“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”  (Php 1:3-5, 4:1)

I have been doing a personal study of the book of Philippians and one of the first things that struck me was the bookends seen above.  Such love seen here shows just how important the church at Philippi was to Paul.  He was bound by chain to one of Caesar’s guards and unable to go anywhere.  He was confined to his rented house based on charges that were false.   If we find ourselves in this position we could easily say that our lives are not where we would want them to be and yet the first thing we hear from Paul is “I thank God every time I think of you”.  He then goes on to say that what happened to him was actually good as it furthered the cause of Christ.  The perspective that we see from him should make each of us stop and think about our attitudes.

But what I want to focus on is Paul’s attitude toward his fellow brothers who worship at Philippi.  How often do we have this attitude with those that we fellowship with?  I know I find myself guilty of having those I am close to be the ones I think about and find myself with little to no time for others.  I don’t think about everyone that I should, let alone thank God every time I think about them!  We have this partnership with a common bond, a common goal, and yet we are too busy with our lives.  Too consumed with work, close friends, hectic schedules, to consider our brothers let alone pray for them.

I think of my close friends as special to me.  They are people who help me through tough times.  They are a shoulder to cry on or my shoulder is there for them to cry on.  But Paul calls the entire church at Philippi his “Joy and Crown”.  The word “crown” here refers to a badge of royalty or a symbol of honor.  What amazing words to use for your fellow brothers!  The next verse refers to two ladies who apparently were having issues with each other, but his love for everyone is shown in his plea on how to deal with them. “My true companions help these women who have labored side by side with me”.  Such a love and positive attitude can do nothing but help in “furthering the cause of Christ”.

How is your attitude towards your fellow companions, or as the King James says “yoke fellow”?  We may not all have the same burden to bear but we are called to bear each others burdens, so fulfilling the law of Christ.  As we go out into our day to day lives, let’s strive to thank God for all remembrances of each other for in doing so we will grow closer to one another and more importantly, closer to Him.

Jeff Green

We returned home before him and checked the television to see that the hockey game was still being played. The game ended and we began thinking about the time he should return. It was not long until our phones notified us of a text. It simply read that there had been an accident on the freeway and they were looking for an alternate way home. They would be later than expected.

It was not long before Justin came into the house and I asked him about the game.  His back was to me and he was very quiet. There were no stories of an exciting game or the fun he had being with his friends. He simply said, “It has not been a very good night for any of us”.

He recounted a terrible accident that happened right in front of him and his friends.  They had just gotten on the freeway to return home. An eighteen wheeler traveling in the opposite direction hit the dividing barrier and launched itself into the oncoming traffic on the other side. It landed cab first right on top of a small car with two passengers. Two more cars slammed into the truck, and the vehicle Justin was in skidded to a stop short of the truck. The two people in the car were killed instantly. As the boys jumped out of their car to see if they could help, the small car burst into flames and everyone was backed away from the accident. There were other injuries and one of the people had to be care-flited from the scene.

I was very thankful that all of the kids were home safely. I was also thankful they had not left 20 seconds earlier. It then hit me how little control I had over these kids arriving home safely.  No amount of training or warning could have prepared them for this event.

It also became clear to me that where I was helpless God has given warnings that will save us. Two verses came to my mind.

James 4:14

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

1Thessalonians 5:2

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Both of these verses are sobering warnings. Just like warnings from parents they are made with the intention of keeping individuals from harm.  As a child gets more freedom we cannot save him from all the things in the world. God’s warnings are made because He can save. He offers us a heaven.  The warnings require action.

The first verse reminds us that we do not actually know when our life might be required of us. We must  be  prepared at all times. Chapter 4 of James list some of the things we need to avoid, but ultimately speaks to what we should be doing. Humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord. Know that the Lord is in control. Strive to do what is right in the sight of the Lord.

The next verse is a warning as well. It warns us that none of us know when the Lord will return. If we knew we would be prepared on that day. We must again strive to do what is right in His sight. We are reminded to live as sons of light not in the darkness of evil, so that we will receive salvation.

 1 Thessalonians 5:8

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

             Are you prepared? Do what is right in the sight of the Lord. Only He can save you.

People the world over recognize the name of Jesus. Even those who do not believe in His deity at least acknowledge who He was and what He stood for. We think of ‘Jesus’ as a name above all names – a unique, distinctive, perhaps even holy name that God invented exclusively for his Son. The reality, however, is quite different. The name ‘Jesus’ was not a one-of-a-kind name at all. It was actually one of the most common names found in first century Israel.

The ancient Jewish historian Josephus, in his writings, tells us of eleven men with the name Jesus. Aside from the Son of God, the New Testament mentions four others with the name Jesus. Four of the twelve high priests during the first century AD were named Jesus. Archaeologists have unearthed some seventy-one ossuaries with the name ‘Jesus’ etched into them. In fact, ‘Jesus’ was a more common name in the first century than Simon, Levi, Jonathan, Herod, Joseph, and even John.

Interesting, is it not, that the Lord would send His one and only Son to be the Savior of all mankind and give Him such a common, ordinary name? I found some valuable parallels as I considered this thought against the backdrop of our identity and conduct as Christians.

Just as the name ‘Jesus’ was immensely common in the first century, the name ‘Christian’ has become immensely common in the 21^st century. And the sad truth is that, while many may bear the name, very few live the life. Jesus undoubtedly lived alongside many other Jesuses in his time (hence the need for a qualifier, such as “of Nazareth”), but He managed to distinguish Himself, to set Himself apart and leave a lasting impression on the world. He immortalized His name as one that would be truly remembered – not because of the name itself, but because of the life behind the name.

Many of us will recognize the famous words spoken by Mahatma Gandhi about Christianity. “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” What a sobering thought. And what a pointed accusation. Jesus Christ was all goodness, compassion, and generosity to those in need. And once people knew exactly who He was and what He brought to the table, news travelled fast. Crowds cheered with jubilation at the mere sight of Him walking by. Was this all due to His bizarre and unusual name? Of course not. It was due to His actions. He was revered and well-known because of what He did, not because of what He was named. The best part is that even once His name was well-known among the public, He never stopped teaching and comforting the lost.

If you never outwardly claimed the name ‘Christian’, would others perceive that you were one by your actions? In a world without labels, would friends, coworkers, even strangers mark us as followers of Christ based solely on our conduct toward them? If every impression we made was a Christ-like one, imagine the doors which would open to us! We often make the mistake of thinking that once our Christian “membership card” has been validated, our work is done. But on the contrary, our work is just beginning! After all, how can we expect to fulfill our purpose as Christians and achieve our goal of saving souls if we’ve placed every other soul beyond our reach? The fact that we are so bold as to call ourselves Christians begs the question – are we simply wearing the name, or are we owning it?

Jesus championed righteousness in every possible way. And he did so with humble beginnings and a common name. His name would mean nothing to us today were it not for His actions, and likewise our name – Christian – means nothing if not for our actions. How are you setting yourself apart in a sea of people wearing the same name as you? We are individuals in a group, parts of a whole with a name that is common and ordinary. And as such, we must be extraordinary.

Erin Miller

She had cataract surgery earlier in life and her glasses were like coke bottle bottoms. (For those of you who are younger, Coca Cola used to only come in glass bottles, which were very thick on the bottom.) She also had her magnifying glass there as well just in case her eyes were giving her trouble.  It’s the little things that we remember as children that help influence us and make lasting impressions on us today as adults.

We visited a congregation a while back and a man got up to help with the Lord’s Supper. He had his phone in his hand. He was not prepared and desperately tried to find the scripture he wanted to use before he prayed. He never did. It was very uncomfortable and distracting.

Lately I have been a little concerned that we are allowing too much technology to influence the way we worship. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. I love my phone, my IPad, having power point and the songs on the screen up front.  I also try to stay updated as much as I can. I know my grandchildren love technology as well. Whenever they are at my house, they will ask if they can play games on my iPad.  If we are in a store and they are bored they may ask their mother or me if they can play games on our phones. It seems to me our children and grandchildren know exactly what these devices are used for and how to use them. Many times I’ve heard one of the girls in the back seat playing with an old cell phone and pretending to send a text or having a conversation with a friend from Bible class. So what do they think when they see adults use their phones or iPad’s to read the Bible in church? Do we really think they see it and say to themselves, “He/she is reading the Bible?”

You may say, I don’t have kids at home or grandchildren yet. But what about those who you teach in Bible classes? Maybe they are watching us in services? We need to be the example for all our children to show them that God’s Word is special and important. After all that’s what we teach in our Bible classes, right?  Are we showing them that it’s really important to us when we don’t even bring our Bibles to services or don’t even open it and follow along.

Now I know this is just my opinion, but maybe we need to consider that kids are watching us and need to see us read from a “real” Bible. Some of you may not know that I’ve had a lot of problems with my eyes. Sometimes I don’t see as clearly as I should and reading on an illuminated device would really help me.

When we look in Nehemiah 8:1-6 we can see how Ezra the teacher of the law reads the Book of the Law of Moses. He read it aloud from daybreak until noon (v. 3).  Not only did they hear the Law of Moses but they also saw how important it was for the Law to be read to those who loved the Lord. “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn way from them.”(Proverbs 4:5)

Let’s not allow let technology to change us so much that our kids don’t even know what an actual Bible looks like.

Bev Slack

            Moses’ struggle in Exodus 17 is unique because it does not originate in lack of desire or knowledge of right and wrong.  The issue did not lie in his heart, but in his body.  This is a different scenario than God usually presents.  We are used to seeing men like David or Peter allowing selfishness to blockade their relationship with God, but Moses wants to serve God.  Why does God not allow Moses to serve Him?  The relevance of this story for us is in the ability of God’s people to work in unity to accomplish things which are impossible for a solitary individual.

Moses’ Weakness

            In Exodus 17, it is clear to Moses what he must do.  Keep his hands up and Israel wins, keep his hands down and they lose.  As has been his desire since the time of slavery, Moses’ primary focus is on the success of the people of God.  However, his body does not cooperate.  His hands become like stones, his muscles tighten, and his arms sag.  Desire and zeal did not guarantee success for Moses.

            This is a difficult truth to grasp.  I frequently think that as long as my mind is set right that I can accomplish anything.  With or without the help of others, I will succeed.  This is a fallacy that we too quickly buy into.  You, me, and Moses find ourselves in the same position as the disciples when they were dozing off in Gethsemane.  Jesus warned them to “watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). Some weaknesses are beyond our control.  We want to be perfect.  We strive to be perfect.  Yet we are imperfect beings.

To the Rescue

            As Moses’ body fails him, his friends do not.  Aaron and Hur step in to complete what was lacking in Moses.  They move a stone for Moses to sit on and hold his hands up so the people of God prevail.  Where one man was weak and inadequate, the combination of these three men was capable of fulfilling God’s plan.

            A few things about their actions stand out to me.  First, the text does not record any pleas or petitions by Moses for their service.  Instead, the men recognize the need and then jump to fix the situation.  They did not need incessant cries for help or worse yet a forceful shove (or passive-aggressive guilt trip) into action.  This only occurs when a deep relationship exists instead of the all too frequent church building relationship.  We have to know one another’s strengths and weaknesses in order to know when our services are required.  I fail in this area. How are you doing?

            Secondly, Aaron and Hur are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve God’s objectives.  Holding up Moses’ arms would be just as physically tortuous for them as it was for Moses.  However, they simply do not care.  Their enjoyment or ease was of little concern.  We like our relaxation time and we like pile hobbies on top of relaxation.  We rarely want to disrupt our precious time off with hard spiritual work, but every little bit helps.  By simply holding up the arms of Moses, Aaron and Hur were a part of a great victory of God.  Surely there is something you and I can do and a need we can fill.

Moses’ Acceptance

            One final point about Moses that makes me respect him more is he does not resist help.  Remember, it was Moses that God spoke to through the bush, lead the charge against Pharoah, and tapped the rock to bring forth water.  Why would such a strong man need their help?  Moses never allows pride to prevent the completion of God’s plan.

            We like to think we can do it ourselves.  We believe help is for the weak, but it is more a sign of strength than weakness.  We must never be ashamed to receive help from our brethren.  It does not matter if it’s a small physical weakness or a colossal spiritual failing.  We gain nothing by maintaining the image of perfection while sinking privately into depression.  Moses was not ashamed to be helped and we must not be either.

            This short excerpt speaks volumes about the relationship that must exist among the saints.  It requires all parties involved to focus primarily on the will of God.  If our focus is the success of the kingdom, then we will view the giving and receiving of help as a joyous event.

Many of us who were “raised in the church” sometimes find it hard to grasp the enormity of the gift that has been given to us.  Even though we’ve had it pounded into our heads from childhood that Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life and died a horrible death as a sacrifice for our sins so we can stand before God justified, sinless and without stain and –yet take it for granted?

As odd as that may sound, I believe we are sometimes guilty of taking God’s matchless grace for granted.  Sure, intellectually we understand this gift, the awful price that was paid and what it means to us, but knowing something is not the same as appreciating it and allowing it to impact our lives.

Suppose you had a terminal disease that was sure to end your life unless you received an organ transplant.  A disease you brought upon yourself due to your own poor choices.  As death draws near, someone you don’t even know hears about your predicament and is so moved with compassion that they volunteer to give you an organ that saves your life, but ends theirs.  Now that’s a gift you can really wrap your head around.  Every new day of life is so sweet and you’re overcome with humility, gratitude and amazement at the love of a stranger.   You vow that you will never take it for granted and that you will live each day, trying in vain to be worthy of this great gift that you have received.

This is more than just an illustration designed to tug at the heart strings, it’s reality and it applies to every one of us.  Rom 3:23 says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and Rom 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In these two verses Paul says that due to our sin we’re doomed to die and deservedly so.  Without the grace we have through Christ we are doomed, not just to a physical death that brings relief from pain but a spiritual death and total separation from God for all eternity.   None of us can imagine total separation from God because none of us has experienced it, but the Bible describes it as an unquenchable fire, unimaginable, excruciating punishment that never ends.  Such is the fate that God, through His love, has saved us from.  What a love, what a gift!

Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Profound in its simplicity this one verse contains the entirety of the good news of the Gospel.  “God so loved the world”.  Let’s be grateful.  Let’s get to know the one to whom we owe so much and let’s strive to live worthy of God’s grace every day.

Bruce Petty

In the public ministry of Jesus, no obstacle was more troublesome than external righteousness. None were more committed to the rigid standards of religion than the Pharisees, but their adherence to a strict code of conduct only bred greater trust in themselves. They ignored their flaws and accentuated their successes, thus cementing in their minds a warped sense of their own “goodness.” When Jesus preached to them about salvation, it was irrelevant; when He rebuked them, He was out of line; when He demonstrated His power over demons, it had to be of Satan.

Such is the context of this short parable. Jesus had cast out a demon, amazing the crowds (Matt. 12:22). However, the Pharisees charged that the source of power was none other than Satan himself (Matt. 12:24; Luke 11:15). Blinded by self-righteousness, they refused to accept the irrefutable evidence presented. As He spoke to the issue of their empty hearts, He tells a story in which He likens them to a demonized man. From this short illustration we glean three valuable lessons.

The removal of some sins should not be confused with a final triumph over all sin. Jesus doesn’t reveal the reason for the demon’s initial exit. What we do know is (at least temporarily) the man is freed from satanic control. But one victory doesn’t win the war. When the evil spirit returns with seven of his friends they find no barrier prohibiting reentry.

Ancient Israel’s idolatry and immorality had brought the harsh punishment of Babylonian captivity. But while their 1^st century descendants had overcome Baal’s grip, they had surrendered to other sins that were equally condemning (Matt. 23:13ff). Never was a group of men more committed to religious practice; never was there a group farther away from God.

Will we remember what the Pharisees forgot? Satan is a determined adversary who seeks to destroy our soul (I Pet. 5:8) and cares little what means are employed to accomplishing that end. We may whip deceit, but fall to pride. We may stand firm against immorality, but be devoured by greed. We may resist the temptations of bitterness, but succumb to gossip. Jesus reminds us that spiritual success in one area does not mean victory in every realm.

We also learn “negative” religion alone cannot keep a man clean. When the spirit returns he finds “his house” swept and put in order. Renovation had occurred and changes made, but the dwelling remained unoccupied by any compelling force.

Any religious system that merely tells a man what he must not do is doomed to fail. Though the Pharisees were “religious”, their hearts were uncommitted to any positive cause. They followed a list of “rules”, but failed to fill their hearts, becoming easy prey for any power seeking to fill the void.

Christianity certainly involves prohibitions and negative elements (Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5-9), but it also includes positive instruction (Col. 3:12-15; Phil 4:4-8). We must hate divorce and promote good marriages. We must abhor immorality and speak unashamedly of the marriage bed. We must condemn deception and vigorously love integrity. We must avoid materialism and appreciate God’s bountiful gifts. We must avoid division and strive for unity. It’s easy to declare what we’re against, but what are you for?

Finally, we see a sober warning about falling into a worse state. When the evil spirit returned, it brought seven spirits even more evil than itself. While the Pharisees may not have been guilty of the same sins as others, the sins they were guilty of left them impervious to the message of Christ. In fact, their depravity ran so deep they not only rejected His claims, but vilified and eventually crucified Him.

Our consideration of this parable demands we evaluate our own house, knowing it’s not enough for it to be clean and orderly—it must also be permanently occupied by a holy resident.

Terry Slack

Written to a church in a city that was quite wealthy, produced high quality clothing, and produced salve to help cure ailing eyes, this letter would really hit a nerve.  They would read this letter and immediately feel the sting of these words.  When we read this letter do we see it as a harsh letter written at a 1^st century church or a warning letter written to you and me?  It is both of these.  We have a tendency to read the letters to the seven churches of Asia and think how great or poor those churches were and that is the extent of it, but we need to see what we can learn from them.

This letter, in particular, shows us the importance of fervor in all we do.  He starts off calling them a lukewarm church.  The word hot here means boiling or fervor.  He isn’t saying he wishes that they were cold over lukewarm, but acknowledging that having known the Word of God and turned your back on it is worse than never knowing His Word.  It shows how disgusting lukewarm Christians and lukewarm churches are to Him.  So disgusting is it to Him that He will vomit those who are lukewarm out of His presence.

What does this mean to us?  Are we like the church in Laodicea?  Are we like the Christians in Laodicea?  The church in Smyrna was in the midst of a great amount of wealth and yet they were poor.  Christ tells them that they aren’t poor, but rich!  Contrast that with the church in Laodicea who Christ says is poor because they are rich!  They placed a priority on the physical wealth while ignoring the spiritual wealth.  Where is our priority?  Do we work long hours to not just provide for our families, but give them all the nice things while depriving them of what is important, quality time together and a focus on God’s Word?  Do we, as a church, focus on how many members we get moving in instead of how many people we try to reach who are outside of Christ?  While it is great to have a church that continues to grow, we need to make a primary focus of trying to bring others to Christ instead of being satisfied with Christians moving into our congregation.  Do we strive to make the most of the blessings that God has given us through our abundance?  The church in Laodicea lived in no different society than we live in today and faces the same pressures that we face.  Now, we do not face the same persecution that they faced under Domitian but they faced the same pressures of wealth, idolatry in many forms, but most importantly, indifference.

Just as with the church in Laodicea, Christ offers us the same encouraging words, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  No matter how lethargic you have been, no matter how lukewarm a church has been, it can change!  He stands at the door waiting and knocking.  He doesn’t knock and then leave, he doesn’t just stand there.  He continues knocking, and waiting.  It is up to us to open that door and welcome him in.  What kind of Christian are you and are you contributing to the growing of the church or complacent in where you are at?  Are you lukewarm or are you boiling with fervor for Him and your fellow brothers and sisters?

We are often quick to tell people that the New Testament was originally written in koine (common) Greek – the language of the civilized world in the 1^st century. However, that’s actually not entirely accurate. Luke, in his rendering of the gospel of Jesus Christ, actually begins his narrative with a prologue written in what is instead known as classical Greek. Verses one through four are written in this style, and it is a style that has parallels in the most formal and highbrow writing of the 1^st century.

From simple letters to eloquent literary works, most writing in antiquity followed templates – or forms – of how such writing should look. Everyone from the ancient historians Herodotus and Thucydides to the apostles Paul and John followed these “rules”, and Luke likewise does the same in his writings. But Luke is not ‘content’ with writing some simple letter to Theophilus, rather he is ‘intent’ on providing a text that rubs shoulders with the most lofty and sophisticated writings of the known world at that time.

It’s no secret that Luke’s writings (Luke & Acts) are considered the most elevated Greek in the New Testament. From grammar to vocabulary to syntax, Luke consistently writes as a man of education and exposure, though he uniformly does so in that common Greek of the masses – except for the introduction to his gospel. For in just these four short verses, Luke, by writing in the classical style, lets his reader(s) know that the subject matter to follow is to be taken seriously and that it is to be understood as being just as significant and weighty as the great writings of antiquity – for when it came to the subject of Jesus Christ, Luke was interested in providing nothing but the best.

And so what of us? Do we settle for nothing but the best, or do we often bring God that which is less; that which is perhaps convenient or easy?

The effort that we put into our preparation for Bible class and worship (whether public or private) says something about whether or not we bring God our best. The clothes we wear on Sunday say something about whether or not we bring God our best. (How many of us show more respect for our boss than we do our God in this aspect?) Whether we sing with enthusiasm (whether in tune or out), showing that we understand that singing doesn’t just praise God but also encourages and teaches our brethren, says something about whether or not we bring God our best. Whether or not we make it a priority to not just be on time to worship our God but to be early so that we have time to “slow down” from the hurry of getting to services and center our thoughts on the reasons we are there says something about whether or not we bring God our best.

That list can stretch for pages. And all of us fail in some of these aspects some of the time. The question, though, is do we fail in some of these aspects some of the time… or do we fail in most of these aspects most of the time?

Luke gave the best that he had even when all he was doing was writing about Jesus. Can we not give the best that we have when living for Jesus?

James Miller

 The apostle Paul put it this way in 2 Cor 3.17-18:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Paul observes that this transformation is liberating, bestowing freedom, rather than bondage. Living within the full sun light is liberating once one takes the first steps into this other dimension of reality.

Peter calls our attention to the nature of this ‘knowing’ in 2 Pet 1.2f.
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who call us by His own glory and excellence.”
Trusting “divine power” provides all we need for life and godliness. It is not a mere academic knowing or shadowy seeing that carries us onward. It is rather the “true knowledge” of Him. Full, genuine or true knowledge is Plato’s confidence. It is also Paul’s deeply personal and objective knowing of the Son. Of the two narratives we are seeing, one is an analogy; the second is historical. The second is a narrative of one who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1.10).

Terry Green