verseoftheday

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Don't worry about anything,  but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving,  present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,  will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 CSB Paul is an old man, locked up in a Roman jail. No doubt he's met people who have been led out and executed.  It's not clear if he'll ever leave prison. Rejoice! Some days that feels easy, and some days it feels like a joke. There's nothing to rejoice in.  Yet it's here, and its not linked at all to the way we feel in any moment. This might be helpful:  "xairo" (rejoice) means to be favorably disposed, leaning towards", to "delight in Gods grace, literally, to experience God's grace (favor), be conscious (glad) for His grace" Built into this word is Grace. Lean

They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. Philippians 4:3 NLT Not sure why Clement got a mention here, but isn't this a beautiful sentence...my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. Paul's in lockdown and might never get out, yet he holds these people close in his heart, appreciates them, and knows that he will see them again. This is the hope that we have, and the gospel, the good news that we want to share, we are citizens of heaven, our names securely inked in God's book, we are safe. One day, somehow, all will be made new.  Let's hold on to that. #lockdownlessons

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.  And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. Philippians 4:2-3 NLT Some of Paul's team are not getting on, and a key lockdown lesson here is that we don't always get on.  Misunderstandings, pride, envy, comparing... all kinds of things get in the way, and damage relationships. Paul gives us an encouragement to work our disagreements out (this one must've been going on for a while for him to hear about it in jail), and to do that in community.  "My true partner" here is "Syzygus" which is a yokefellow, a partner, co-worker, but also a name for someone.  Seems Paul is asking Syzygus to help resolve, to mediate, to counsel, to walk with his team.  It's OK to need help to re

So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. Philippians 4:1 CSB He aha te mea nui o te ao What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata It is the people, it is the people, it is the people. Paul's lockdown lesson; It's the people who are important.  Dearly loved. Longed for. My joy. My crown. Dear friends. It's the people who are important. And Paul is letting these people know just how precious, important, needed, and loved they are. Is there someone who comes to mind who today you can reach out to and encourage.  Remind them that they're loved, that they're on you're heart? Do it today. (And consider what's been getting in the way of being an encourager like Paul) #lockdownlessons #lovepeople

Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 CSB Just trying to put myself in an NZ'ers shoes who is stuck overseas.  Citizens of NZ, but can't get home.  Eagerly waiting.  Paul wasn't waiting for a flight or MIQ booking, but waiting for someone from home.  Someone who is going to bring some kind of radical transformation. His faith is firm, unshakeable, that this is going to happen. His citizenship makes it so. And it's the same for us, our citizenship makes it so. We can rest in that today. #sunday #worship #myhopeisfixedonJesus

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 CSB Paul's lockdown lessons! When our choices and freedom is taken away we, well I do, tend to look back at what was, what's been lost. There's time for that, but Paul here is relentlessly looking forward, pushing on not with his business, or project, or education, or family. He's relentlessly pushing on to these things he describes in this chapter: Knowing Jesus - v7 Gaining Christ - v8 Being found in Jesus - v9 Knowing Jesus - v10 Being conformed to be like Jesus - v10 Being in Jesus - v14 Seems to be a bit of a theme here! Jesus is his goal and the prize he is striving for, what he is pressing on for even though he's old, even though he's locked down in the Roman lockup. #jesusatthecentre #pressingon

Friday! Proverbs! Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15 NKJV Foolishness is compared in Proverbs to Wisdom.  What we, as a community want, is for wisdom to be bound up in the hearts of our children. (This doesn't seem to be written to parents. Do you see it as a proverb just for parents?) Our target is the heart, and replacing foolishness with wisdom in our young people. So what is the "rod of correction"? The word for "rod" is the same one used in Psalm 23 when we're in the valley of the shadow.  And the word for correction also carries the meaning of instruction.  God's rod that brings comfort in the valley is not something to be feared, and here it brings instruction and correction to the heart, replacing foolishness with wisdom. It's not a stick, belt, jug cord, fist, foot or hand. What fits? Words. God's Word. But for young people, children, they need to see concepts

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.  But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Philippians 3:12 NLT Can you picture this old guy in a Roman jail, with the possibility that this lockdown will be his last (because he will die there). And he writes this:  I'm future focussed, living in the hope of heaven but not wallowing in that. God's got work to do in me so I'm pushing on. And I'm goin to keep writing, and keep talking about Jesus, about faith, because this hope is real. It's easy to lose sight of Jesus when our circumstances are unfair, when life pushes in, when we have to face things we'd rather not, when we listen to the lies that run around inside... let's take some inspiration from an old guy locked up for his faith who just wants to push on into the life, the hope, the grace, the love that is Jesus. #comeasyouare #pushon #thebestisyettoco

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10-11 NLT We sometimes get told about "ressurection power", and here Paul's asking for it in a way. He's still old. He's still in prison. Locked down. He's already met Jesus once, but this passage is about the future, and the hope that Paul holds.  Resurrection hope.  Hope that is secured by Jesus ressurection.  Hope that is secured by Jesus' suffering. This is the hope we hold to no matter what is going on in the world, in our lives, when fear takes root, when uncertainty is the flavour of the day, our hope is with Paul. Resurrection. We get glimpses of it, and one day we will know that ressurection power in its fullness. And we will see Jesus face to face. #onedaycloser #allwillbemadenew #everytearmoppedup #wewillbefacetofacewithJes

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.  For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. Philippians 3:9 NLT Lockdown does give time to reflect, to think about what's really important. Paul does a quickfire survey of his life and what he held to be important, that righteousness, this way of being right with God that he had been raised in, dedicated his life to, this self salvation project of being able to get right with God through his own effort, was a mirage.  An unattainable impossibility that was not God's way. Faith is what is needed. Sometimes that seems so simple, and sometimes too hard to grasp.  Faith in Jesus.  It's not about "how much" faith, but who it's in.  Faith in Jesus. Jesus is enough.  #restinthat

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could.  Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old.  I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin - a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable,  but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Philippians 3:3-7 NLT Lockdown reflections: Paul's parents religious activity weren't enough. His whakapapa wasn't enough. His knowledge of scripture wasn't enough. His keeping of all the religious rules and living those out wasn't enough. Only Jesus is enough. What Jesus

Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.  Philippians 3:2-3 NLT Lockdown lessons: Paul's heart is for others, warning his community from his unique perspective.  He's locked up.  Just maybe being locked up gives him a perspective worth listening to. Interesting he's not warning people about the the Roman government, even though that's what has him in jail.  No, he's warning against those who would undermine the basis for our faith, and reminds us that we rely on Jesus.  Who Jesus is. What Jesus did. What that means for us.  In prison, facing the remainder of his life there, Paul says "rely on Jesus". No matter what, rely on Jesus.  His work, his sacrifice, his love for us is enough.  No matter what. No matter what we're facing, Jesus is enough. We rely on J

Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved... Philippians 3:2 NLT We're in lockdown because of the fear of the harm from the spread of this virus.  A future that seemed certain 2 yrs ago is now less certain.  Whether it's a disease, a flood, earthquake, accident, illness, or the actions of others, or just the world pressing in, the future we thought we had, had some measure of control over, feels uncertain.  And someone full of confidence or authority says "Do this and you'll be OK". Follow me. And that's what Paul was talking about here. He's been busy reminding us from Lockdown who Jesus is, the humble came as a servant Jesus, and to follow him, to love like he did. And here reminds us that there are people who will want to lead us astray, down a different path, if you follow me, follow my rules, you'll be safe... saved. Paul warns us to watch out.  And he didn't have Youtube o

Friday! Proverbs! A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there. Proverbs 22:14 YLT98 I'm no Hebrew scholar so I have no ground to argue modern translations of the Hebrew...however the word here translated 'strange women' is "zuwr" which means "to be a stranger". It seems that deceit starts with words. Words that shape our thoughts, affect our hearts, and lead to actions. And it's when we lose sight of God, are far from Him, that we are vulnerable.  This proverb already places us at a distance from Yahweh, and we're vulnerable to the words of a stranger, words that will take us further from Him. So if we flip this, stay close to Yahweh, and the words of others, our culture, the world, that would deceive us will have no effect. In the NT Paul in Philippians 4:8 gives his antidote to the pressing in of words and ideas and norms of the culture around us: To focus on Truth. Justice. Beauty. What is worthy of Praise

In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1 CSB "safeguard" This word brings an image of a guardrail. In lockdown we have these physical restraints, but this is about spiritual guardrails.  Guardrails on our thoughts. It's so easy to get lost in the "maybe", the "what if..." Paul from lockdown is reminding us to keep our eyes on Jesus no matter what.  This word is "asphalés" certain, secure, unfailing, safe, reliable, trustworthy, certain, sure. Secure because you're on solid footing, you won't fall. Safe  Paul, facing the rest of his life in prison, says to keep yourself safe, is to not lose sight of Jesus, who He is, what He has done, and what He is about in this world.  Rejoice in Him. When I want to make it all about me, Paul reminds me to keep my footing on the safe ground, the secure ground, the trustworthy ground, th

In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1 CSB Lockdown perspectives: Everything seems more personal with a lockdown lens. In addition to...Ch 2 where Paul has just talked about Jesus humility as a model for how we should be, how we should live as lights in the world, and about Tim and Epaphroditus who were living out those values...in addition to all that, rejoice in the Lord.  Paul's happy to keep writing about that.  Rejoice in the Lord. Is "rejoice in the Lord" an action?  Prayer?  A song? An attitude? It's almost like a way of being, a stance, that does not depend on today's circumstances.  And Paul knows we need reminding.  And he's happy to keep writing it, my guess is, it's ministering to his own heart as he writes. Paul is in jail, wondering if his last days will be spent there, and is happy to keep reminding us to rejoice in the Lord

But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus - my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need -  since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.  For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. Philippians 2:25-28 CSB Anxious. Sorrow upon sorrow. Distressed. Longing for all of you. All these emotions are found here in this passage.  Paul's lockdown lesson: We all have emotions and that's OK. It's OK to express them to others - Paul doesn't hide his anxiety here.  We all need safe places and safe people to be real about how we're feeling.  Thanks Paul for sharing so publicly so that we too can have the freedom to say how we're feeling.  #l

Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. But I considered it necessary to... Philippians 2:23-24 CSB Paul's lockdown lesson: Be realistic! He's trusting in God that he will get out of jail. In Acts 16 you can read the account when God busted him out of prison. But God has not done that here.  At the same time he's trusting God and being real that he might be stuck there; "...as soon as I see how things go with me". And he's also keeping it real by doing what he can; "but I thought it necessary to..." And finally Paul is still others oriented, looking to the needs of the people he is writing to. Being in lockdown Paul still holds his faith, is realistic about his situation, does what he can, and holds the needs of others in his heart.  He loves God, and loves people.  #lockdownlessons #bealittlemorelikePaul #loveGod #lovepeople

But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. Philippians 2:22 CSB What does Paul value most in Timothy? He doesn't mention what he does, but what Paul valued most is his character.  The analogy that comes to mind is a child brought up on a farm in NZ...from an early age they learn the rhythms of the farm and the tasks.  But there's a character issue whether as an adult that child's objectives and heart are aligned with the parent. Paul values Timothy's character as someone who he has seen grow and labour alongside him over time.  Character is not seen in the one-off, in the upfront, in an event or moment.  Character is seen over time. Both the good and the not-so-good.  What a cool thing for Paul to say about Timothy.  Our heavenly Father said a similar thing about Jesus (Matt 3:17). Character is not about never making a mistake, never getting it wrong. We all do that. Tim did that. (OK Jesus didn'

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:19-21 CSB Paul's lockdown lessons: Finding good people is tough. Finding genuine people is gold, and often you only really find them in adversity.  When the going got really tough, Paul only had Tim.  One person can be enough. The challenge for me is rather than looking for that person, it's being that person.  Being there for someone else no matter what. This kind of commitment we promote in marriage shouldn't be confined there.  When we lived in PNG there was a friend who we knew if we ever got in difficulty would move anything to help. We were 100% confident he had our back.  Timothy was that person in Paul's life. Being in lockdown is tough. Being in a place where our freedom is restricted is tough. If in that

Friday! Proverbs! A lazy man says,  "There's a lion outside!  I'll be killed if I go out in the street!" Proverbs 22:13CJB This lazy person, this slacker is just manufacturing excuses not to go outside. The implication is that is where the work is.  He seems to be using what is called "catastrophising".  The worst of all worst scenarios.  Manufactured fear.  And it cripples us. Keeps us stuck. This is not a proverb about work, but about what captures our heart.  Selfishness. Fear.  "What if...?" "This is too tough..." When my heart is captured by those catastrophic things (my flavour is about failure, not being good enough) it's good to go back to who our God says we are. How He sees us.  (Ephesians 1:4-14 is a good start) Lean into the people you trust and the truth they speak about you and over you. Seek God's heart, ask Him to replace whatever it is that's captured yours in that moment with His.  His Grace is sufficient. Hi

But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:17-18 CSB Lockdown lessons with Paul! Seems that Paul is wondering if this lockdown will take him to the end of his life (quite possibly by execution by the Romans). And yet what is he holding on to as a treasure? The way his people have lived out their faith.  The day-to-day, in the small decisions and choices, their heart attitude and orientation in the everyday stuff of life, living out their faith.  That's what Paul is holding on to as most important.  That faith that is seen in caring for one another, building community, serving, feeding, freeing, teaching, helping, encouraging...the everyday faith. That's what seems to be sustaining and encouraging Paul in lockdown. As his words echo down the centuries to us, Paul encourages us to live out our faith in the everyday. #love

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God... ...shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.  Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 CSB Lockdown lessons with Paul! Maybe Paul is wondering if he'll ever get out of this lockdown.  And what's on his mind that if he was writing his memoirs is most important? Not his achievements. Not his people's achievements. But who his people are.  Their character, the way they live in the world.  This is so counter to our current western view that its all about my achievement. All about me. Paul says it's all about you. Who you are  Who you've become Who you're holding onto in faith. That's his measure of success.  His stance is communal. It's us. He's inclusive.  He's about lifting others up, to see them shine. Here he's living out the gospel, loving God, and lovin

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Philippians 2:14-16 CSB Paul's lockdown lessons! Does it change the way you read this picturing Paul in jail? Sometimes we think of freedom as the ability to travel anywhere. The reality is we not only needed to be able to pay for it, have a passport, many places have a visa, and for some places, vaccination.  Paul is clear that our attitude counts.  Our attitude tells the world who's children we really are. And it's circular.  If we hold on to the word of life, that we are dearly loved children of the living God, then THAT will infect all that we do, our heart attitude, and then those around us will see it. Being a child of God just needs faith.  Not circumstances Not performance  Not being good enough, doing enough. It's a status. 

Therefore,  my dear friends,  just as you have always obeyed,  so now,  not only in my presence but even more in my absence,  work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 CSB More lockdown lessons from Paul: Even though my movement is restricted, it doesn't stop right from being right.  Therefore: in light of Jesus humility, the one we follow, keep stepping in that direction.  How we live this out in the world is important. A world that is changing, challenging, pressing in. In this place and time we are in, keep following Jesus and his example. And remember:  God is at work in you. And God is at work through you. God is working out His purpose in this world, His redemptive story in creation, in us, and through us.  #somethingtorestin #somethingtostepinto #monday #Godsgym

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God,  did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead  he emptied himself  by assuming the form of a servant,  taking on the likeness of humanity.  And when he had come as a man,  he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death - even to death on a cross.  For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow - in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 CSB Jesus was humble before creation. Humble in creation. And humbled by his creation. Not just humbled, but abused, tortured, rejected. Aiming for humility is self defeating ("look how humble I am" doesn't quite work lol). Jesus expressed his heart in action.  What he left,  what he gave up, who he chose,  what he did

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.  Everyone should look not to his own interests,  but rather to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 CSB Looking at this through Paul's lockdown lens does not make it any easier!  Being humble does not come naturally. Looking out for others is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  Paul is writing this from jail. Probably in chains.  Unable to consider anyone or do anything. Or can he? For a start he's writing or dictating this letter. He's using the freedom he does have to encourage and build others up. He's in lockdown, so this must be less about the "what" we do, and more about our heart.  These verses are not weapons to fire at one another or even at ourselves. Hear them as gentle pastoral care from an old guy in jail for his faith. Let these verses quietly inform who we are and how we live towards those in our bubble, those outside... Maybe

Friday! Proverbs! The Lord's eyes keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous. Proverbs 22:12 CSB Some days I wish He would just get on with it and do some overthrowing.  Come down and flip some tables. Take away the power of the oppressors. Come and deal to them. To that person. And the world would be a better place. And then there's the realisation that I have been "treacherous". I've let people down, been selfish, lied, and the seeds of all those things are in my heart. I too would be overthrown. So I hold to the first part of this proverb that "the Lord keeps watch". Yahweh.  He keeps watch over my words and the world that creates. He's not immune to, or isolated from the evil of this world (or the evil that lurks in my heart). He's not vaccinated against it. He absorbs it. He absorbs it all. He absorbs it and sends back grace. One day He will make all things new. This world, the evil in it, and my heart, will so

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit,  but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 CSB Paul is in Lockdown Level 5+! And this is what he writes! Last night I watched blind swimmers racing in the Olympics, and shot putters with various levels of disability, and one of the best sport competition finishes ever in the cycling road race, where no cyclist had the use of their legs. It's so easy to consider these athletes as "less than" the ones who were competing last month.  Paul, locked down to a Roman soldier, knows our hearts ability to compare and judge, and gives us a new start place and a new target. Start with humility.  Ouch. And the target: to consider others as more important. This stance is why Paul shared his faith with the guard he was chained to. This stance gives us the place to serve those in our bubble. This stance helps me to love those around me. And it's not natural - it's supernatural. We need the Spi

For it has been granted to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have. If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 1:29 -2:2 CSB As we continue to look at Paul's letter from lockdown, what is Paul pleading for here?  In suffering and struggle there is often a pulling apart, an inward looking, selfishness that springs up. I'm in L3 so that's good.  Good for me. And I forget about those in L4. That's their problem.  And that selfishness spreads like a virus into nations and people groups so that we can allow and justify the suffering that occurs around the globe.  And the seeds of it are in my heart.  The virus that says "they&qu