Migration

Not sure why, other than old age...

But I've been writing over at Daily in the Word @ wordpress.com for a couple of months. If you want to keep reading my posts, jump over there to follow me.

Give Up to Gain

"...put no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)

In the verses that follow this one, Paul lists the reasons he could put confidence in the flesh.

His heritage. His family history. His ancestry.

His education. The degrees he had earned. The books he had read.

His position. The important job that he had. The people that looked up to him.

His character. Single-minded. Devoted. Hard-working.

All those things we can look at and be impressed. This is someone I want to know! This is someone I want to follow! This is someone whom I want to be like!

Paul's conclusion: "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (v 7).

He gave up all of that to know Christ.

"For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (v 8).

We are not accustomed to giving up very much. We would rather work hard to keep what we have and add spirituality to it. We want all our stuff and Christ.

But there are times in our Christian walk when we have to sacrifice to be obedient to Christ.

We may have to sacrifice a career move, rather than sacrifice a church family that holds us accountable and teaches us the Word.

We may have to sacrifice getting another degree, in order to spend time developing spiritual disciplines.

We may have to sacrifice being close to family, to follow Christ to where He wants us to grow.

Doing what is right can be costly. But the reward of knowing Christ is much better.

It can be painful at the beginning to deal with the loss, but far greater to have the joy of obedience. Far greater to come closer to the Lord and lay up treasures in heaven.

Shine On!

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14-15).

Wait! Another "all things" command!

(And there I go breaking it already)

Does it ever stick out to you how often people grumble? Complaining, murmuring, muttering under their breath...

Mom tells them to pick up their room.

Dad tells them not to come back too late.

The boss says, "We've got a new policy."

The teacher says, "Don't forget to study for the test on Friday."

It seems like grumbling is a natural, even expected, response.

And that's why Paul says that we can "shine as lights in the world" when we choose not to grumble or dispute.

In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, that thinks it's perfectly normal to complain and argue, your choosing not to follow that pattern will make it clear to others that there is something different about you.

And really, that shouldn't be all that hard.

We just need to change our perspective.

It's not about me and what I want.

It's only temporary. Eternity is much longer than this short life with it's challenges.

It's an opportunity for me to grow in submission to authority.

Can you think of other perspectives that can be changed to help you shine in this dark world?

One Week Challenge

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)

NOTHING.

That's a pretty strong word. Pretty exclusive. Pretty restrictive.

Do nothing from selfish ambition.

Not out to seek your own goals. Not trying to make yourself look better. Not trying to climb the ladder.

Do nothing from conceit.

Not because you want to be as important as someone else. Not because you want to have a position that everyone will see.

So how has your week been?

How much time have you spent in selfish ambition? How much of your motivation has been conceited?

Too much.

Now look after the conjunction. "...but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

Rather than looking out for yourself, look out for others.

Rather than setting goals to make yourself look good, set goals for helping others.

How would that change your actions for this coming week?

You might stop to help someone with a menial task. Maybe you would change your plans to visit a sick friend. Maybe you would re-think your career plans.

How would it change your conversations?

Instead of putting others down to make yourself look better, you'll encourage others. Instead of gossiping and backbiting, you'll hold your tongue.

So try it for a week.

Do nothing from selfish ambition. Do everything in humility.

Live like you mean it!

"Only let your manner be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see your or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).

Paul encouraged the church in Philippi to live worthy of the gospel of Christ.

What does that look like?

Live like you are redeemed. You actions and words should reflect a change in your life. You should not have the same attitudes as those who are not following Christ. You should not be doing the same things in the same way that you were before God called you to Himself.

You shouldn't be different, just to be different. The differences in your life shouldn't make people say, "Well, that's odd." Rather, they should see and hear something that's appealing, so that they want to know why you responded like you did; why you do this, but not that. Your differentness should point people to Christ and His good news, not to you.

Talk like you are redeemed. You need to talk about the gospel. People may notice that you are different, but that is not going to get them to heaven. Remember that they are lost and headed to hell if they are not trusting in Christ's work on the cross. Seize the opportunities that are before you to warn them and tell them of God's redeeming love.

Work together with other redeemed people. The rest of the verse talks about the unity of those who are working together for the spread of the gospel. A follower of Christ will unite himself to others who are spreading the gospel and work with them. Firm in the faith. United in doctrine. Working hard to tell others about the work of Christ on the cross.

So what would Paul say if he came to visit you today? Would he be able to tell that you are redeemed? Would he be encouraged by your hard work with others in the spreading of the gospel?

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

"Bless the Lord, O you His angels,
You mighty ones who do His work,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all His hosts,
His ministers who do His will!
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord! O my soul!"

(Psalm 103:20-23)

David completes this psalm like he began it, with a call to bless the Lord.

Looking back at the description of God given in the previous verses, nothing remains left to be done, but to praise the Lord.

The angels who are obeying Him should bless the Lord.

The creation in all parts of the universe should bless the Lord.

And I should bless the Lord.

His character never changes. He is the same as He was when David wrote this psalm.

His actions never change. As He showed David great mercy, love and forgiveness, so He continues to do for me.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Our God Reigns

"The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His kingdom rules over all."

(Psalm 103:19)

This is a verse we need to review before listening to the news. It's so easy to be distracted by the gloom and doom of the nightly news.

Wars around the world. Riots in our own country. Supreme Court decisions. Child abuse cases. Presidential elections. Business scams.

We can easily get discouraged about the mess that this world is in.

And we can become guilty of wishing for the past, "If we'd only get back to our Christian roots..." "If parents would raise their kids like I was raised..." "If we had a president like..."

Essentially, we think that if we were in control, life would be smoother.

Really? Look at the mess that your life is! You really think that you could do any better?

Rather than thinking and acting on those idolatrous thoughts, we need to remember that God is in control. He is ruling over all. All the politicians. All the lawyers. All the criminals. All the natural disasters. All the broken families. All the businessmen. All the diseases.

If God is in charge, then why doesn't He fix things? i.e. Why doesn't He do what I want Him to do?

Well, isn't that a selfish, comical response? If I could tell God what to do, then He wouldn't be in charge, would He?

But we can take confidence in knowing that God is in control, all the time over everything.

He is working all of history and nature toward the grand revelation of Himself. His glory will be revealed. His power and majesty will be clear.

We don't have to understand the details, but grasping the big picture will help us get through the details.

God has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.