The Battle Within

Reading:  Philippians 4:8-13
    
    Paul asserts that the Christian faith must affect our inner life.  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”(Phil 4:8).  The content of our thoughts is our choice.  Paul encourages us to seek out good things to think about.  There will always be negative dimensions to our circumstances and relationships, so Paul’s words imply that we will have to actively seek out positives in what we see.  What is good here?  What is praiseworthy?  What can I commend?  These are the matters worthy of our careful thought.

    Paul also opens up about his own personal journey in his thinking.  “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me”(Phil 4:11-13).  Paul has “learned” to find contentment in any situation, implying that it is not natural to him.  He has taken the wide range of circumstances he has encountered (“plenty and hunger, abundance and need”) as an opportunity to discipline his inner man.  He takes ownership of his own contentment, not requiring great circumstances before he is joyful and at peace.  These words suggest a long process of careful discipline and looking for the good in challenging situations.  Jesus is the author of even this gradual change in Paul:  “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

    Paul’s words draw our attention to the battle within.  Long before we complain, curse, and criticize—long before we lash out, take revenge, or sin brazenly—there is a battle to control our thoughts.  We can allow frustrations to grow in intensity, boiling over in evil or we can seek the positives in our situation.  We can rejoice in wealth and bemoan poverty or we can concentrate on glorifying God wherever we find ourselves.  Positivity and contentment are choices we can always make—and they determine our words and actions.

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One Thing to Think About: Why is it hard for me to consistently think positive thoughts?

One Thing to Pray For:  Contentment, joy, and positive thoughts regardless of my circumstances
 

The Peace that Passes Understanding

Reading:  Philippians 4:1-7
    
    Paul attempts to resolve a personal conflict from a distance:  “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord”(Phil 4:2).  We do not know what the difficulty between these two women involved, but Paul does not declare a winner.  He just wants them to make peace.   The fact that the letter is intended to be read publicly makes this rebuke especially powerful; now everyone is involved in their personal problem.  In personal disputes, who is right is not nearly as important as a willingness to “agree in the Lord.”  This implies direct conversation, a willingness to listen to one another, the humility to admit fault, and a desire to be reconciled.

    Paul moves from peace in the congregation to inner peace:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”(Phil 4:6-7).  God wants anxiety to be channeled into prayer.  Rather than wallowing in the uncertainty and challenge of what troubles us, we ask God for his help.  We combine our requests of God with thanksgiving, appreciating what we already have.  Even if God does not directly or immediately answer our prayers, we will now have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” to “guard (our) hearts and (our) minds”(Phil 4:7).  God wants Christians to be at peace rather than anxious and promises that he will give peace to those who bring their needs to him.  We may not be able to understand all the ways this works, but Paul urges us to try it anyway.

    Anxiety and peace are pressing concerns for all of us.  We face overwhelming situations and often feel helpless in the face of an uncertain future.  Paul’s teaching helps us be constructive.  What are we thankful for?  What can God do about it?  What exactly do we want God to do for us?  We can leave our concerns at his doorstep, confident that he will give an appropriate answer in response.  We move from the realm of unfocused anxiety toward God’s peace.

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One Thing to Think About: Do I pray my worries?

One Thing to Pray For:  God to relieve my anxiety and give me his peace
 

Our Citizenship Is in Heaven

Reading:  Philippians 3:17-21
    
    Having described his burning passion to know Christ, Paul urges the Philippians to “join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us”(Phil 3:17).  Our role models matter because (at best) we end up duplicating their actions and attitudes.  Yet some people are unworthy to be our examples:  “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things”(Phil 3:18-19).  These are sharp words because they imply that professed Christians can live as enemies of Jesus when they are self-serving and worldly.  This also means that choosing our companions involves observing their lives and not merely asking whether they believe in Jesus.

    Christians have a different loyalty.  “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself”(Phil 3:20-21).  Citizenship implies allegiance and identity.  We do not belong to the earth, therefore we do not set our minds on earthly things (Phil 3:19).  We look above to the place where God lives and from which our Lord will return, changing our bodies to be like his.  Like immigrants and strangers, we live among the people here but do not feel at home because we are from somewhere else.  We also do not place our hope in worldly power, wealth, or methods because we await a heavenly savior.

    A heavenly citizenship requires us to remain aware of the impact worldly culture and thinking is having on us.  Worldly things—sports, politics, science, and entertainment—are not as important as the return of Jesus and the transformation we will experience when he comes back.  Paul has shown the passion that motivates Jesus’ disciples (Phil 3:7-15) and it contrasts sharply with worldly thinking and priorities.  We think and act and love differently because we are not from here.

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One Thing to Think About: Am I comfortable among people of the world?

One Thing to Pray For:  My savior to return
 

That I May Know Him

Reading:  Philippians 3:7-16
    
    Paul’s words crackle with intensity as he describes the remarkable transformation he has experienced.  After spending his formative years building his resume, everything changes.  “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”(Phil 3:7-8).  Paul discovers something so much better than glorifying himself and has devoted his whole life to pursuing it.  He has “suffered the loss of all things”—his friendships, his comforts, his good name, his money, his health, his bright future in Judaism—yet he decides that this is all “rubbish” or “dung.”  Paul has done the math:  knowing Jesus is worth more than temporary personal greatness.

    So now Paul’s burning desire is “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead”(Phil 3:10-11).  Knowing him means my righteousness is not based on my goodness, but his grace (Phil 3:9).  Knowing him means suffering like him (perhaps even dying like him) so that I can be raised like him (Phil 3:10).  Paul will sacrifice anything and submit to anything if it means he will be raised with Jesus.  Now he goes forward:  “But one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”(Phil 3:13-14).  This pursuit has taken over his life; it is now the “one thing” he does.  Knowing Jesus motivates him each day and will not end until he rests with Jesus in eternity.

    Paul’s passion burns through the page.  Jesus has captured his heart and rearranged his life.  Now Paul preaches and lives and works and writes as he does because he wants to know Jesus.  Our story may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, but the basic contours are the same:  we abandon our attempts to save ourselves and run hard after our Savior. 

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One Thing to Think About: Is knowing Jesus my burning desire?

One Thing to Pray For:  Courage to surrender everything to seek after Jesus
 

Confidence in the Flesh

Reading:  Philippians 3:1-6
    
     Paul has a warning about a group that promotes a dangerous mentality:  “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.  For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”(Phil 3:2-3).  He is probably referring to Judaizing teachers who emphasize the need for circumcision for salvation (“mutilate the flesh”).  Disciples of Jesus are different; we are the circumcision because we put no confidence in the flesh.  We do not rest on our accomplishments, good works, or lineage.  Our confidence is not in ourselves.

    Yet this is the mentality that Judaizing teachers spread and Paul is well-acquainted with it because of his past.  “If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless”(Phil 3:4-6).  It reads like a resume.  These are Paul’s well-rehearsed credentials and reason for boasting.  He is properly circumcised, a native Israelite, a Pharisee by training and temperament, zealous to a fault, and with no accusations of lawbreaking.  There is a lot to be confident about here.  Yet “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”(Phil 3:7).  Jesus changed everything.  When we follow Jesus, we “glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”(Phil 3:3).

    We all have unique talents and attributes.  Some of us have impressive bloodlines.  Some have a long history of righteous living.  Our world encourages us to build this type of moral resume, justifying to others why we are worthy to be praised or heard.  Yet when we come to Jesus, it is no longer about us.  All our accomplishments go in the garbage (they are “rubbish,” Phil 3:8).  Even in my best moments, I cannot save myself or atone for my own sins.  My confidence now is in what Jesus has done for me.  

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One Thing to Think About: How am I tempted to have confidence in myself?

One Thing to Pray For:  Awareness of my tendency to trust myself rather than Jesus