rather than sexual desires. Everyone wants food and drink. It's perfectly normal and healthy. But the earthly person sees that as the end goal. Food and drink as an end goal is acutely temporal. We use up our calories and our liquids in a matter of hours.

If we have only an earthly hope, it is a hope which will perish. In contrast to those who have a hope that perishes, which ends in destruction, the Christian has a hope in the resurrected Lord Jesus, who will never perish. Jesus intends to transform us to be like him, the eternal and resurrected one. This is a hope that will never pass away. It is eternal.

While we are in this earthly body, we certainly use earthly provisions. But our hope is in eternity. We look to the risen Christ, our forerunner, our hope of resurrection. He is able to care for us forever. This is the hope of the world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 1:3-11 - Lectionary for Trinity 22

11/4/2020

11/4/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

In Philippians chapter one the apostle gives thanks for the church in Philippi. He is sure, according to verse six, that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, ESV). The work of God in Christ, redeeming us and keeping us safe in His hands to eternal life, is a certain thing. God promises that he is able to take care of his people, even until the last day. No matter what may interrup them, they can be secure in Christ.

Where are we tempted to find our security? In money? In family? In shows of respect? In a fulfilling career? All these, though they are good things, will fall short of eternal fulfillment.

Our security is found in Christ. He is the one who began the work of the Spirit in us. He is the one who can bring it to completion. He is the one who guards us every step of the way in between.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Sunday of the Passion

4/1/2020

4/1/20 Read the passage here.

Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Central to Jesus’ attitude in dealing with the worldwide pandemic crisis of sin, death, and destruction is his humility. This may just make a lot of sense to a lot of people at this moment in our history. Actually, I don’t know that for certain. I happen to be writing this post nine days before it will post. I’m in quarantine (no, nobody in the family is showing any symptoms of illness, but we had some travel which brought us through places crowded with a lot of people from other placs as well), actually comfortably recovering from some strenuous socially-distanced gardening. A few weeks ago, “social distancing” was a novelty term. Two weeks ago today I was engaged in some language coaching, some visits to people who couldn’t get to church due to age and health issues, and some work on a busy college campus where people were looking forward to Spring Break! Circumstances can certainly change, and change fast.

What does this have to do with Jesus and Philippians chapter two? A great deal. As the Bible portrays him, Jesus, creator and lord of all, understands the seriousness of sin. It brings death. It may bring death today, it may bring it with a delay, but it brings death, eternal destruction. That isn’t what he created it to be, but it is the just curse of a sinful and fallen condition. We all get to suffer from it. As the world was made to run, sin can be forgiven. That forgiveness comes about by perfect righteousness, which means we may never sin in any way, or by someone else’s perfect righteousness and death on our behalf. Since we, as sinful beings, cannot possibly earn forgiveness, we have to depend on someone who is perfect, and that perfect someone has to be completely human. This is Jesus, who had no sin, who could become a human like we are, and who lived a life of perfect obedience to God the Father, finally dying in our place. The passage in Philippians two describes the way Christ, God the Son, considered our need more important than the majesty and glory he held with the Father. He humbled himself to meet our need. We were unable to do anything ultimately meaningful against the enemy. But he was able, and did all that was necessary for our salvation.
All this Jesus does out of care for us. He is motivated by our need. In the end, all the praise and thanksgiving we give is certainly due to Jesus, but we do it not to earn his favor but because of his favor which has been poured out upon us already.

Does this influence the way we live in our society? I sure hope it does. In the past several weeks we have all been hearing of many people who are in need, some in situations of critical need. We are able to help some of them. Others, we cannot help. But imagine what happens if Christians, who have a confidence in eternity and who have seen Jesus’ work for them, commit themselves to loving and serving their neighbors in the ways they can! This may include, as in my case just now, avoiding contact with neighbors who may be in fragile health. It may include picking up the telephone in the old fashioned way and making a voice call to a friend who is worried, a relative who can’t get out, someone who is tired. Above all, Christians can pray for the sick, just like we have been doing for centuries. We can remember that the prayers of the Church have regularly been, among other things, for good government, for protection against plague and pestilence, for the strength and health of community and family, and for God’s Word to bring comfort to the hurting. Could we possibly care for others in that way?

Jesus thinks of us before he considers his own honor, glory, position, and prestige. We can think of others in the same way. Have this same mind in yourself, the apostle says. Will we do it perfectly? Not at all. But we can try.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 4:4-7 - Lectionary for Advent 4

12/18/2019

12/18/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Our Epistle for this week, from Philippians 4:4-7, came up also in a special Thanksgiving service which I recently led. It applies just as well to the preparations we make for the Christmas season. Here Paul tells the Philippians not to be anxious about anything. That seems really difficult, especially when we think not only of festive occasions, but also of the many trials that can come upon us at any time. In my country, we are approaching the shortest day of the year. We move into the coldest time of year, the time when a lot of industry that depends on work outside closes down due to weather, the time when seasonal employment in the retail sector is getting ready to be cut off, the time when some types of manufacturing shut down for a while to retool for the next year’s model of whatever they are making. There’s some uncertainty there. We are also moving into the season when influenza and other related illnesses predictably claim the lives of 12,000 to 60,000 Americans each year. That’s a whole lot of uncertainty, produced from what most of us would consider a fairly routine type of infection. Don’t be anxious? This is EXACTLY the right time to be anxious!

What’s the rest of verse 6? We commit everything to God through Jesus in prayer. We give him thanks. We are telling a heavenly Father who cares about the troubles we may face, about the fears we have, about our uncertainty, about the troubles of those around us, big and small. And we can do it with thanksgiving. After all, the Lord is able and willing to care for the needs of His people. There’s no reason to think He would abandon us. He likes us to bring our problems before Him. He cares for his children.

As we commit our concerns to the Lord, I want to observe something in verse seven. It is often misquoted, as a benediction or a wish for someone. “May the peace of God…” But this isn’t what the apostle Paul said. He made a statement, a factual statement. “The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.” This is the natural result of turning our concerns over to the Lord. He will guard our hearts with His peace. There’s no room left for that anxiety. Yes, there’s a lot of uncertainty in our lives. But who is in charge of the world? Not I, not my fears, not my hopes, nor even my thoughts and prayers. God almighty is in charge of the world. As we commit our cares to Him, He will guard our hearts and minds. No fear. Uncertainty, yes, but fear? Not at all.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Sunday of the Passion, Series C

4/10/2019

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Sunday of the Passion, Series C
4/10/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

There are two verses in our Epistle reading for this week which can be misinterpreted very easily. I’d like to take a quick look at them. We find of Jesus’ humiliation, “7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8, ESV) We owe it to the text, and to Jesus, to interpret these verses rightly.

First off, when verse seven says Jesus is “in the likeness” of man, it doesn’t mean he is sort of like a human, as many heretical sects have claimed over the centuries. Wanting to defend Jesus’ deity, these people say he wasn’t really human. He just seemed kind of human. But the text here says very clearly that Jesus is born as a human. He is just like humans. If I buy two identical shirts and give one to myself and one to you, one is mine, and yours is in the same likeness. They are not the same shirt, but they are really like each other. Jesus is as human as you or I could ever claim to be. That’s what verse seven says. He laid aside his deity and took up humanity. This is of critical importance to Christian theology because human sin requires the death of a perfect human. If Jesus isn’t human like you or like me, his death can never take our place. He is entirely human.

What about the problem with verse eight? This one is kept a little more hidden. But we want to realize that he was obedient to the death. While Paul says “to the point of death” some, again, trying to defend the deity of Christ, have suggested he was obedient to the point of death but then his death was an illusion or there was a substitute who died in his place, because, being God, he couldn’t actually die. This is not what Paul says, though it could come off that way in translation. What Paul is saying is that Jesus was obedient even though it killed him. Yes, verse eight says that God the Son, Jesus, died a real death, a shameful death, a death which inflicted all manner of pain and suffering upon him.

Is there some good news in this passage? Yes, it is very good news. The Jesus who, though he was and is God, became man, was able to take on all our fallen humanity’s sin. Because he remained perfect, his death was able to substitute for ours. Because God really died for us, he is also able to bring us into his exaltation, where we can be raised with Christ. Because Jesus became like us, he is able to take care of us and make us like himself. Jesus, the Christ, is the one who can walk through death on our behalf and raise us to new life. That was his intent, and that is exactly what he proceeded to do.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 3:4b-14 - Lectionary for Lent 5C

4/3/2019

4/3/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Christians are often encouraged to work, and work very hard, based on our Epistle passage for this week. In Philippians 3:12-14 we are told that Paul pushes and strains for a prize in Christ. And we are also rightly urged to the same striving. Yet we must ask what our right goal is. After all, we will only hit a goal we cannot rightly see by accident. We are much more likely to hit a goal that we are looking for.

Sadly, we easily encourage ourselves right into the fruitless pursuit Paul described in the previous paragraph. In verse three, he spoke of it as a confidence in the flesh. He had the right birth, in Israel. He was of the sect which took God’s Word seriously. He pursued the faith diligently. That sounds very like what we urge ourselves to do. Yet it was useless to Paul, as it is useless to us.

The pursuit Paul needed from the start, the same we need, was to pursue knowing Jesus as Lord. Paul needed to be found in Christ (v. 9), trusting in Jesus’ righteousness delivered to him by grace through faith. As long as Paul worked toward his own goals, his own goodness, his own righteousness, it would not benefit him. It is only as he looked to Jesus that he would find hope.

It is the same for us as for Paul. Our striving can never be after our own godliness, but must always be intended to know Jesus, the one who gave himself for us. This is where we find true hope.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 3:17-4:1 - Lectionary for Lent 2C

3/13/2019

3/13/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Epistle reading this week the apostle Paul urges the Philippians to imitate him. This passage opens a fearful set of possible misinterpretations. Are we to try to emulate our church leaders? How do we know if they should be imitated? What of the people who are only pursuing power? In light of recent publicity which points out the sinful stiving for selfish and dictatorial influence over others, resulting in all manner of abuse, we need to proceed with caution. We don’t follow churchly authorities blindly.

While Paul tells the Philippians to follow his pattern, and the patterns of others who are similar, he makes it crystal clear how he is different from the power of this world. In verse 19, the result of the bad examples’ life is destruction. They have raised their own desires to the level of a god. Their minds are on earthly, not heavenly things. Those who are headed for destruction have pursued the things of this life only. They are trying to live in the moment, rather than considering eternity.

Sadly, there is a movement within contemporary Christianity which urges living “in the now.” It would say that true spirituality is momentary. It is also elusive. The fact is, rejecting the past and taking no thought to the future is normally seen as irresponsible and unhealthy. Much of what makes society work is an awareness of the possible consequences of our actions.

Paul is not speaking to such a radical departure. He is, however, cuationing against considering only the self and the temporal. He says there is a much better thing for the Christian. We have a heavenly citizenship, eternal and trustworthy. For this, we wait as Christ prepares to change us into His image, out of our image. This is his way of giving us a glory we wouldn’t even imagine ourselves. Yet it is where we are to stand. As we see our leaders walking in this way of glory, we imitate them. Their desire is heavenly, likewise their calling. They will lead us to hope on Christ.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 4:4-7 - Lectionary for Advent 3C

12/12/2018

12/12/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

It’s amazing how many things can worry us! Some of those we can take care of, or at least help care for. Some we can’t. For some, we are responsible. Others? Not so much. Yet we can worry, fret, stew. Or maybe we are simply able to acknowledge it is a concern and leave it there.

Philippians 4:6 tells us not to worry, but to present our requests to God. He is able to care for all of them. Some will work out without any more of our involvement. For some, we will find we are God’s instrument to help. Some of our requests will be resolved the way we wanted, some will not. But we can trust the Lord will work everything out. He will, additionally, guard our hearts and minds.

What do we do when we see or hear of trouble? We pray. Lord, have mercy on those who are suffering in poverty and hunger. Can I feed and clothe them all? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But if the Lord makes me able to help a few now and then, and He enables others at other times, what is the result? The hungry are fed, at least some of them. We were concerned, we prayed, and the Lord used us as part of the solution. Sometimes he may use someone else. Regardless, we worked in just the same way. What about when our family member or close friend is hurting? Lord, have mercy, help bring a restoration of our relationship. In that case, you are already part of the solution. So we let the Lord work through us, no matter what the need.

Make your requests known to God. He will work out the troubles in a way which uses you to bring glory to His name.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 1:2-11 - Lectionary for Advent 2C

12/5/2018

12/5/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Philippians, often regarded as the friendliest of Paul’s letters, expresses a great confidence in God and a great hope for his work among his people. Paul fully expects, in verse six, that God, having begun a good work in the Philippians, will continue it, bringing it to completion. Where does Paul draw this confidence from? In verses eight and following, it is because the Holy Spirit has bound Paul and the Philippians together. They have heard about Paul’s various trials and have still stood with him. They have heard he is doing well and have not given up in thir care for him. Whether times are easy or difficult, there they are.

In Paul’s opinion, and we confess this text is inspired by the Holy Spirit, the love and care the Philippians have is from God and is not focused just on Paul but spreads to others. They are actively discerning what is good, and working in accord with that.

Does this mean we can safely assess godliness based on actions? No, we can’t say that. But we can get some indicators of character and encourage faithful dependence on Christ, just what Paul does here.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians

6/28/2018

Thursdays are for the New Testament
6/28/18
Carson, D.A., and Douglas Moo An Introduction to the New Testament - Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. "New Testament Letters" Carson & Moo pp. 331-353
“Philippians” Carson & Moo pp. 498-515

After a brief survey of the contents of Philippians, Carson & Moo discuss the authorship of the book. Except for the passage in chapter 2 verses 5-11 the letter is almost uniformly ascribed to Paul. The remaining seven verses appear to be an insertion, possibly by Paul, of a text existing at the time of composition, possibly an early hymn. p. 500 “In an earlier day this was often taken as a solemn doctrinal pronouncement of the apostle and made the basis for kenotic theories of the incarnation. In more recent times close attention has been given to its form, and it is now widely agreed that we should see it both as poetry and as liturgy - in short, as a hymn.”

The book was written while Paul was a prisoner, traditionally assumed to be in Rome. Carson and Moo discuss other possibilities but still tend to consider Rome as the location of composition, probably about 61-62. The letter is occasional in nature. Paul writes to reassure the Philippians of the well-being of Epaphroditus. He also wishes to acknowledge the gift they had sent him and to thank them for their prayers. Paul also commends Timothy to the Philippians.

The letter, which has no significant textual questions, was adopted into the canon quite early without dispute. In recent study scholars have investigated the unity of the letter, looking for unifying features. There have also been attempts to identify Paul’s opponents and the kind of opposition he faced.

Philippians shows us a great deal about bringing encouragement to others in their faith and action. We can know that God works in his communities as they are knit together in Christ.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Passion Sunday, Series B

3/21/2018

""This is an encore post."

4/5/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

We love to be in charge. People in every culture and in every age strive for power and influence. We would rather be the person in charge of a small community than the second ranked person in a large community. Better the president than the vice president. Better the pilot than the co-pilot.

How did Jesus consider this? In Philippians 2:5-11 he considered bringing forgiveness and life to you and to me as more important than his role as God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. Although he was the very God of glory, he humbled himself to purchase salvation. With this done, of course, he took up his glory again. After all, he was and is God almighty.

Every one of us is important in some way, at least to some people. And every one is a very particular person for whom Jesus has died. Yet despite our importance and standing, there is someone we are to care for. The apostle Paul tells us to have the same mind that Jesus had. This means that we put our own desires aside. We humble ourselves. We reach out to others.

What are the cares and concerns of those around us? What needs are brought to our mind and heart on a daily basis? How can we humble ourselves, doing good for our community? Christians have been accused of irrelevance before. They will receive those accusations again. At the same time, they have been in the forefront of charitable works. They provide foster care and adopt children at a significantly higher rate than people who do not claim to be Christians. They are more likely to take work in charitable organizations, often at relatively low wages. On average, Christians do more charitable giving and participate in more community service than others. Why is this? It would be really nice to think it is because of Jesus’ example in Philippians 2. Maybe it is. Maybe not. But right now, we might not be able to tell. Why? Because there are people around us who need the love and care of Jesus, including that loving care that reaches out personally and helps feed and clothe them.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 4:4-13 - Lectionary for Pentecost 19A

10/11/2017

10/11/17

Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

It’s very easy, when reading our Epistle reading, to pile a bunch of commands onto ourselves. There are certainly a lot of demands from God. We are to rejoice, be gracious, confident, prayerful, thankful, and peaceful. We are to spend our time and energy thinking about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. We, like Paul, are to be content whether we have little or much. We’re told that Paul can do all things, and we ought to do the same.

It would be a natural step to feel inferior. It would be perfectly normal to despair. Yet that isn’t the purpose of this passage. Philippians is one of the most encouraging books of the New Testament! Why is that?

Let’s notice the promises. In verse seven we see that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds. In verse nine we see that God will be with us. How is Paul content? He is content because in Christ he has all he needs.

Maybe we need to be sure we are thinking of God’s demands in light of his promises. What’s the source of our rejoicing? It’s the Lord who is near (verse 5). Where do we find graciousness, confidence, a desire to prayer, thanksgiving, and peace? It’s from the Lord who has rescued us from sin, death, and the power of hell. When we are burdened, when we are troubled, whatever our circumstances, we can call upon the Lord Jesus, who gives us all we need. When we see our failure, we look to him as the forgiving and restoring Lord. When we see our weakness, we look to him as our strength. When we think nobody cares, we look to him and realize that he cared for us when we didn’t even know who he was. All thanks be to God.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 3:4b-14 - Lectionary for Pentecost 18A

10/4/2017

10/4/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Epistle reading from Philippians chapter 3, the apostle Paul makes a startling confession. He is someone of illustrious parentage. He has lived an exemplary life. He is, in fact, one of the more brilliant lights in his society. It did him no good.

Did Paul really waste all his time and effort earlier in life? Does he cast it all away as refuse? In fact, he doesn’t. He learns from it. But it’s a very hard lesson. He has to realize that all he was doing, all his goals, all his priorities, it all counted for nothing. Anything that separated Paul from Jesus, anything that stood in the way of his trusting God rather than trusting himself, it must be put behind him.

We also fall into the trap of trusting ourselves. Yet Paul tells very clearly that our trust in ourselves will do absolutely no good. It will simply hinder us. If we persist in trusting ourselves God’s response is that we can go ahead and earn our own salvation by being absolutely perfect. This is something we can never do. Rather, by grace, we learn to trust in Jesus and his perfection. That is eternal life.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 - Lectionary for Pentecost 17A

9/27/2017

9/27/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle reading for this week, from Philippians 2, is often used almost like a motivational speech. If we have any fellowship in Christ, we should find unity, love, and purpose. We just need to get along. And we do it without grumbling!

What’s all this predicated on? It is all dependent on fellowship in Christ. We’re consoled by His love, not by our own. We look to the Holy Spirit for our unity. We don’t look at our own spirit. That will only lead us to trust ourselves and enter into strife and animosity. No, we trust in the Lord. He’s the one who has reconciled us to God the Father. He’s the one who reconciles us to one another.

At every point, as we look at the Epistle lesson, we can ask ourselves how we are doing. We realize that we fall short of the perfect obecience the Lord would require. And we turn to him in repentance to find his forgiveness and grace. Then we see that all of the characteristics the apostle mentions are those of our Lord and Savior. He, in turn, has given his nature to us. We live in him and he lives in us. Thanks be to God.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30 - Lectionary for Pentecost 16A

9/20/2017

9/20/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Epistle reading for this week, from Philippians chapter 1, the apostle Paul is in prison. Sadly, this is not an unusual situation for him. In the Book of Acts, Paul seems to spend a good bit of time recovering from assault, being imprisoned, or otherwise being detained somewhere.

Although I said it was a common situation “sadly,” Paul doesn’t seem to view it that way. Certainly he didn’t enjoy being locked up in prison. There are things any of us would rather do than receive a beating or have stones thrown at us. Yet Paul seemed to take it in stride.

Behind this attitude of confidence and steadfastness in suffering is a powerful reason. Paul says he is all right with suffering because it is allowing him to be present for those around him. The Gospel is being proclaimed. His guards and other people are seeing the way he lives as a servant of Christ. He hopes to be released from prison and have opportunity to serve the Christian communities wherever he can go.

Would it be better for Paul if he were to die and be with Christ? It certainly would. However, Paul will accept his imprisonment and torture so as to be available to his Christian brothers and sisters. There will come a time when he will die and be with Christ. But for now, he is content to be of assistance in this earth.

This was, after all, the mind of Christ. He laid down heavenly glory to come for our benefit, living and dying on our behalf. May the Lord give us the same mind, that we would live for our neighbor so long as we live on this earth, and then we would live for God in eternity.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Lectionary for Palm Sunday, Series A

4/5/2017

4/5/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

We love to be in charge. People in every culture and in every age strive for power and influence. We would rather be the person in charge of a small community than the second ranked person in a large community. Better the president than the vice president. Better the pilot than the co-pilot.

How did Jesus consider this? In Philippians 2:5-11 he considered bringing forgiveness and life to you and to me as more important than his role as God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. Although he was the very God of glory, he humbled himself to purchase salvation. With this done, of course, he took up his glory again. After all, he was and is God almighty.

Every one of us is important in some way, at least to some people. And every one is a very particular person for whom Jesus has died. Yet despite our importance and standing, there is someone we are to care for. The apostle Paul tells us to have the same mind that Jesus had. This means that we put our own desires aside. We humble ourselves. We reach out to others.

What are the cares and concerns of those around us? What needs are brought to our mind and heart on a daily basis? How can we humble ourselves, doing good for our community? Christians have been accused of irrelevance before. They will receive those accusations again. At the same time, they have been in the forefront of charitable works. They provide foster care and adopt children at a significantly higher rate than people who do not claim to be Christians. They are more likely to take work in charitable organizations, often at relatively low wages. On average, Christians do more charitable giving and participate in more community service than others. Why is this? It would be really nice to think it is because of Jesus’ example in Philippians 2. Maybe it is. Maybe not. But right now, we might not be able to tell. Why? Because there are people around us who need the love and care of Jesus, including that loving care that reaches out personally and helps feed and clothe them.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.