Tag: Philippians 4

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All You’ll Ever Need

 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:17-18

How you see the world is everything. Take America for instance. We can look at the divisions that seem deep within the people, and we can say that if the nation doesn’t change, the divisions may become irreconcilable. But that’s looking at the glass half full. We could also look at the deep divisions that exist and say what a tremendous opportunity exists to come together and be stronger than before.

It’s a scientific fact that pressure can make things stronger. Humans for example, are stronger if they work out than if they’re lazy. Muscles and bones weaken if they aren’t exposed to pressure. Of course too much pressure can break not only bones and muscles but lives as well. St. Paul shows us the key to understanding how to handle the pressures of life. To be able to be of meager means and feel full, is truly a gift.

The great Apostle was certainly of meager means. He left his plush life as one of society’s elite to give his life for the gospel. He didn’t keep his home in Tarsus and return from his missionary journeys for relaxing weekends. He found everything he needed to feel full and satisfied in the meager means of a Roman jail cell. And, with the offering he received from the Philippians he was over-joyed and considered that he was “abounding”.

While we don’t know what was in the offering they sent to him, it couldn’t have been much. They didn’t have a lot in the fledgling Christian church filled with many of societies outcasts, as was common of the churches of the first century. But whatever it was, it was a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. Paul knew what they sacrificed in order to send it.

The Philippians were living in the power of the resurrection to put Paul’s needs above their own. Paul was living in the power of the resurrection to be able to exist in such meager means and still feel he was abounding in all things. So what about you? Are you feeling full or empty? It really has nothing to do with what you have, that is as long as you’re not talking about having the power of the resurrection. When you have that power, you have all you’ll ever need. So remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

God of all grace and glory, thank you for reminding me that with your Holy Spirit, I have all I’ll ever need! Amen. Alleluia!

 

Image credit:http://www.truefruit.com/2012/06/21/technology-tools-or-toys/

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Real Joy – Part 1

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:10-11

Just what does contentment look like anyway? The idea of being content is central to the Christian faith, or at least it’s supposed to be according to scripture. We’re called to be content with who we are, where we are, and what we have. But how many of us really are content in any of those areas? Why is all this so important? Because when we find the secret of being content, then we find real joy.

St. Paul apparently was content with all his circumstances by the time of the writing of the Philippian letter, which is amazing considering he was writing from a jail cell having been wrongly accused. In today’s devotional we need to take a long look in the mirror and ask ourselves just how content we really are. Our culture, by all indicators, suggests very few of us are actually content. Consumerism is rampant! We seem to always want something newer, bigger, and better than what we have.

About now some of you are asking the question we all do from time to time; “What’s wrong with wanting something new and better”. Well, the real answer is nothing is ‘wrong’ with it, but when our desire to have something newer, bigger, and better impedes our joy and contentment in what we have and who we are, then something is wrong – we’re really not thankful for what we have. We could always have something less, and believe me many people do.

For today, perhaps it’s enough for us to contemplate our level of contentment, or lack thereof? Tomorrow we will discuss the secret of being St. Paul learned of how to be content, and how we can learn it as well. So, as you contemplate how thankful you are for who you are and what you have, remember Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Father God, show me who I am to you, and reveal to me who it is you want me to be as your child. Convict me of any thanklessness I am showing in my life. Teach me how to be content in you. Amen. Alleluia!

Image Credit: http://citychapeloc.com/real-joy/

 

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In God We Trust – or Do We?

Click Here to Read Philippians 3:20-21; 4:1-3

 

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Power is fleeting, yet we strive for it in this world. Too often we strive at much to high a cost. Lord Acton, 19th Century British Statesman, is famously quoted as saying, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Those who seek to be President of the United States are certainly seeking power. There is perhaps no more powerful office in the world. And, there seems to be no limit to what some will do or say to achieve such heights of power.

Everyday there’s a new round of accusations among the many candidates of both parties, as they jockey for position as the front-runner in the race. I know, I know it’s just politics, right? Maybe so, but much of the rhetoric can lead one to think the end of the world is at hand depending on the outcome. But, before we assign the end of the world to the outcome of who wins the respective nominations for the Democrats and the Republicans, we need to remember the words of St. Paul, “But, our commonwealth is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20)

I love my country, the US of A, but I must admit the older I get the more I realize my real country is Heaven. As Christ followers, we need to be careful not to get our allegiances switched around. Regardless who wins the next election, God is still God and our citizenship won’t be in question.

We can and should be thankful for the gift we have in being Americans. We are born in the most free nation ever to exist in the history of the world, and with that freedom comes much responsibility. At the end of the day, only one candidate will stand as the so called next ‘leader of the free world’. But, we must remember above that leader stands the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

The power struggles we see being waged before us in the campaigns are not really that different than the ones we are all tempted to wage in our daily lives. The desire for power, whether at work, family, or in relationships is counter to the Spirit of Christ we are called to live and exemplify. Jesus calls those who would be His to be poor in spirit – meek and humble. True power is found when we serve our brother not lord it over him. Could there be better example among us mortals of such power, than when Pope Francis knelt to wash the feet of prisoners? Perhaps but that picture sure sticks in my mind of true power in leadership.

This Weekend:

Today is Friday, a day Christians revere as holy because on it we remember Jesus died for the sins of the world. He died for all will believe. He died not just to save us from our sins, He died to redeem all things. St. Paul tells us when we are “in Christ”, we are a new creation. Genuine faith produces a change in us; the old is gone, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).

As you look toward Sunday, hopefully to gather with other faithful souls who are seeking to worship the true leader of the free world, would you take a few moments to consider how you’re using the power given to you, as a husband, wife, parent, or boss? How are you doing at trusting God to lead you in ALL things? Our nation’s motto is “In God We Trust”. Is it yours? I hope so. If so, then you will realize with me God is still leading those who will follow Him no matter who wins the next election.

The old gospel song is still true:

“This world is not my home, I’m just passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me to Heaven’s open shore, and I can’t be at home in this world anymore.”

P.S.

St. Paul also urged the people of Philppi to get along (Vs. 4:1-3). And, he asked those in the church to be the ones to help them get along. Another question I’m considering this election season, as the arguments increase, is what am I doing to help others to get along? Let us not be divisive, but loving, for it’s in God we trust, not this world.

Grace & Peace

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6