Philippians 4:2-9
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 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.
Final Exhortations
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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. 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.


Wow! What a passage. Doesn't start looking like it will be amazing. Talking as it does about two bickering women. I've been thinking lately of women priests and bishops etc. I've reached the conclusion that maybe I'm wrong. Well I probably am. It's certainly nothing that will affect my salvation so it doesn't matter. Here we see evidence of why women should be allowed into the episcopate. They argue! Just kidding. I love how Paul talks here of his helpers and makes no distinction between them. Pretty awesome.

Then we get to the meat of the passage. Yesterday in SU we read verse seven as we talked about Jehovah Shalom and the Peace he brings. Wonderful peace. I never will understand it and I don't think I want to. It would limit it and I want it unlimited.

Set in this passage is the most common of all the commandments 'do not be anxious'. I love that phrase and I think that it is a massive help to me at times.

Something new this time is verse eight. I've always seen it as a mantra to be spoken at times of worry (which I suppose it may be) but today it feels more like Paul simply telling us that we should spend more time thinking about the blessings God has given us rather than the troubles the world will.

Rejoice in The Lord always and again I say rejoice! Such a wonderful sentiment. I shall turn up the music and rejoice in The Lord through some worship.

Amen.

A couple of years ago at Spring Harvest, someone who was doing the talking shared this video. I couldn't find it and I have been looking for it for a while now. It actually came to me when I was listening to one of the Left Behind audiobooks and I am so glad it did. I absolutely love this and I hope you do too

Philippians 3:12 - 4:1
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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul's Example
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. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
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. 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. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
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!

Bus home today. I left my bible at work yesterday. Rather interesting day. Got to share some testimony at SU today. Really was a wonderful thing to share and genuinely felt God's presence. And one of the verses was from Philippians! Not from this passage but nonetheless an awesome verse for today.

I love this passage. Not even Paul had full assurance. He wasn't perfect. He wasn't a man who had it all and yet look at what he did.

I love this passage because I see Paul writing this with such joy and such a bursting heart. We are different he says. We have a new hope. We are not citizens of earth but citizens of heaven. We are merely waiting for Jesus to come and take us home. What an image. He will come and come soon on a cloud of glory with his army behind him. How truly awesome that will be. I could feel chastened by this passage but I don't! Such a truth and such a passage. Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

Philippians 3:1-11
No Confidence in the Flesh
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 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— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 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; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

I really felt drawn to reading the Bible this morning. Twice. It was as if that was my sole (soul?) purpose this morning.

Such a lovely passage. Really spoke to me about my selfishness. There's no need for it. I'm not better than anyone else. I'm no more than anyone else. This doesn't make me feel bad, it is the opposite. I think it's quite liberating.

Whose standards am I living my life by? Why? This is something that God wants me to change. I pray I can.

As an aside, there was a little more this morning. Not necessarily related to the bible reading. It was that little question again - why don't I become a more dedicated servant of God. A priest? I dislike writing it because it seems to be something I shouldn't say but the question will not go away. If you read this, please pray!

Amen

Philippians 2:19-30
Timothy and Epaphroditus
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co- worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

It has been a couple of days since I read the bible. I honestly have never known why I read the bible Monday to Friday and have the weekends off. Silly eh.

Anyway, down to the bible. A lovely passage here. We see Paul at his most loving and caring. He has two friends with him who are like his children yet he is prepared to let them go because he cares so much for the Philippians.

We see the unselfish nature of all three laid bare in this passage. Selfishness is something I'm really struggling with lately. I find myself more and more selfish in my attitudes not less and less. I sometimes wonder what is going on.

What is this passage saying to me? I guess today it's telling me that in the Bible we see unselfish people doing unselfish things. They're not superhumans. They're humans who have Jesus in their lives. They can do everything through Christ who strengthens them. I pray that I can.

Amen