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Daily Bible thoughts 825: Tuesday 3rd March 2015: Philippians 1:18b-26

Philippians 1:18b-26

‘’Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…’’ (18b).

As we have noted, everything in Paul’s circumstances was not hunky-dory, but he was determined to rejoice. It was his decision; his commitment. You can choose joy, as Paul shows (e.g. 3:1; 4:4). You may not be able to choose your situation, but you can choose your attitude.

One big reason for Paul’s rejoicing was because he knew the power of prayer (19). There is a definite link between ‘’your prayers’’ and ‘’the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.’’ Although the final outcome of his prison term wasn’t clear, in his heart Paul knew it was settled (25, 26). He was prepared to die, but expected to live.

But regardless of what did happen (20), Paul did not want to be ashamed of being a Christian. He desired to have ‘’sufficient courage’’ to ‘’exalt’ Christ in his body (his whole life) whether he lived or died. He saw their prayers as playing a part in this. He says ‘’now as always’’: this was a particularly testing (even tempting) time in his life. But Paul did not want to cave in to fear, or anything else. He believed there was a distinct connection between the prayers of the church and his boldness. (See Ephesians 6:19, 20 for words written at about the same time during the same prison sentence.)

Maybe you are not ready to live until you are ready to die, and when you are truly ready for death you will live better. Paul had so many brushes with danger and death that it may have helped him to get ready. He was no doubt tired; battered and beaten by life in many ways. The prospect of going ‘home’seemed sweet to him. Someone said, ‘Life is what you’re alive to.’ For a musician it may be music. I heard an interview with a famous conductor in which he said something like this: ‘I believe it is important to have other things in your life, but I sometimes think music is all there is.’ Music is what he is alive to. For a football supporter, his/her team may be their life. Everything rises or falls on the fortunes of their team. For Paul, Christ was his grand obsession. If death meant seeing Him and being with Him, that could only be ‘’gain’’ in his eyes, and ‘’better by far’’ (23).David Watson said, when he had cancer, that he had to change his thinking from wanting to stay on earth, but being willing to go, to wanting to go but being willing to stay on earth.

Paul was in the place where he was ready to go, but willing to stay for the sake of the church (23, 24). There was a death involved in that willingness to stick around. Paul knew that his continuing to live would be:

  • For the ‘’progress’’ of the church (25);
  • For the ‘’joy’’ of the believers (25, 26).

Paul was ‘’torn between’’ (23) going and staying. But he felt it was for the good of the church that he should stay, and that’s what he believed the outcome would be.

‘’Life versus even more life! I can’t lose…The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here.’’ The Message.

Prayer: Lord help me to see life and death through your eyes, and think about it in a way that honours you.

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Daily Bible thoughts 824: Monday 2nd March 2015: Philippians 1: 12-18a

Philippians 1: 12-18a

A moment ago I saw the familiar quote: ‘’If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.’’ The important thing to remember is that God is in control. Paul’s suffering was purposeful, and the fact that other people could see the reason for it was a blessing to him. He saw himself, first and foremost, as ‘’the prisoner of Christ Jesus’’ (Ephesians 3:1), and his chains were ‘’for Christ’’ (13). ‘’Do you think first of Christ when circumstances are difficult?’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.778.

Paul was imprisoned at the time he wrote Philippians (12). But he could see that God was bringing good out of his bad (Romans 8:28). It’s helpful if you can see that in ‘’all things’’ God is working for your good, and the benefit of others in the church. Paul was all about getting the gospel known. If his restricted circumstances could serve that purpose, then that was a cause for joy. He was still fulfilling his ministry. The men who locked him up in prison couldn’t confine his message (see 2 Timothy 2:9). ‘’I want to report to you friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All of the soldiers here, and everyone else too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the Christians here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.’’ The Message. There were three things in particular which caused Paul to rejoice:

  • The gospel message had penetrated the most unlikely place (13);
  • Paul’s example and sufferings had enervated many other believers (14). So now more people were speaking about Jesus and spreading the gospel;
  • Christ was being preached (15-18a). It was true that some people were not preaching with good motives. There always have been those who use the gospel as a means of self-aggrandisement; who want to make a name for themselves. Nevertheless it pleased Paul that Christ was being preached. Whatever the motives of the preachers, the apostle knew that God could do something with the message about His Son. All he wanted was to exalt Christ (20). It was the fame of Jesus that mattered to him. ‘’It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world…So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed bad or indifferent. Every time one of them open his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!’’ The Message.

Paul simply wanted to spread the gospel message. He knew that it is ‘’the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…’’ (Romans 1:16). He knew that if people let this ‘Lion’ out of its ‘cage’ it would go to work. It would get on with its job.

Prayer: May my love for you, Lord Jesus, be so great, and my courage from the Spirit so strong, that I always live, in all circumstances, to lift up your Name

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 822: Thursday 26th February 2015: Philippians 1:1-8

Philippians 1:1-8 (click here for passage)

Paul does not come across as a big shot leader, but as a humble ‘’servant’’ (1). All leaders in Christ’s church should view themselves as servants, and all believers should see themselves as ‘’saints’’.

Saints shine!

As the little boy observed, having seen some of the ‘saints’ in stained glass windows in a local church: ‘’A saint is someone the light shines through!’’ One of the ways in which the Philippian Christians shone was in giving practical/material support to Paul (see 5 and chapter 4:10-20). They excelled in ‘’the grace of giving’’ (2 Corinthians 8:7). Although Paul was on the front line of Kingdom advancement (7b), he did not feel superior to them. They were his partners in the gospel. They were the ‘supply lines’ and were making their own essential contribution to the cause. When Paul was in prison, they sent one of their own, ‘’Epaphroditus’’, to be with him; to take care of his needs and cook his meals etc. Paul was aware that he and these Christians in Philippi were sharers in the same ‘’grace’’ (6). They were all, together, fully dependent on the grace of God. They stood on level ground before the cross. They were together in salvation and ministry.

Saints are not ‘extra special’ Christians.

They are not a ‘suped up’, turbo-charged variety. They are not an elite squad of believers – a kind of spiritual ‘S.A.S.’ It’s not the case that there are ‘ordinary’ disciples, then a higher tier called ‘saints’. No not at all. The truth is that all Christians are saints, and all saints are a work in progress (6). They are a dish still cooking; they are a painting yet on the easel. Saints are not yet finished, even if they’ve already come along way. (Some, maybe many, haven’t yet travelled a great distance. But they’re on the journey, and the Lord is guiding them to His appointed destination. He will get them there at the end of the day. They may not look impressive as pilgrims, but they have a great Guide.) ‘’There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.’’ The Message

To pray with thankfulness is a key to joy (3, 4). Learn to interlace your requests with thanks. Be thankful for your fellow Christians. Be specifically thankful, as Paul was. Paul could thank God for these Christians he was writing to; they were in his ‘’heart’’ (7). He had a supernatural love for them (8). This is the love that is the ‘’fruit of the Spirit’’ (Galatians 5:22). It is the love of Jesus. ‘’Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does.’’ The Message. One preacher was talking to his congregation, giving them suggestions of things they might consider ‘giving up’ for Lent. One of his points was, ‘Give up looking for people’s bad points. Start noticing their good qualities and give thanks for them!’ Just think what that kind of Lentern ‘fast’ might do for you – and others around you!

Paul proved in his own up and down experience that the ‘’Grace and peace’’ (2) you need to live the Christian life, with its many challenges and trials, is always available. This was his fondest wish for his fellow-believers in the Roman colony of Philippi.

Prayer: Teach me, dear Lord, to always combine thanking with asking.

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 820: Tuesday 24th February 2015: Zephaniah 3:14-17

Zephaniah 3:14-17 click here for passage)

Zephaniah concludes on a high note of hope.

‘’Raise the rafters, Israel!’’ The Message.

God’s people should be ‘the happiest people on earth’ (14) – a people of unfettered praise; an exuberantly joyful community, praising God from the heart. A friend of mine was going through a tough time. He told me that he wrote to a well-known pastor in America, who, he knew, had been through a similar set of circumstances. This renowned man of God replied, encouraging him to discover the awesome power of spiritual song. My friend not only read the ‘prescription’; he also took the ‘medicine’. He found it had a delightful taste! When I was staying with him, I would hear him get up in the early morning, go downstairs, and pick up his guitar and sing to the Lord.

Consider some reasons why we can have unbounded joy:

  • The Cross of Jesus and all it means (15a): Here are two aspects of its significance – forgiveness of sins and the conquest of all spiritual foes. (The Lord has ‘’taken away’’ our ‘’punishment’’ because He took our punishment on Calvary.) May we never lose the wonder of the Cross;
  • God’s reign over you, and His presence with you and in you (15b, 17a). ‘’From now on, GOD is Israel’s king, in charge at the centre…Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.’’ The Message.
  • There is nothing to fear (15b, 16). When you allow the revelation of who God is and who you are in Him to overwhelm your thinking, you realise that there is nothing to fear and no reason to be discouraged. (You don’t have to ‘’let your hands hang limp’’ 16b). Nothing can happen to you that will ‘’harm’’ There may well be many things that will ‘hurt’ you, but nothing can ‘harm’ you in any ultimate sense. Your God is ‘’mighty to save’’ and you are safe. (Reflect, for example, on Revelation 20:4. Is it not true to say that these faithful ones were hurt but not really harmed? They are eternally safe with God. Revelation gives us the bigger picture.)
  • God the Father’s ‘maternal’ characteristics (17b). He loves you so much. He is like a mother doting on her young child. It is a truly beautiful picture.

Today, you have every reason to sing and not be silent, if you are a believer in Jesus. Learn how to be happy (and stay happy) in God! Your circumstances may not tend towards happiness, but you can learn to make yourself (or allow yourself to be) truly happy. The truth will set you free – if you let it!

And don’t forget the awesome power of spiritual song.

Prayer: Lord, you have put a new song in my heart. Don’t let the devil steal it from me. I choose to sing and not be silent, for you are faithful and you are good.

 

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Daily Bible thoughts 816: Wednesday 18th February 2015: Zephaniah 2: 12-15

Zephaniah 2: 12-15

‘’God’s judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17), which explains why Zephaniah started with the people of Judah; but now he explains how the day of the Lord will affect the Gentile nations surrounding Judah. Though they were never given God’s law as were the Jews (Ps.147:19-20), the Gentiles are still responsible before God; for God has revealed Himself to them in creation and conscience (Rom.1:18ff.). Furthermore, these nations had not always treated the Jews kindly and now the time had arrived for God to judge them. The nations named may represent all the Gentiles, since these nations correspond to the four points of the compass: Assyria (north), Cush (south), Moab and Ammon (east), and Philistia (west). During the great day of the Lord, all the nations of the earth will taste the judgment of God.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (Old Testament), p.1484.

Wiersbe also says: ‘’…God’s promise to Abraham still stands: Those who bless Israel, God will bless; those who curse Israel, God will curse (Gen.12:1-3). The nations that have sinned against God by mistreating the Jews can expect Him to judge them.’’

Assyria comes last in the list in chapter 2. (Before the Assyrians, mention is made of the ‘’Cushites’’ in verse 12. They lived in the southern part of Egypt and Sudan. They ruled Egypt for many years, so it’s likely that the Egyptians were included in this judgment.)

The Assyrians are a prime example of pride going before a fall. If people set themselves up as if they were God (or gods) they will be brought down (15). Those who follow Jesus will want to copy His humble example. If you lift yourself up (as the Assyrians did) God will pull you down. But if you humble yourself, as Jesus did, God will lift you up. There is also a dangerous complacency that goes hand in hand with pride. The people of Nineveh thought their city was impregnable: ‘’This is the carefree city that lived in safety.’’

Until the rise of Babylon, the Assyrians were the superpower in the world. They were a ruthless people, infamous for their pride and terrible cruelty to enemies. You may recall that there was a remarkable ‘revival’ in Nineveh, following the preaching of Jonah. But then successive generations fell back into their old ways, and Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C. Within a few years the once mighty Assyrian empire disappeared from the face of the earth, and Zephaniah saw it coming.

‘’The ghost town of a city, the haunt of wild animals, Nineveh will become home to raccoons and coyotes – they’ll bed down in its ruins. Owls will hoot in the windows, ravens will croak in the doorways – all that fancy woodwork now a perch for birds. Can this be the famous Fun City that had it made, That boasted, ‘’I’m the Number-One City! I’m King of the Mountain!’’ So why is the place deserted, a lair for wild animals? Passersby hardly give it a look; they dismiss it with a gesture.’’ The Message.

There is no city in the world today that should not look and learn. Pride, arrogance, complacency, and persistence in sin still bring human greatness down to the ground.

Prayer: Lord God, I tremble at your Word and honour your Name. May all the peoples of the world turn to you while there is still time.

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Daily Bible thoughts 814: Monday 16th February 2015: Zephaniah 2:4-7

Zephaniah 2:4-7

‘’The LORD their God will care for them; he will restore their fortunes.’’ (7b)

  • Even in tough times, remember that God loves you. He is your ever-caring Shepherd (Psalm 23). He will be with His ‘flock’, even though they ‘’walk through the darkest valley’’ (Ps.23:4a – marginal reference.) It is true that this verse in Zephaniah refers to Judah’s future after the exile. Nevertheless, because of God’s unchanging Shepherding nature, He was caring for them even in the distressing days of captivity. If you belong to the Lord, know that He cares for you this He will be with you in the rain and in the sun.
  • God can turn around the worst situations. He can cause unlikely things to happen. When Zephaniah spoke these words, it was probably hard for Jewish people to envisage things being turned on their head in such a dramatic fashion. But the Lord God Almighty is able to do the unthinkable and unimaginable. He is able to restore ‘’fortunes’’, and He does! The Jewish ‘fortunes’ were restored following the Babylonian captivity. But the full restoration awaits the time of Jesus’ second coming.
  • Don’t be overly impressed by people and places that seem impregnable. Don’t trust in them for security. They will fail you. Think about Jesus’ words about the magnificent temple buildings being brought down (Matthew 24: 1, 2). Remember the vision of the destruction of mighty Babylon (Revelation 18). Think about the scene in today’s verses; the picture of Philistia overthrown. There are powerful and impressive people and places in the world that can be (and will be) decimated by God’s judgment. We may imagine them to be perpetual monuments, but nothing will be able to withstand the blast of the firestorm of Divine wrath. In the remainder of chapter 2, God announces His judgment on the nations around Judah. Philistia is the first to be mentioned, and it is represented by four of its leading cities (4). The ‘’Philistines’’ (or ‘’Kerethites’’ ) were ancient and strong enemies of Israel who lived in the western part of Canaan, along the Mediterranean coast (verses 5-6). God says that the faithful ‘’remnant’’ of Judah (those we read about in verse 3) will eventually occupy Philistia. This happened when the Jews returned from Babylonian exile. Let’s not miss the point that God can give His people all He wants them to have, and He can deal thoroughly and decisively with all the enemies of His church. This passage reminds us again of who is in charge. We may go through days when it appears that people are running the show. But this is never the case.

‘’According to Amos 1:6-8, they took Jewish people captive from cities in southern Judah and sold them to other nations as slaves. But the time would come when their populous cities would be empty and their land left desolate, a place for shepherds to feed their flocks. Their coastal cities, made wealthy by vast shipping enterprises, would be destroyed by the enemy and left in ruins. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Philistia and conquered it, and the only remnant of that great nation left today is the name ‘’Palestine,’’ which comes from ‘’Philistine’’ (see Ezek.25:15-28:26).’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary’, p.1484. Sin has consequences!

Prayer: Thank you Lord that my life is in your Hands and you are in control, even on days when everything seems wildly out of kilter.

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Daily Bible thoughts 813: Friday 13th February 2015: Zephaniah 2:1-3

Zephaniah 2:1-3 (click here for passage)

‘’Seek the LORD, you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility.’’ (3a)

Humility is a prized quality in the Bible. You could say that it is the ‘soil’ in which the other Christian graces flower

You cannot have too much humility. In the above text the ‘’humble’’ are exhorted to ‘’seek humility.’’

Humility is the key to true greatness: ‘’Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.’’ (James 4:10; see 1 Peter 5:6 and Philippians 2:1-11)).

Here are three thoughts suggested by today’s short reading:

  • Humility shows itself in prayerfulness. Humility and seeking the Lord go together. Humility involves recognition of your smallness, and His bigness. This awareness will drive you into God’s arms. In humility you see your helplessness and God’s power; your need and His ability. Proud people rush on to get things done in their own strength.They are supremely confident of their abilities. Humble people lean on God to get the job done. They do not renege on their responsibilities, but they know they will never do God’s work in their own unaided strength. Day after day will find them on their knees, metaphorically if not literally. They are not too proud to ask for help.
  • Humility shows itself in holiness. There can be no genuine holiness without it. Prayer and obedience go together. If we hold on to favourite sins they will clog up the channel of prayer. Seeking the Lord cannot be divorced from taking active steps to conform your life to God’s Word. In humility you admit that God’s ways are right and best and you endeavour to align yourself with them. It takes humility to admit that you are wrong. Progress in holiness will necessitate the repeated use of this admission.
  • Humility shows itself in repentance. In the Bible we see over and over that sin leads to judgment. But God wants to save people from His judgment. Therefore He is patient, and gives many warnings and calls to change (2 Peter 3:9). In the first three verses of this second chapter, God is calling His people to seek Him ‘’before’’ His judgment sweeps through the land. (Note how the word is used three times in verse 2) ‘’Do it before you’re blown away like leaves in a windstorm.’’ The Message. But it takes humility to repent. It takes humility to say, ‘I/we have done wrong.’ It takes humility to confess your sins. It takes humility to ask for forgiveness. It takes humility to change your mind about the way you have been living, and fully embrace God’s road map for your life.

Such humility is possible. It grows in the lives of those who ‘’seek’’ it; it is cultivated in the people who ‘’Seek the LORD…’’

Prayer: I ask that the mind of Jesus, who humbled Himself, will be in me.

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Daily Bible thoughts 809: Monday 9th February 2015: Psalm 114

Psalm 114 (click here to view todays passage)

‘’Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.’’ (2).

The Christian is ‘’God’s sanctuary’’. So is the local church (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19, 20). God does not live in a building. He dwells in people.

But a believer is also God’s ‘’dominion’’. He not only lives in us, but He rules over us – if we allow Him to. In 1 Cor.6, where Paul writes about the Christian’s body being ‘’a temple of the Holy Spirit’’ , he also talks about the moral implications of our belonging to God. The Christian life is not just about Christ in you, but Christ over you.

Now if God lives in you and reigns over you, he will work miracles for you on this pilgrimage, as you travel to His appointed destination. In some ways, we can anticipate that the experience of Judah and Israel in the past will be ours today. We serve the same God who indwells us and is King over us. What caused the mighty miracles in nature as the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to Canaan? The answer is a ‘Who’ (7). It was the presence of the ruling and reigning God in His people that caused these wonders (see Exodus 14:21; Josh.3:15-17; Exodus 19:18; 17:16 and Numbers 20:11).

‘’Judah became…’’ Have you come to the point where you have asked God to fill you? Have you invited Jesus to establish His government over your life? Has He yet ‘become’ your Lord? Have you ‘become’ a Christian? It doesn’t happen by default because of where you were born, or the faith of your parents etc.

‘’God brings us out (v.1), takes us through (v.3), and leads us over (v.4). When you are following Him, no obstacle can keep you from the goal He has set for you, except your sin and unbelief. When you are in the will of God, all of creation works for you to accomplish God’s purposes. You are God’s sanctuary (1 Cor.6:19-20); let Him have dominion in your life (v.2).’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.383.

As you go into the world today remember that God lives in you. Look to Him to reign over your every movement. You may be aware of ‘mountains’, ‘seas’ and ‘rivers’ blocking your path as you endeavour to move forward in His purposes. Remember that His presence can deal with every obstacle.

Prayer: Lord, grant that your presence in me will be obvious. Flow out through me into this dry, barren wilderness of a world.

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Daily Bible thoughts 808: Friday 6th February 2015: Ephesians 6:21-24

Ephesians 6:21-24 (click here for passage)

This ‘pearl’ of an epistle concludes with a ‘pearl’ of an ending. See in it:

  • A remarkable loyalty (21, 22): ‘’Tychicus’’ was not Paul. He was not nearly so well known as Paul. But he played his part lovingly and responsibly. He did not get to shine ‘centre-stage’, but he shone in the shadows. The important thing is that he was a bright light, and he didn’t hide what he had under a bucket. Not everyone will stand in the spotlight, but everyone can be spotted as a light! You may never become ‘famous’ in the Christian world, but if you can play ‘Tychicus’ to someone else’s ‘Paul’, that’s a big deal. If you can truly be regarded as a ‘’faithful servant’’; if there is someone who regards you as a ‘’dear brother’’ (or sister); if there are people you ‘’encourage’’, that is no small matter. The job Tychicus was entrusted with may seem mundane, but it was important. It needed doing well. I thank God for those who are willing to pick up jobs that don’t dazzle and do them without fanfare. Where would the church be without them?
  • An intelligent relationship (21, 22): While nosiness into the affairs of others is not a welcome trait, fellowship (sharing the same thing) demands a certain transparency from each of us. Paul had been asking the Ephesian Christians to pray for him (18-20). If people are to pray intelligently, they need to know how we are and what we are doing. It may not be wise or helpful to divulge everything that is going on. What to say, when to say it, and just how much to share in any given moment is a judgment call. But to truly experience ‘fellowship’ with you, I have to be willing to let you into my world. It is at the heart of Christian fellowship that we know and are known. Authentic relationships are not built on hiding and lies. One of the ways we receive encouragement is by hearing how the people we pray for are getting on. When we see and hear answers to prayers in their circumstances our spirits are buoyed.
  • An inexhaustible supply (23, 24): You repeatedly see in Paul a strong desire for the churches under his influence to grow spiritually. ‘Ephesians’ closes with what is essentially a prayer for the recipients of his letter. He has asked for their prayers. As we have already seen, he prayed for them; big prayers! His closing prayer is for qualities such as ‘’Peace…and love with faith…’’ Such characteristics can only flow from God the Father and His Son Jesus. They are marks of ‘’Grace’’. So that is why Paul prays. He is asking for something only God can do. When He does it, there is ‘’glory’’ to God ‘’in the church and in Christ Jesus…’’ (3:21). We add our own ‘’Amen’’ to that.

Prayer: Lord I ask that you will form my life into a pearl. Make me beautiful for you.

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