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Philippians 4 - Greetings

Several years ago, (I just realized that it has been over five years ago now.) I started to play a little game with people who greeted me. It always bugged me for some reason when I was greeted with "How are you?"; only to have the person move on without waiting for an answer. So, I began to quickly retort, "Alive", or "Conscious", or "Warm and breathing."

It caught them off guard. They usually stopped in their tracks and realized that they'd asked a question that they didn't want an answer to.

However, at some point to Lord showed me that I was speaking my own reality into existence. Words have power, they mean things. My answers, while accurate, were sarcasm. Sarca - flesh. Casm - divide, chasm. I was "tearing flesh" - my own.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So, instead I began to consciously respond with, "blessed", or "content", or more recently, "highly favored".

The effect on the hearers is the same. They still realize that they asked a question they didn't want an answer to. But they usually follow up with another question or comment.

"What did you say?" or "Blessed... That's good."

It is an invitation to show them that the Lord is indeed good to me. I then have an opportunity to shine a light for the Lord.

Is everything in my life perfect. Certainly not. However, it is a matter of perspective. I am learning how to be content. And there is always someone else out there that is worse off than me. Therefore I am indeed blessed.

Father, may I speak life, and healing. May I continue to learn contentment. In Jesus' name, Amen.

How are you? Jan
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Philippians 3 - Example

Like it or not, when I married my bride Pam. I became an example to her children. They watch me, much closer than I'd like. It is amazing to me to see them picking up some of my likes, dislikes, and mannerisms. They may not be my biological children, but due to the process of me being their parent, being in close proximity with them regularly, they are becoming somewhat like me.

The New Testament uses two words to describe sons or children. One is the word 'teknon', meaning son by virtue of birth. The other word is 'huios', meaning son recognized as belonging to someone due to similarities.

I can see that slowly, almost imperceptibly, both Sam and Caleb are becoming like me.

Philippians 3:17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

So, what am I teaching them? What do Sam and Caleb see me doing, saying, and abstaining from? Am I consistent? More importantly, am I giving them any reason to want to be like me?

Father, may I live my life in a way that glorifies you. Help my life to reflect your son Jesus, so that when people look at me they see him. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What kind of pattern are you? Jan
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Philippians 2 - Plugged in

Working in the computer industry, I handle a lot of tech support calls. Some of them are truly amazing. I find that often the problem is that the device the person is having trouble with is not turned on. It is disconnected from it's power source.

Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

God is our power source. He makes everything happen. But we must be plugged in.

Most electronic devices have some sort of indicator light on them to let you know if they are on. The first question I ask when I suspect a power issue is, "Is the light on?"

Philippians 2:14-15 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

How about you, is your light on? Is your light shining brightly?

If not, check the power cord. Are you plugged into the source of power?

Sometimes there is a genuine failure of a part. It fails the test. That is the time for repair. Fortunately our Heavenly Father is the Master Mechanic.

Philippians 2:27 And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.

Father, may we stay plugged in. May our light shine bright in this perverse world, and may we always bring our broken things to you for repair. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He can fix it. Jan
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Philippians 1 - Earn it

Today I came back from a men's conference in Bradenton. One of the men used a verse from today's chapter along with a video clip from the movie "Saving Private Ryan."

The scene is on a bridge toward the end of the movie. The German offensive has been stopped, Ryan is safe. However, nearly everyone in the group that was sent to rescue Private James Ryan has died in the effort. On the bridge with Ryan is Captain Miller, he's mortally wounded. With his last breath he says, "James... earn this. Earn it."

Fast forward 50 years. Ryan, now an old man is facing the grave of Captain Miller. he turns to his wife and asks her, "Am I a good man?"...

He wants to know if he did indeed earn the sacrifice that so many gave. Was his life lived well, was he worthy?

Two thousand years ago under the cover of darkness on a Judean countryside, my rescue began. A hero was inserted behind enemy lines.

His mission was to bring me life, to ensure that I could escape the land of destruction and enter the celestial city. And not only was his mission to provide me with safe passage from enemy held territory, no he was also to provide me permanent citizenship.

He fought valiantly. Defeated every foe. Demonstrated the superiority of his cause and homeland. And then he died in the effort. But through the very process of doing so, he secured my freedom. He provided me with knowledge, weapons, and set me in a mighty army that is marching toward our eternal home.

Philippians 1:27 But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing side by side, fighting together for the Good News.

Do I live in a manner that is worthy? Have I shown Jesus every day that I am "earning" the sacrifice that he made? Am I fighting side-by-side with my fellow warriors for Christ?

The victory is ours. Jesus won two thousand years ago. Now it is just a mop-up operation.

Father, may I live worthy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Earn it. Jan
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