Having just finished Philippians, I have know thoughts on what book is next. Being Easter weekend, I've decided to share the crucifixion account. I will leave no commentary, nor will I even copy and past the scripture. I encourage you to follow the links and read the accounts for yourself.
Matthew 26 - 27 NIV
Mark 14-15 NIV
Luke 22-23 NIV
John 18- 19 NIV
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Philippians 4:10-23
Philippians 4:10-23 NIV
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I never thought that I would actually experience Paul's words here. I was, and still can be, very materialistic. However with all that I've lost in the last 12 plus months I've learned to be content. I've developed a "less is more" mentality and I am at peace.
Beyond the material the is the emotional. The dream of living happily ever after with my wife and best friend is over. It's still possible that God will work in her heart and we can reconcile, but I am content with what God has for me right now.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
When my sister died, the church provided prayer, which is ALWAYS wanted and needed, but they also provided cash. Because of their gifts and the gifts of others, the flights out west and back were paid for with no out-of-pocket expense. In fact the giving was so great financially I had MORE than I needed and I was able to buy diner for everyone while out there.
Notice that Paul says thank you in a letter. I think that is important and I think it has been lost on society today. If some one help you out, write them a thank you. No phone calls. No e-mail. A hand written thank you note.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen
To say "amen" means to agree with something. To verse 20 I too say AMEN.
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
My normal benediction is God Bless. This time I will let Paul have the final words.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I never thought that I would actually experience Paul's words here. I was, and still can be, very materialistic. However with all that I've lost in the last 12 plus months I've learned to be content. I've developed a "less is more" mentality and I am at peace.
Beyond the material the is the emotional. The dream of living happily ever after with my wife and best friend is over. It's still possible that God will work in her heart and we can reconcile, but I am content with what God has for me right now.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
When my sister died, the church provided prayer, which is ALWAYS wanted and needed, but they also provided cash. Because of their gifts and the gifts of others, the flights out west and back were paid for with no out-of-pocket expense. In fact the giving was so great financially I had MORE than I needed and I was able to buy diner for everyone while out there.
Notice that Paul says thank you in a letter. I think that is important and I think it has been lost on society today. If some one help you out, write them a thank you. No phone calls. No e-mail. A hand written thank you note.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen
To say "amen" means to agree with something. To verse 20 I too say AMEN.
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
My normal benediction is God Bless. This time I will let Paul have the final words.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Philippians 4:1-9
Philippians 4:1-9 NIV
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
It is because this is not our home and the we are citizens of heaven that we stand firm. This life is temporary. Heaven is eternal.
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Sometimes hardworking good people don't get along. Sometimes we may be one of those people and sometimes we may be the mediator. The goal is not that we win, but that we have the mind of Christ and learn to give up ourselves and work together.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There are days I do not want to rejoice because I am so concerned about the next step. But then I take the instruction from verse 6 and I begin to thank God for all that I have and all that He has done. I will then make my requests and surrender my anxiety to Him. Without fail I have peace. I will say that your really must surrender the problem to Him. Sometimes that peace is immediately forfeited when I snatch back my worries.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I've done this when having a hard time with my thoughts. I'd just go down the list and think of something true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. I believe this is the idea of Romans 12:1-2 when it speaks of transforming your mind. You are teaching yourself another way of thinking.
Finally verse 9: Go with what you know. Act according to the knowledge you already have. Yes we continue to learn, but what good is head knowledge? Put it into practice and then it says, "And the God of Peace will be with you." Again I must say this is not a works salvation. Paul is speaking to believers who already are saved. This is about living a victorious Christian life.
God Bless.
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
It is because this is not our home and the we are citizens of heaven that we stand firm. This life is temporary. Heaven is eternal.
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Sometimes hardworking good people don't get along. Sometimes we may be one of those people and sometimes we may be the mediator. The goal is not that we win, but that we have the mind of Christ and learn to give up ourselves and work together.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There are days I do not want to rejoice because I am so concerned about the next step. But then I take the instruction from verse 6 and I begin to thank God for all that I have and all that He has done. I will then make my requests and surrender my anxiety to Him. Without fail I have peace. I will say that your really must surrender the problem to Him. Sometimes that peace is immediately forfeited when I snatch back my worries.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I've done this when having a hard time with my thoughts. I'd just go down the list and think of something true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. I believe this is the idea of Romans 12:1-2 when it speaks of transforming your mind. You are teaching yourself another way of thinking.
Finally verse 9: Go with what you know. Act according to the knowledge you already have. Yes we continue to learn, but what good is head knowledge? Put it into practice and then it says, "And the God of Peace will be with you." Again I must say this is not a works salvation. Paul is speaking to believers who already are saved. This is about living a victorious Christian life.
God Bless.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Philippians 3:15-21
Philippians 3:15-21 NIV
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
What view? That all we gain here is worth nothing when compared to knowing Christ. And even if you disagree with Paul, let God be the one to make it clear. Everyone of us with faith in Christ has some knowledge. Live that knowledge you have to the fullest.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
There was a time I would never say this to any Christian. I now will say it to anyone. Not because I have arrived to some holy sinless perfection, but because I will be the first to say I am a royal screw up. However I turn to God in my weakness, confess my sins and move forward. I want people to follow me as I follow Christ. Not to follow in me screw ups.
18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
This sounds a lot like our country. How many of the pleasures offered can have deadly consequences? Quite often I hear friends reveling in activities that should shame them.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
We need to be heaven minded. Though we are born on earth and are under earthly governments our true citizenship in heaven. Our Savior will return and he will give us new bodies. Oh to be rid of the back pain that I have. To be able to see without the blur in my left eye. These are things to look forward to and rejoice.
God Bless.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
What view? That all we gain here is worth nothing when compared to knowing Christ. And even if you disagree with Paul, let God be the one to make it clear. Everyone of us with faith in Christ has some knowledge. Live that knowledge you have to the fullest.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
There was a time I would never say this to any Christian. I now will say it to anyone. Not because I have arrived to some holy sinless perfection, but because I will be the first to say I am a royal screw up. However I turn to God in my weakness, confess my sins and move forward. I want people to follow me as I follow Christ. Not to follow in me screw ups.
18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
This sounds a lot like our country. How many of the pleasures offered can have deadly consequences? Quite often I hear friends reveling in activities that should shame them.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
We need to be heaven minded. Though we are born on earth and are under earthly governments our true citizenship in heaven. Our Savior will return and he will give us new bodies. Oh to be rid of the back pain that I have. To be able to see without the blur in my left eye. These are things to look forward to and rejoice.
God Bless.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Philippians 3:1-14
Philippians 3:1-14 NIV
1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!
I woke this morning and I was not rejoicing. My unemployment and the reality that my divorce has dragged on for a year now caused anxiety and robbed me of rest. Reading this passage and getting my heart off my troubles and focused on God has helped me relax.
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
There were those teaching that the Gentiles had to follow the Jewish tradition of circumcision in order to be saved. Paul was reminding them that salvation is not what we do in the flesh, but what God does in us through the spirit.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Here is Paul pedigree. If anyone had the "right" to say "Look at me.", it was Paul. His family followed the law in his circumcision, he was educated in the law and defended the law by persecuting the church. As far as the law was concerned Paul was perfect.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Paul met Jesus on the way to Damascus. Right then his life changed forever.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul considered his old values a loss and garbage when compared to his desire for Christ. This was not just part of his life but it was life itself. I think of the days that I struggle to find time for study or for blogging or prayer. I'm convicted that God is still just part of life for me and not my life.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
And here I find the encouragement needed. Yes, I am not as far along in my walk as Paul was when he wrote this, but even he said he'd not "arrived". He uses words like pressing on and taking hold. He does not quit. Again this in not earning salvation, this is walking victoriously with Christ.
The best example come in the middle of vs 13. "Forgetting what is behind..." So many live in the past. I know still struggle with that. When we make a mistake, confess it (1 John 1:9) and move on. It's arrogant to not forgive yourself for something that God has already forgiven. That is only going to hold you back.
God Bless.
1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!
I woke this morning and I was not rejoicing. My unemployment and the reality that my divorce has dragged on for a year now caused anxiety and robbed me of rest. Reading this passage and getting my heart off my troubles and focused on God has helped me relax.
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
There were those teaching that the Gentiles had to follow the Jewish tradition of circumcision in order to be saved. Paul was reminding them that salvation is not what we do in the flesh, but what God does in us through the spirit.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Here is Paul pedigree. If anyone had the "right" to say "Look at me.", it was Paul. His family followed the law in his circumcision, he was educated in the law and defended the law by persecuting the church. As far as the law was concerned Paul was perfect.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Paul met Jesus on the way to Damascus. Right then his life changed forever.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul considered his old values a loss and garbage when compared to his desire for Christ. This was not just part of his life but it was life itself. I think of the days that I struggle to find time for study or for blogging or prayer. I'm convicted that God is still just part of life for me and not my life.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
And here I find the encouragement needed. Yes, I am not as far along in my walk as Paul was when he wrote this, but even he said he'd not "arrived". He uses words like pressing on and taking hold. He does not quit. Again this in not earning salvation, this is walking victoriously with Christ.
The best example come in the middle of vs 13. "Forgetting what is behind..." So many live in the past. I know still struggle with that. When we make a mistake, confess it (1 John 1:9) and move on. It's arrogant to not forgive yourself for something that God has already forgiven. That is only going to hold you back.
God Bless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)