Philippians 2:19-30
I don't think it's any coincidence that just after Paul talks about shining like stars he starts talking about Timothy and Epaphroditus. I'm not even sure that they even talked about people as being "stars" in that day and age but even so, as Paul encourages the Philippian church to stand out like stars in the universe and to work out their salvation, I am not surprised that he was reminded of these two. I mean, look at their accomplishments: genuinely concerned about the welfare of others, more concerned about the interests of Christ than his own, served with Paul in spreading the gospel, fellow soldier, risking his life for the sake of the gospel, so valuable to Paul that his death would cause Paul to experience sorrow squared.
What is my legacy? Is there anything it this list that could apply to me? If I was one of Paul's people, what would he say about me? Very challenging as I realize based on the criteria that Paul uses for Timothy and Epaphroditus that I probably wouldn't make his list of stars...
Showing posts with label Philippians 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippians 2. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
fear and trembling
Philippians 2:12-18
The key words are: blameless, pure, without fault (all synonyms), glad and rejoice (one of the theme words for Philippians). This section connects to the previous: based on Christ's example of servanthood and humility we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This does not mean that we earn our salvation by works but that we continue to make the eternal reality that we are pure and holy a present reality. Paul is using the word salvation here in the sense of our sanctification: you have been saved but now we work or live that out in this life. This echoes what James says: faith without works is dead. Even this is not all up to me - the next verse says that I work out my salvation because God is working in me to fulfill his purpose (my salvation). When I seek to live my faith, I align myself with the purpose of God in my life.
So why the fear and trembling? I think that it's a recognition that if I have no desire to work out my salvation it probably indicates that God is not at work in my life (meaning that he is not saving or sanctifying me). If the purpose of God is my holiness or sanctification and I am not joining him in that purpose it puts me at rebellion against God. So I should be desperate to do whatever is necessary and not do anything that does not move me toward holiness.
However, this holiness is not just about me isolating myself from the world to work on my sanctification. Paul says that I need to be visible to the people around me - I need to be different (specifically Paul says that we stand out when we do not grumble or complain) but I also need to be seen to be different. I am not just supposed to shine for the other believers but against the backdrop of a warped and crooked generation.
I really like what Paul says at the end: if they do all this, then his efforts won't have been wasted and he'll be "proud" to point them out to others in heaven. This really applies to me as a youth pastor: sometimes I feel like I am wasting my efforts. I don't mind pouring myself out like a drink offering but I would much rather pour it out on thier service that comes from their faith. And I can't complain because I often do see God at work in their lives - that's when my work is pleasurable and it hardly seems like any effort at all.
The key words are: blameless, pure, without fault (all synonyms), glad and rejoice (one of the theme words for Philippians). This section connects to the previous: based on Christ's example of servanthood and humility we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This does not mean that we earn our salvation by works but that we continue to make the eternal reality that we are pure and holy a present reality. Paul is using the word salvation here in the sense of our sanctification: you have been saved but now we work or live that out in this life. This echoes what James says: faith without works is dead. Even this is not all up to me - the next verse says that I work out my salvation because God is working in me to fulfill his purpose (my salvation). When I seek to live my faith, I align myself with the purpose of God in my life.
So why the fear and trembling? I think that it's a recognition that if I have no desire to work out my salvation it probably indicates that God is not at work in my life (meaning that he is not saving or sanctifying me). If the purpose of God is my holiness or sanctification and I am not joining him in that purpose it puts me at rebellion against God. So I should be desperate to do whatever is necessary and not do anything that does not move me toward holiness.
However, this holiness is not just about me isolating myself from the world to work on my sanctification. Paul says that I need to be visible to the people around me - I need to be different (specifically Paul says that we stand out when we do not grumble or complain) but I also need to be seen to be different. I am not just supposed to shine for the other believers but against the backdrop of a warped and crooked generation.
I really like what Paul says at the end: if they do all this, then his efforts won't have been wasted and he'll be "proud" to point them out to others in heaven. This really applies to me as a youth pastor: sometimes I feel like I am wasting my efforts. I don't mind pouring myself out like a drink offering but I would much rather pour it out on thier service that comes from their faith. And I can't complain because I often do see God at work in their lives - that's when my work is pleasurable and it hardly seems like any effort at all.
Monday, April 14, 2008
what comes down will go up
Philippians 2:6-11
The genre changes for this section from prose to poetry. It is possible that Paul is including an early Christian hymn or creed. There are two parts: the willful humiliation of Jesus and the exaltation of Jesus by God. Paul uses Jesus as the example for those who are his disciples to follow: have the same attitude of mind - humble yourself to the lowest position and let God take care of lifting you up. This teaching is echoed all through the Bible: Jesus taught it (the last will be first, the first will be last; if you want to be great, you must become a servant of all), Paul teaches it and James teaches it as well (humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up).
There is so much in this passage that strikes me. It is a very simple, yet profound summary of the incarnation and exaltation of Jesus. It speaks so highly of the character of Jesus and could be studied in depth for a great amount of time without ever exhausting its richness.
I think the last line sums it all up: to the glory of God the Father. Jesus' humilation was to the glory of God. Jesus' exaltation is not ultimately for the glory of the Son but to the glory of the Father. I think if I am to have the same attitude of mind as Jesus that I have to seek God's glory over everything else. When I do that, I will not grasp onto my puny positions or seek to use them for my own advantage but will hold everything with an open hand because it is not about me - it's all about the glory of God.
God, please give me the same attitude of mind Jesus had.
The genre changes for this section from prose to poetry. It is possible that Paul is including an early Christian hymn or creed. There are two parts: the willful humiliation of Jesus and the exaltation of Jesus by God. Paul uses Jesus as the example for those who are his disciples to follow: have the same attitude of mind - humble yourself to the lowest position and let God take care of lifting you up. This teaching is echoed all through the Bible: Jesus taught it (the last will be first, the first will be last; if you want to be great, you must become a servant of all), Paul teaches it and James teaches it as well (humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up).
There is so much in this passage that strikes me. It is a very simple, yet profound summary of the incarnation and exaltation of Jesus. It speaks so highly of the character of Jesus and could be studied in depth for a great amount of time without ever exhausting its richness.
I think the last line sums it all up: to the glory of God the Father. Jesus' humilation was to the glory of God. Jesus' exaltation is not ultimately for the glory of the Son but to the glory of the Father. I think if I am to have the same attitude of mind as Jesus that I have to seek God's glory over everything else. When I do that, I will not grasp onto my puny positions or seek to use them for my own advantage but will hold everything with an open hand because it is not about me - it's all about the glory of God.
God, please give me the same attitude of mind Jesus had.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
the kingdom exists for the "other"
Philippians 2:1-5
Paul starts of with a list of "if's": if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion. These are all things that should characterize any community of Christian faith so it seems like Paul is reminding the church that they have all these things so they should also be unified with each other around one purpose.
Paul connects this argument (with the word "therefore") to his observation that the Philippian church has been granted the privilege of suffering for Christ. It is because of this suffering that the church needs to be united in one love and one purpose. This will make Paul's joy complete (joy being a theme of the book: so far Paul rejoices that the gospel is being proclaimed, that he will be delivered through the prayers of the saints and the work of the Spirit and that the church will be one in purpose).
The end of this section is what catches my attention: do nothing out of selfish ambition but value others above yourself. Don't look out for your own interests but for the interests of the others. This is what the kingdom of heaven is supposed to be all about: it exists for the "other". I know that I don't even come close to living this out. Everything I do is carefully calculated in terms of what it will mean to my reputation and how people will see me. I am a slave to my reputation and I can't even imagine how freeing it would be to escape that; to worry only about pleasing God and serving others no matter what it might cost me. That is what the kingdom is about and as a citizen of the kingdom, I ask God to transform my desires so that in my relationships with others I would have the same attitude of mind as Jesus.
Paul starts of with a list of "if's": if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion. These are all things that should characterize any community of Christian faith so it seems like Paul is reminding the church that they have all these things so they should also be unified with each other around one purpose.
Paul connects this argument (with the word "therefore") to his observation that the Philippian church has been granted the privilege of suffering for Christ. It is because of this suffering that the church needs to be united in one love and one purpose. This will make Paul's joy complete (joy being a theme of the book: so far Paul rejoices that the gospel is being proclaimed, that he will be delivered through the prayers of the saints and the work of the Spirit and that the church will be one in purpose).
The end of this section is what catches my attention: do nothing out of selfish ambition but value others above yourself. Don't look out for your own interests but for the interests of the others. This is what the kingdom of heaven is supposed to be all about: it exists for the "other". I know that I don't even come close to living this out. Everything I do is carefully calculated in terms of what it will mean to my reputation and how people will see me. I am a slave to my reputation and I can't even imagine how freeing it would be to escape that; to worry only about pleasing God and serving others no matter what it might cost me. That is what the kingdom is about and as a citizen of the kingdom, I ask God to transform my desires so that in my relationships with others I would have the same attitude of mind as Jesus.
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