Today we are looking at a few verses in the Epistle to
the Philippians
Chapter 1
27 Only let your conversation be worthy of the
gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear
of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind laboring together for
the faith of the gospel. 28 And in nothing be terrified by the
adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation,
and this from God: 29 For unto you it is given for Christ, not only
to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. 30 Having the same
conflict as that which you have seen in me, and now have heard of me.
Chapter 2
1 If there is therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection
and mercy: 2 Fulfill my joy, that you may be of one mind, having
the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. 3 Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, let each
esteem others better than themselves: 4 Let each one look out not
only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
My Friends,
How often do we work or live around others who at some point
speak of the church that they belong to having some bake sale or flea market to
raise money and we are shocked to discover that they belong to a Christian
church? The language that comes out of their mouth on a daily basis, the
gossip, the lifestyle, nothing that we have seen in our daily dealings with
this person has ever led us to suspect that they were Christian.
The words written here in chapter 1 verse 27 are not
peculiar to this letter but are repeated throughout all of scripture. Our
speech, our daily actions, all of our dealings with people should make them
think, if nothing else, that there is something peculiar about this person,
this one is not like most people that I deal or work with. This should be the
least that others see in us, granted on a day to day basis life can get pretty
rough and we may not always be at our best but in a daily sense on a general
basis, people should see Jesus Christ in us by our speech and our actions, or
at the least recognize that we are different from others because of our
integrity, our work ethic, our avoiding gossip and slander. This should be our
way of dealing with everyone.
As the verses continue we see that we are not to be afraid
of our adversaries, we must live Christ every day; this does not mean that we
go around browbeating everyone on accepting Christ into their lives, we are to
live Christ in our life always ready to bear witness when asked or questioned.
As the verses continue notice St. Paul states that we will suffer for the name
of Christ and that this is for salvation, over and over again throughout the
writings of the New Testament we see that it is Christian privilege to suffer
in Christ as He also suffered for us. This is not punishment as some would
attempt to lead us to believe but in suffering we know that we belong to Jesus
Christ and are being tried, tested and purified.
It is through these trials that we are to come closer to Him
and more and more forsaking the things of this world.
The entertainment, the luxuries, the easy living are not for
us in the flesh, having these things makes us turn our backs on Almighty God,
we develop the attitude of; look what I have achieved, I am a self-made person,
I did not need God to accomplish this great life that I live. This idea spills
over into chapter two.
We are not to be filled with conceit or selfish ambition,
but to be of one spirit, one mind, working for the betterment of others, each
of us looking to help others and by this everyone will help everyone. All will
be of a like mind, worshipping and praising God through Jesus Christ and
insuring that no one is in desperate need of anything.
This is the way of Jesus Christ, it is the resounding
message throughout all of scripture, love or charity which is love in action,
charity is an action word, something that is taking place, is love doing
something and not simply expressing itself in word alone.
Think on these things.
May Almighty God fill our hearts with all charity so that
even if we tried, we could not even deny the Christ in word without someone
calling us a liar, this should be what fills our heart.
In Christ,
Monk Michael
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