Be Joyful and Be Gentle

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"--Here the command to rejoice is repeated twice...one right after the other. Paul wanted to emphasize its importance. Joy is one of the distinct marks of authentic Christians. Joy (not the same as happiness) is independent of circumstances and is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is not dampened by affliction because it's rooted in our relationship with Christ. We can rejoice even in the midst of our trials and persecutions (Paul was a great example) because we know Whom we trust and Whom we belong to. Joy persists and thrives in difficult times when we discern God's purposes and have deep-down confidence (fully trust) in His love, grace, goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, power, and promises. We, God's children and heirs, always have reasons to rejoice since we are blessed with every spiritual blessing and are born again into a living hope of eternal life with an imperishable inheritance. And when Jesus is our joy, no one and nothing can take away our joy because Jesus cannot be taken away from us. Joy is constant because Jesus never changes. Rejoice in Jesus always! Joy is not found in circumstances or people but in the Person of Jesus Christ. We find joy in Who Christ is and what He has done. "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10a) We find joy in His presence. "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." (Psalm 16:11) Perpetual joy is possible because of our spiritual union with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit gives us the desire and the power to obey the command; however, we must still make the choice to rejoice. 

Choose joy. We cannot control what will happen to us or what trials we will face but we can control our attitudes and reactions. No matter what happens, God is still Who He is and still in control and still loves us and cares about us. Therefore, we can choose to always trust in Him and rejoice in Him. He is our Lord. He is our Savior. He is our Strength. Let's choose joy and commit to walk in joy no matter what's going on around us. Let's look to God who is our Source of joy, instead of fretting over our situations. A heart that always sees God's goodness and praises Him cannot help but being joyful. Rejoice at God's Greatest Gift, Jesus Christ. Rejoice at His redeeming grace. Rejoice that you are forgiven and free. Rejoice that someday Christ will return.

"The secret of Christian joy is to believe what God says in His Word and act upon it. Faith that isn't based on the Word is not faith at all; it is presumption or superstition. Joy that isn't the result of faith is not joy at all; it is only a 'good feeling' that will soon disappear. Faith based on the Word will produce joy that will weather the storms of life." (Warren Wiersbe)

"Every Christian who is controlling his thought life will have a conscious joy; he will have a continual joy; he will have a conspicuous joy; and he will have a contagious joy, if he finds his joy in the Lord." (Adrian Rogers)

"Joy is not gush; joy is not jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence in God's will because the soul delights itself in God Himself." (H.W. Webb-Peploe)

Oh the sheer joy of it!

Walking with Thee,
Out on the hilltop,
Down by the sea,
Life is so wonderful,
Life is so free. 
(Ralph Spaulding Cushman)

Another distinct mark of Christians is gentleness (another fruit of the Spirit). "It should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:4) "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2) Let everyone see that you are gentle in all you do. Being considerate, pleasant, and peace-loving in disposition. Not harsh or violent. Slow to take offense; quick to forgive. Being gentle also includes being humble, kind, gracious, and courteous. It takes strength, maturity, and self-control inside to be gentle on the outside. "Gentleness means staying calm in conflicts and kind in conduct, and when we learn to do that it reduces anxiety, reflects Christ, gets things done, and pleases God." (Rob Morgan) 

"The Lord is near"--The Lord is with us and His return may occur at any moment. Knowing this should motivate us to be joyful and gentle. Paul offered joy and gentleness as a remedy for the dispute between the two women in the church at Philippi (mentioned in verse 2). Joy and gentleness can help strengthen unity among the Body of Christ. In addition, unbelievers are often attracted to Jesus by the joy and gentleness of believers. To Ponder: Are you a joyful person? Are you known for being gentle? How do you react when offended or misunderstood or mistreated?  

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank You for always being with me giving me grace and mercy in all circumstances. I am so grateful for Your presence, goodness, faithfulness, and sovereignty which bring me much comfort, confidence, peace, and joy. Please help me to keep my eyes on You. Please empower me to trust in You totally and choose gratitude & joy through any trials and uncertainties. Please make my life a joy to You & to others everyday. You're my Source of joy & strength! I rejoice and delight in You always. Shine Your light and love through me, Lord, and may my gentleness be evident to all!

Philippians 3 in Poem

Dear Brothers and Sisters
Watch out for false teachers
Beware of counterfeit Christianity
They disregard Jesus's sufficiency
Adding works & merits as required for salvation
True gospel relies solely on Christ's grace and redemption

Christians in spirit and truth worship God
We rejoice and glory in Christ our Lord
Put no confidence in the flesh or self-righteousness
Trust in Christ and His finished work on the cross we confess

Paul had plenty to be proud of and boast about
But he considered all garbage to be thrown out
Nothing can compare to knowing Christ
Is He your Joy, Passion, and Delight?

Forget the past; press on to win the prize
Stay the course; keep fighting the good fight
No one is sinless but we can sin less
May God help us grow in Christlikeness

May we live our faith out loud with integrity
May our words and actions bring God honor and glory
May we conduct ourselves as citizens of Kingdom Heavenly
May we be filled with joy, knowing we'll be with Christ for eternity

Whatever hardships you may be facing
Whatever wealth you're accumulating
All things of this world are quickly passing
Focus on things above and serve the King of kings

~ Copyright 2017 Urailak Liljequist
Note: You can read my Philippians 1 in Poem here and Philippians 2 in Poem here.

Our Citizenship Is In Heaven

This world is not our home; we're only pilgrims traveling toward our eternal home. We Christians are foreigners and strangers on earth; we're citizens of Heaven where Christ is. We're born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. At that moment, we become citizens of a Heavenly kingdom because God "has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13) Citizenship carries with it privileges, honors, and responsibilities. We belong to Heaven. Our conduct must match our citizenship. We should therefore set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2) and store up treasures in Heaven. The expectation of seeing our Savior, being like Him, and being with Him for eternity should incite us to live passionately & joyfully for Him and serve Him with zeal and gladness.

We are eagerly waiting for the day when we are free from the presence of sin and for what the Savior will do for our physical bodies when He returns. By His power, our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ will transform our mortal bodies (subject to sin, suffering, sickness, decay, and death) into glorified bodies that will last forever. These new bodies will resemble Christ's glorious resurrected body (neither limited by time or space nor restricted by physical substances) "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2) Death cannot terrify us when our hearts are filled with hope of Heaven.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

"The treasures we store up on earth will all stay behind when this life ends. But the treasures we store up in heaven we'll have for eternity (Matthew 6:19-21). When we seek to be Christ-like in thought, word, and deed, we will live like 'heavenly' people." (P R Van Gorder)

"Learn to look up toward Heaven! Think of its joys and its blessedness--until earth's trials shall melt away in the brightness, and its griefs and losses are forgotten in the hopes of eternal glory!" (J.R. Miller)

"Oh, you saints, lay aside all your despondencies and discontents, and comfort yourselves with the hopes of future eternal happiness! Shall the outward temple of our body be so splendid and magnificent, like Christ's glorious body, Philippians 3:21? Oh, then, how transcendently shining and beautiful shall the inward temple of our soul be! What angel can express this! But here I must draw a veil. We shall never fully understand heaven—until we come to heaven!" (Thomas Watson)

"Those who live the life of faith, and love their Savior, and strive to serve God--are different in their whole conduct from men of the world. It is plain that they are not of this world. Their life shows it. Their citizenship is in Heaven...Shall those who are to live forever with God--have so little fellowship with Him now? Shall those whose treasure is in Heaven, where no rust nor moth can corrupt--care so much for the perishing things of this world? Shall those for whom Jesus has gone to prepare a place--fret against the little hardships and discomforts along the way? Thus the Christian should often remind himself of the heavenly home to which he belongs. It would help him to be heavenly in heart and life." (Francis Bourdillon)

"He is coming! I shall know Him,
Jesus, my beloved Lord!
Changed forever to His likeness -
Oh, what joy this will afford!" (Dimmock)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for my citizenship in Heaven! You made me on purpose for Your purpose. May my life be a humble instrument that serves and glorifies You! Please guide me and empower me to do Your will and Your work. Please keep worldliness and sin away from me. When I get discouraged, anxious, sad, or depressed, please remind me of how temporary this world and my situations are and help me focus on my eternal blessings in Christ and my Heavenly home. In Christ's Name, I pray. Amen.

Live What You Believe

"Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 3:16 NIV)

Let us conduct our lives in congruence with our faith, convictions, knowledge of Christ, understanding of God's truths, and spiritual maturity we have already attained. Walk in obedience to Christ. Walk in the Spirit. Live to share His light and love which you have received. "We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him." (1 John 2:3-5) Put into daily practice what you have already learned. We're responsible for what God has given us. We are not to look down upon or complain about or quarrel with our brothers and sisters in Christ who may not be at the same level of spiritual maturity, knowledge, and understanding. Let us love one another as Christ loves us and work together in unity for God's kingdom and glory as Christ intends for us!

"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will come to know God because they know you." (Unknown)

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life is under scrutiny every day. What do others learn from you? Do they see an accurate picture of your God?” (John MacArthur )

"When they see a follower of Jesus who is sold out for Christ, living free of legalism and bondage to the world, they are drawn to Jesus. When they see a follower of Jesus living for 'self' and the world, they have no problem rejecting Jesus because it allows them to play the hypocrite card. The world needs us to be an example of living the Bible so that they too are drawn to Christ. They need answers, and for us to say we are "Christians" and live our life in pursuit of personal gain would only be a contradiction to who we say we follow." (David McGee)

"Becoming a Christian means no longer living for yourself but for God in obedience to Him...To say you believe in Him and then continue living as though nothing has changed is to deny the power of God in your new life." (Billy Graham) 

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." (John Newton)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your continual work in me! I desire to live for You. Please use my life, my words, and my actions for Your kingdom and glory. Please enable me to live the gospel out daily with integrity. Please help me keep growing in Christlikeness. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Press On

Paul humbly and honestly admitted that he neither had achieved all this (the goals he mentioned in verse 10) nor had reached completion (of absolute spiritual maturity) yet. There is no such thing as sinless perfection in this life. Sanctification is a lifelong process. Spiritual maturity is not about perfection; it's about direction and progress. There's always room to grow spiritually. It's a good reminder for all saints at all stages of spiritual maturity. God never wants us to be complacent with our spiritual growth. Paul exhibited a passionate pursuit of spiritual growth/maturity. He's resolved/determined to press on (as a continual action) to become all that Christ Jesus saved him for/to lay hold of God's purposes for his life. Each new day is another opportunity for us to become more of what God has designed us to be. 

Paul had a one-track mind. His soul's single relentless passion is to press onward towards the goal to win the prize for which God had called him Heavenward in Christ Jesus, with all his might & effort without looking back. You cannot run forward effectively if you keep looking back. What is true physically is also true spiritually! Paul would not let the past (past guilt of persecuting Christians or past glory of his Jewish heritage & all his accomplishments) deter him from striving for what lied ahead and pressing on toward his goal to win the prize. He wanted to focus his energy and concentration on what God calls him to do, fixing his eyes on the finish line. Do not let your past (failures, sins, disappointments, discouragement) define you or distract you from being and doing what God calls you to be and do. Learn from your past mistakes and move on after you confess and repent. They're all forgiven. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25) Forget (refusing to focus on) all the things you should have done but failed to do and all the things you did which you shouldn't have done. We also must refuse to allow past successes to inflate our pride or to make us think we've arrived spiritually. To dwell on these things can hinder our progress. 

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts." (Winston Churchill)

"Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus' way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes." (Brandt)

"The prize" can be interpreted as eternal glory in Heaven/the blessings of everlasting life, the reward at the judgment seat of Christ (including the crown of righteousness stated in 2 Timothy 4:8 and the crown of glory stated in 1 Peter:4), or Christlikeness/holiness. God calls us to the high calling of fighting sin until we die. We have been saved from the penalty of sin; we are being saved from the power of sin; we shall be saved from the presence of sin. We (like Paul) want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord." when we finally see Him face to face. "To know Jesus Christ, to trust Him, to love Him, and to serve Him--that is a passion with eternal value." (V C Grounds)  

"Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading, and give Him my all." (Chisholm)

"More like the Master I would live and grow,
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be." (Gabriel)

To Ponder: What things from your past are still burdening you or holding you back from living passionately and fearlessly for Christ? What is your ruling passion/primary focus in life? Are you sold out for Christ? How/where do you invest your time, talents, and treasures? 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Who You are and for all You have done for me! I want to know You more and I want to be more like You. Please show me each day what You want me to accomplish for Your purpose and glory. Please help me let go of the past. Thank You for Your forgiveness! Please empower me to keep growing spiritually and running this race faithfully with hope, joy, endurance, and perseverance.

Knowing Christ

In contrast to Paul's pre-Chritian confidence in the flesh (verses 4-6), verses 7-14 show Paul's confidence in Christ. Compared to the surpassing greatness (infinite value) of knowing Christ Jesus, Paul considered everything else a loss (no use). "All true Christians know Christ--not with a mere theoretical knowledge, which may be obtained from books; but with a knowledge which the Holy Spirit works in the heart. We know Christ...in the glory of His person, in the perfection of His work, and in the riches of His wondrous grace. We so know Christ, that He stands out before us, as the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely One. And the more we know Him--the more intimate we wish to become with Him!" (James Smith)

Nothing can compare to our union with Christ. Compared to Christ, all things of this world are worthless. "A holy soul, whose eyes are divinely opened, so sees that superlative goodness, beauty, and excellency in Christ--that all other things, which are good with an inferior goodness, seem to him as dross and dung!" (Thomas Dolittle) 

For Christ's sake, Paul had lost all things, including the comforts of life. He suffered afflictions and persecutions for preaching Christ. He had been beaten, lied about, and imprisoned. But he didn't mind because he gained Christ. When we have Christ, we have everything we need. Christ is mine; all is well. And when Jesus is your joy, no one and nothing can take away your joy because Jesus cannot be taken away from you. Paul proved that. Let us be thankful and joyful for all the precious promises we have in Christ, all the graces, blessings, and comforts we receive from Him, and the glory we will enjoy with Him for eternity.

"All that Christ has--is mine!

Christ's love is mine to pity me! 

Christ's mercy is mine to save me! 

Christ's graces are mine to beautify me! 

Christ's power is mine to protect me! 

Christ's wisdom is mine to counsel me! 

Christ's Spirit is mine to comfort me! 

Christ's Word is mine to teach me!

Christ's glory is mine to crown me!" (William Dyer)

Through faith in Christ, we, like Paul, have Christ's righteousness imputed upon us. This righteousness comes from God, not from the law (not from us keeping the law). "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6a)

"He (Paul) says, 'that I may KNOW Him!' (Philippians 3:10.) Christ had appeared to Paul, he was revealed in him, and was constantly preached by him. Christ was . . .
  the object of his trust, 
  the subject of his ministry,
  and the joy of his heart! 

But he knew that there was much in Christ with which he was unacquainted. He knew but in part. He desired, therefore, to know more of . . .
  the glory of His person, 
  the riches of His grace, 
  the magnificence of His work, 
  the excellency of His natures, 
  the majesty of His kingdom! 

Everything in Christ interested Paul. Creation was good--and grace was better; but Christ was best of all. He was never wearied . . . 
  of thinking of Christ,
  of speaking of Christ, 
  of learning of Christ. 

He went on with his work, he went on his way--with the desire constantly rising in his heart, 'That I may know Him!'" (James Smith)

I Know Christ (by Margaret E. Clarkson)

I do not know tomorrow’s way,
If dark or gladsome it may be;
But I know Christ, and come what may,
I know that He abides with me.

I do not know what may befall
Of grief or gladness, peace or pain;
But I know Christ, and through it all
I know His presence will sustain.

To Ponder: Is it your daily heart's desire and constant aim to know Christ more and more...and to make Him known? Is Christ your Joy and Delight? Do you prefer the trifling vanities, fading riches, empty honors, fleeting pleasures of this world to the glorious treasures and endless pleasures found in Christ?

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Christ's blood that washed away my sin and for Christ's righteousness that's imputed to me! Thank You for all that I have in Christ! Please help me know Christ more and better each day. May my mind dwell on Christ and my heart treasure Christ above all else! In Christ's Name, I pray. Amen.

True Christianity

Those who worship God in the spirit, glory in Christ Jesus as their Savior, and place no confidence in flesh are the true circumcision (inward circumcision of the heart which is the Holy Spirit's work...aka regeneration). In verse 2, Paul warned believers in the Philippi against Jewish legalists/Judaizers ("dogs"/evil workers) who insisted on the rite of circumcision as necessary for salvation. "In New Testament times, dogs were hated scavengers. The term came to be used for all who had morally impure minds." (commentary from the KJV Know the Word Study Bible). These Jews (who claimed to also believe in Christ) began teaching the Gentile converts that in order to be saved, they had to be circumcised according to the law of Moses, in addition to believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Beware of any false teachers who teach that faith in Christ is not sufficient if you do not also keep the Law. They pervert the true gospel. Paul wants to help us discern the difference between true and counterfeit Christianity. True Christianity relies solely and completely on the person and work of Christ while counterfeit Christianity adds human works/merits to this reliance. False teachers are deceiving (some are deceived themselves) and dangerous because they add work to the gospel of God's grace and therefore, put confidence in the flesh. "Of all such externalities Paul warns to beware. Similarly, in our own day, we must beware of other forms of legalism, such as the demand for baptism, the Lord's Supper, fasting, the confessing of sins to men, as conditions of salvation." (Lehman Strauss)

Paul mentions 3 marks of a true Christian: worshiping God in spirit, glorying in Christ Jesus, and putting no confidence/trust in the flesh.

1. Worshiping God in Spirit

"God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
"The overall lesson about worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth is that worship of God is not to be confined to a single geographical location or necessarily regulated by the temporary provisions of Old Testament law. With the coming of Christ, the separation between Jew and Gentile was no longer relevant, nor was the centrality of the temple in worship. With the coming of Christ, all of God’s children gained equal access to God through Him. Worship became a matter of the heart, not external actions, and directed by truth rather than ceremony." (from www.gotquestions.org) True worship involves loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, prompted by the indwelling Spirit of God. Our heart posture towards God should be: complete surrender, utmost reverence, joyful dependence, deepest gratitude, humble obedience, faithful devotion, and highest adoration. To me, that's worship. We can daily worship God by offering up our lives...our all (body, spirit, heart, mind, word, action) to praise and honor Him. "The body of the Christian becomes a temple in which God is worshiped in every thought and meditation and in the performing of every duty." (Lehman Strauss) 

2. Glorying/Exulting/Boasting in Christ Jesus

We ourselves have nothing to boast about, nothing to contribute to our salvation. We are saved by grace, transformed by grace, sanctified by grace, and kept by grace. It's the finished work of Christ on the cross that saved us. He deserves all the glory. True Christians glory in Christ alone. "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (2 Corinthians 10:17) "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

3. Putting no confidence in the flesh

There's nothing good in the flesh/our sinful nature. We cannot trust in good works of the flesh to get us into Heaven. Salvation by grace leaves no room for human works or human pride. It's God's undeserved gift freely given to us. Do not place any confidence on any human efforts or accomplishment as ways to reach God or to earn God's favor. It's all grace!Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me! I am in awe of Your amazing grace. May every aspect of my life be pleasing worship to You and bring You honor & glory! May I only boast of what You have done for me, never what I have done for You. May I joyfully put my trust and confidence in You alone!

Philippians 2 in Poem

Children of God are called to unite
Sharing the same love, shining the light
No room for vain conceit or selfish ambition
Put away pride; humbly work together as one
Consider others' concerns above your own
Imitate the humble obedience Christ has shown

Every knee will bow to Jesus our Lord
Everyone will one day acknowledge God
Tell the world about salvation by grace
Pray they'll choose Christ before it's too late

God's Spirit works in us, for us, and through us
To achieve His purpose and make us like Jesus
Shine brightly like stars in this world's darkness
Stay pure, irreproachable, and blameless
Conquer complaining; avoid arguing
Hold fast to the word of life rejoicing

Stand up and stand out for God's glory
Is your life for Christ a good testimony?
Be joyful and helpful like Paul and Timothy
God's transforming grace at work the world will see

Live for God; be a blessing to others
To the will of God we must surrender
Put Christ first above all else
Daily we must die to selves

Father, open our eyes to see the needs around us
Open our hearts to care and love them like Jesus
Open our arms to the broken and the lonely
May we serve others with joy and sincerity


~ Copyright 2017 Urailak Liljequist

Note: You can read my Philippians 1 in Poem here.

Be a Blessing to Others

"I have no one else like him (Timothy), who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 2:20-21 NIV)

"For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:20-21 NKJV)

This is a wonderful tribute Paul made to Timothy. Timothy and Paul were like-minded; they both desired to do God's will, to proclaim the gospel, and to glorify God. Timothy (like Paul) sincerely cared about the spiritual welfare of the believers in Philippi. Paul trusted Timothy because Timothy had proven his character by his faithful service. Timothy was a great example of Philippians 2:4 even though he was young. Good leaders genuinely care for their people and lead them with a servant heart.

Paul said everyone (except Timothy) looks out for their own interests. Sadly, it's the norm. People back then were no different than people nowadays in term of being "me-centered". They were occupied with their own concerns and did not want to be inconvenienced. Timothy was Christ-centered and other-oriented. Christ must have preeminence in our lives. If we put anything above Him, we commit a sin of idolatry. He must come first before our spouses, our children, our relationships, our jobs, and ourselves. "Jesus said to His disciples, 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.'" (Matthew 16:24) Do you seek to do your own things or do you seek to do the things which pertain to Jesus Christ and His kingdom? May we share Paul's passion: "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24) Selfishness/self-centeredness is a major hindrance to unity and ministry. Selfishness is sin. We need to deny self/die to self daily and live for God and be a blessing to others. "From self denial in the spiritual worship of God flows self surrender to the will of God, and from self surrender flows selfless service in the work of God." (John MacArthur)

"He (God) is more concerned about our character as expressed in servant living than our comfort. His ultimate goal is not to pamper us physically or emotionally, but to perfect us spiritually, conforming us into the character of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus gave Himself redemptively for us to restore us to God and create a people who would live as servants of God in the service of others proclaiming the good news and loving others for Him. Thus, as Christ gave Himself, so God wants us to give ourselves for others." (J. Hampton Keathley III)

"We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks . . . It is a strange fact that Christians frequently consider their work so important and urgent that they will allow nothing to disturb them . . . But it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and that we do not assume our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be rearranged by God." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

"Oh, to see the needs of others

More important than our own,

Following our Lord's example
When He left His heavenly throne." (Sper)

"Others, Lord, yes, others,

Let this my motto be;

Help me to live for others,

That I might live like Thee." (Charles D. Meigs)

To ponder: What practical things can you do to be a blessing to others today? Do you have a sincere concern for others (without ulterior motives)? Do you help/serve others with genuine, unconditional love (without expecting anything in return)? Do you get annoyed when someone interrupts your free time with his/her needs? Do you demand recognition or appreciation? Is it a joy or a chore for you to serve others?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to love and serve others like Jesus. Please open my eyes to see the needs of others and how I can meet those needs. Please take away my selfishness and help me put others above myself. Please empower me to do Your will and Your kingdom work with joy and perseverance. May my life be a blessing to You and to others! In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Below is a video that my daughter made of her short term mission trip onboard the Logos Hope in 2011 (she was 18). I love this song, Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath, which goes well with today's post.

Shine for Jesus!

Paul pointed out some ways in which we work out our salvation: Do not complain (grumble, murmur) and do not argue. Either complaining or arguing hinders unity in the Body of Christ. Both are toxic habits. "Grumbling and disputing are sins of the disposition." (George Brooks) Complaining expresses discontent, dissatisfaction, or disappointment (what takes place in our heart). If our heart is filled with gratitude and contentment, there will be no room for complaining. Our sense of entitlement needs to end. Instead of complaining, we should be counting our blessings. Complaining hurts our fellowship with God and people. Focus on God and His goodness, instead of your problems. Learn to look at everything with an eternal perspective...from God's perspective. God is displeased when we complain. For example, God struck Miriam with leprosy for 7 days because she grumbled against Moses. He wants His children to be thankful and joyful, not whiny and argumentative. Arguing expresses disagreement, desire to win, and pride. Are you more concerned about being "right" or being reconciled? Be humble and teachable. Value relationship more than the need to be "right". Seek to understand rather than demand to be understood. "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (James 1:19) Complaining and arguing kill our own joy and other people's joy.

"If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would have nothing to grumble about." (Unknown)
"If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified." (Charles Spurgeon)
"As long as a man is alive and out of hell, he cannot have any cause to complain." (Charles Spurgeon)

"Those Christians who with thankful hearts
Praise God throughout the day
Won't tend to grumble and complain
When things don't go their way." (Branon)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

The purpose/result of doing everything without complaining or arguing is to become blameless (outward conduct), pure (inward character), irreproachable children of God, shining like stars in this dark world in the midst of a crooked (opposed to God's truths, morally/spiritually corrupt) and perverse (depraved, distorting the truth) generation. A complaining Christian is a poor witness; so is a disputing church. People in general like to complain and argue (as seen in social media everyday). If we don't complain and don't argue, we will surely stand out. Let us live in such a way that gives no reason for people to blame us or find fault in us. We cannot influence the world by being like the world. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) God's children are set apart to resemble the Father and to shine His light in contrast to the darkness of this world. We are to reflect Jesus, the Light of the World, so that others may see Him in us. Our position in Christ is blameless and pure without blemish/fault. Does our conduct match our position? "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Remember that stars shine forth as clusters, not just as individual stars. Paul tried to encourage love and unity in the Body of Christ. When the unbelieving world looks at Christians, do they see the united body of stars shining the gospel light? 

We are to continually hold firmly to the World of Life by believing & obeying God's Word and spreading & living the gospel with perseverance. As a result, we will get to rejoice (along with Paul) on the day of Christ that we have not run or labored in vain (without fruit). The secret of living blameless & pure Christian lives lies in God working in us (Philippians 2:13) and the Word of Christ dwelling in us (Colossians 3:16a).

"Christian, we must face the fact that a complaining spirit is a bad testimony for Christ.  Instead of grumbling, we should be thankful and joyful which will make an impact for Christ.  Be honest, what is there in your life that would be attractive to an unsaved person?  Do you project to the world that a sovereign God is in control?  Can you imagine what kind of an impact the Apostle Paul would have had before the Praetorian Guard if while in that Roman jail, they would have heard him say, “This jail stinks!  The food is awful!  The conditions are atrocious!  These chains are killing me!  I wish these negative Christians would stop visiting me!  I’m being slandered unjustly!  I hate to pray because God doesn’t answer anyway!”  This kind of complaining and griping would have turned off every Roman soldier guarding Paul and they would have said, “This guy is nothing but a sour-puss.  Christianity is not for me!”  But instead Paul projected joy, confidence and assurance that God was in control of all things and he found reasons to be thankful even though his circumstances were miserable.  Paul did not just give external obedience to his circumstances.  He gave internal obedience and was glad and joyful in his circumstances because He knew it was all somehow part of God’s plan for his life.  Christians, what kind of impact do you have on this depraved world for Christ?  Do the unsaved see you conquering in areas they know they are failing?  Can they see Christ in you?" (Jack Arnold)

"Gracious Spirit dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal,
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak." (Thomas Lynch)

"Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?" (Smyth)

"I want my life to shine for Jesus
So that everywhere I go
The watching world will see He loves them
And His saving grace will know." (Hess)

Prayer: Father, please help me be thankful and joyful, instead of complaining and arguing. Please mold my heart to be like Yours. "Like Father, like daughter"...that's what I hope people see. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer! (Psalm 19:14) Please empower me to faithfully and steadfastly run the race and proclaim the gospel. Please enable me to shine brightly for Jesus. May others see Christ in me and see what Christ has done in me, for me, and through me! To Christ alone be all the glory! In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Work Out What God Works in Us

Philippians 2:12-13 portrays a beautiful interplay of God's sovereignty and His children's responsibility. After reminding the believers in Philippi of the humble obedience of Christ, Paul encouraged them to continue their obedience by working out their salvation with humility, awe, reverence, and dependence upon God. We're not saved by good works but we're saved to do good works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10) "Working out our salvation" refers to bearing fruit of salvation, growing in holiness/Christlikeness, loving what God loves & hating what God hates, living out the gospel of God's grace, persevering in the faith through trials, putting our faith in action, obeying God & doing His will. "To escape the error of salvation by works, we have fallen into the opposite error of salvation without obedience." (A.W. Tozer)

Verse 13 explains how God makes it possible for us to continually work out our salvation. The Holy Spirit who indwells us works in us to will (He gives us the desire) and to act (He gives us the power & ability) to achieve His purpose for His good pleasure. God saves and justifies us by grace through faith; He also transforms and sanctifies us by grace through faith. I'm so grateful that God doesn't expect me to work out my salvation all by myself with my own strength.

God's sovereignty (His divine enablement) does not negate our responsibility (obedience). God gives us free will. We can choose to submit, obey, and cooperate with what God the Holy Spirit is doing in us or we can choose to resist Him and disobey Him. God works in us (His part) so that we can work out with hope and confidence (our part). It gives God pleasure to see us love, serve, obey, and honor Him.

Prayer: May F B Meyer's prayer also be our prayer:
"O God work in me, not only to will
but to do of Thy good pleasure;
and may I work out in daily life
what Thou dost work in. AMEN."