Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure… (Philippians 2:14-15 NIV, 1-20-15)

Grumbling and arguing vs blameless and pure. Normally I don’t think of those pairs as being in an opposing relationship. But Paul sees them as mutually exclusive. Apparently, the first two prevent the second two.

I do see that people who spent their time grumbling and arguing rarely have joy, but I never thought about how it also blocks them from becoming the people God wants them to be, including being blameless and pure. They can’t be lights for God in our corrupt generation. (If you whine you won’t shine, I guess you could say.)

So, two things. One, I can’t let myself descend into grumbling and arguing. And two, I need to promote joy, because joy is the antidote for grumbling and arguing.

[Father, help me to live joyfully and help others do the same.]

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed… (Philippians 2:12 NIV, 1-19-15)

Interestingly, both Paul and Jesus were big on calling for obedience. But neither was known for giving commandments or rules to obey. What they were big on was giving principles to adjust one’s life toward. Love your neighbor, be joyful, pray constantly. Hard commandments to measure but great principles to adjust toward.

So maybe, that is the obedience Paul is talking about. The obedience of adjustment, an obedience that isn’t legalistic, is still challenging, and which is always do-able no matter how mature the follower.

[Father, help me to teach and spur people on to the obedience of life-changing adjustments. And to live that way myself.]

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11 NIV, 1-16-15)

I forget that part.

That every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess.

I work so hard not to offend, but either they’re going to do it here, or they’re going to do it then. Only two options.

And I need to be sure that I’m not so focused on not offending them–and that’s often just code for trying to make them like me–that I don’t call them to bowing the knee to Him.

Because it would be a tragedy to keep them liking me only to lose them for eternity.

[Father, teach me the right balance between winsomeness and boldness.]

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion... (Philippians 2:1 NIV, 1-10-15)

The word of the day is “any.” Do you have any? Not do you have a ton, an overflow, an abundance. Any.

It’s strong irony. We really should have a ton of encouragement from being united with Christ, an overflow of comfort from his love, and an abundance of common sharing and tenderness and compassion.

But Paul says, Do you have any? A smidge. A squintilla. Well, if that is all you have, then make his joy complete by being like-minded and thinking of others as better than yourself.

It’s not a master’s level course, it’s Christianity 101, or better yet, Pre-K Christianity. Like learning to write your letters or count to ten. Funny how often it’s treated like PhD faith, when it should be basic, preliminary stuff.

[Father, help me seek unity in the church, and to put others above myself.]

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. (Philippians 1:7 NIV, 1-2-15)

The grace is everywhere.

Some things I teach right but live wrong. Like here. I teach that God loves us all the time, that bad circumstances aren’t a result of bad behavior, and that God is always with us.

But I don’t always believe it, especially when the bad times are mine. I tend to think that God is separated from me during bad times and that I am more in His will when working for Him than when waiting on Him.

But Paul here says that God’s shared grace is present and working whether he is ministering or sitting idly in jail. And I’d say the same is true for me.

Now if I can just get myself to believe it.

[Father, give me the faith to believe that you are always with me and loving me.]

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (Acts 12:5 NIV, 11-26-14)

Happy anniversary, Peter!

It’s Passover, which means it’s the first anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection. And Peter gets to celebrate in jail.

It’s been quite a year. Over 5000 saved, Stephen stoned. Miracles galore, beatings aplenty. Barnabus’ generosity, Annanias’ treachery and death.

But even seeing Peter’s example (not to mention Stephen’s) , I keep waiting for smooth sailing, for happily ever after. Hopefully, it’s not gonna happen. The only way to get smooth travel is to eliminate the mountaintops. No explosive growth, no miracles.

Even after Peter gets rescued from jail (to the surprise of the church) and Herod dies, the troubles and trials continue. They’re part of the trip if you want to do great things for God.

[Father, use us to make your name great, and give us the courage and endurance to make it through the trials.]

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (LUK 23:42 NIV, 11-10-14)

Question. Why didn’t Matthew or Mark write about this? It’s seriously cool.

My guess: They didn’t know it happened. The man’s comments would have been quiet. Not the kind of thing you broadcast in front of a hostile crowd. And Jesus didn’t choose to make a scene about it. Some of His words on the Cross were shouts. This was a possibly whisper.

That’s a good example for us as we do our good deeds. Quietly. Not looking to get attention. Not letting even our left hand know.

Plus in this verse we get to see Jesus still caring about people who can do nothing for Him. Even in his moment of greatest pain.

And how did Luke know? He was the researcher, the one who talked to everyone. Including possibly the only person (the Centurian maybe) who heard this quiet exchange that transformed one person’s eternity.

On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” (LUK 22:40 NIV, 11-5-14)

Not “Pray for me and what I am about to go through” (that whole Cross thing), or even “Pray this cup passes from me” (which he will pray for himself). Pray for yourselves and your greatest threat at this time.

I guess it’s okay to pray for your own needs and weaknesses, even in the face of bigger events and needs.

[Father, help me to really pray for myself, and more for my spiritual needs and growth than my physical and emotional wants.]

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (MAT 9:9 NIV, 9-16-14)

Follow me.

That’s the call.

Does Jesus ever say, “Accept me?” Not that I know of. It’s “Follow me. Go where I go, do what I do.”

Could that be one of the problems we have in the church? Should we be saying “Accept Jesus” or “Follow Jesus?” And would the church be stronger if we had more followers of Jesus and fewer mere acceptors?

[Father, help me to follow you and to lead others to do the same.]

“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (MAT 3:12 NIV, 9-4-14)

Do I have a proper image of Jesus?

This is early in the book of Matthew–and the New Testament as a whole–and here is John’s prediction of Jesus’ ministry. And Luke repeats it basically verbatim, so it’s obviously supposed to frame how I read the book and view its Protagonist.

But that’s a long way from how I tend to picture and portray Jesus. Is my mild, lamb-holding impression correct?

This doesn’t sound like it. Maybe I need to adjust my impression and portrayal, allow for the judgment that is as much a part of His nature as the compassion.

[Father, help me to see your Son accurately and portray Him as He truly is.]