The (somewhat) Daily Devo: Caution! God Working

Philippians 2:12-13 NIV Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

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Watched my son working the extra credit on his math page last night. He said it wasn't terrible; it was just that he was nearly out of brain cells. Looked hard to me, though.

If read as an individual, working out my salvation with fear and trembling reads like a tough homework assignment. (Math certainly has that affect on me). But (to beat a dead horse) "your" is plural. Where believers associate in common faith and practice, we are working it out together; in community, each doing what we do best. And God is at work too, seeing to it His Will and purpose get done.

I feel better now. With this info, I can face the Day.

Father, though we are spread out today, please use us as one body, working out our salvation, accomplishing your purposes. In Jesus. Amen.

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: "Every Knee"

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with
God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
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.

The "Hymn of Christ" kind of speaks for itself.

Before we pray, here's that first verse in another translation just to drive the point home:

Philippians 2:5 NIV In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus....

Father, may this mindset of Christ Jesus be in us, no matter where we labor, learn and live. May we make in our minds neither excuse nor exception--for He, though Divine, made none. In Jesus, to whom every knee will bow. Amen.

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: "Don't Stop There!"

Philippians 2:1-4 ESV "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy...."

[Apparently, if your faith community is characterized by Christ's encouragement and his comforting love you, and God's Spirit is uniting you, and you are concerned for others, you are just getting started! Don't stop there! That's not the end game. There's a richness yet to be known in community when the Spirit has granted these miracles. Reading on...] "

...complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

As I read these verses, I see a glimpse of our five-year journey in our church plant in Sherwood, OR.  We've come a long way this year and seen the Spirit work in us some of that encouragement, comfort, love. Now we hope to keep journeying in prayer together, entrusting ourselves to an earlier reference to things being made complete in Philippians 1:6: "I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

If you live around here and crave a faith community that is praying tenaciously for a fresh work of God's Spirit, give me a shout. If not, fall on your knees right now and seek the Lord for a community like that!  

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: Purposeful

Philippians 1:19-25 NIV

...For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith....

"For your progress and joy in the faith"

That would apparently be Paul's immediate answer, his knee-jerk response, if you asked him, "why do you want to go on living?" Yesterday's post intimated that Paul's existence was just a skosh lacking in the "creature comforts" department.
Astounding.

Father I define life too much by its comforts and assign far too much purpose to life on pursuits of fleeting consequence and selfish ambition. Please keep reshaping me into that person whose chief aim in life is the faith--the progressing, joy-filled faith-- of those with whose company you have enriched my life. In Jesus. Amen.

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: Because of my Chains

Philippians 1:14 NIV And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. I don't like hurting; going through hard times; being limited by disease. Anymore than Paul--the writer of the letter--liked being chained to a damp wall, or kept in a filthy cage in utter darkness among rodents and the screams of the torchered and crazed, eating only what brave friends managed to bring him when they could bribe their way in. Apparently there is a difference between liking something painful, limiting, challenging and...finding joy in it. Because Paul measured his misery against the advance of the Good News. "Other Christ-followers are sharing about Christ more--and more confidently--because I'm going through this. OK. Good deal." Jesus never promised an easy life. He did promise He would be there. Father, whatever I experience, whether so pleasant I forget pain or the worst sort of pain this evil world can dredge up, I pray you, in your miraculous way, will make the most of it to draw me and others closer to your Son. In Jesus. Amen

The (somewhat) Daily Devo: Y'all

Philippians 1:3-6 NLT Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. ____________________________________ Please reread the paragraph above with this information in mind: the word "you" is plural. Might help to mentally read "all of you together" each time you read "you.". Sure, it's an awkward read, but it drives home a point: we're in this together. Worshipping together; eating, laughing, praying together; sharing our burdens. You'll find Philippians has a lot to say about joy. I suspect the fact that--in the ancient language from which it is translated-the plural form of "you" is employed generously throughout. Increase our sense of oneness, Lord, and our awareness throughout the day and week that you are with us always, and we're traveling together in the Fellowship of the Spirit. In Jesus. Amen.

The (Somewhat) Daily Devo

Just read Mark chapter 15 this morning, the heart of the Gospel. Never enough reminders that as Christians the Cross--the humiliating, sacrificial death of our God--is central to our understanding and worship of God. From the Cross we derive meaning and purpose.

"The Message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!  But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT)

Father, may we be mindful of the Cross of Christ today. May it inform everything we think, say, and do. In Jesus.  Amen.