Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… that I may gain Christ and be found in him…
Summary: In this passage, Paul touches on the keystone of Christian living.
What does it mean to “gain Christ?”
Paul is going to tell us in great detail. He begins his explanation with the following words:
Continue reading “Philippians 3:8c-9a – Found in Jesus”
…we who serve God by his Spirit…
Summary: The concept of serving God is clearly explained in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, obedience becomes more Spirit-driven.
If you ever wonder why it takes us so long to get through a short book of the Bible, this passage is a great example of why.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:3b – Serving God”
[Do everything without grumbling or arguing] so that you may become blameless and pure…
Summary: The road to being Christ-like requires that we travel a path of humility in God’s service.
It is interesting that Paul seems to summarize Christian living with two simple words. His words suggest that by doing everything without grumbling or arguing, we can become “blameless and pure.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:15a – Becoming Nothing”
… and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Summary: Paul continues his admonition to obey our earthly bosses with detailed instructions as to how we should serve them.
In our last meditation, we looked at what it means to be a servant. Essentially, the modern-day equivalent is having a job.
If we look at Paul’s text that way, it is easy to see that his words still have value.
Continue reading “Colossians 3:22b – Serving Jesus”
Bear with each other …
Summary: Bearing with others means we suffer with them and put up with their differences.
What does it mean to “bear” with someone?
The word “bear,” like most words, has more than one use depending on context. What sets it apart, however, is the number of ways this word can be understood. It is extremely versatile!
Continue reading “Colossians 3:13 – Versatility “… and please him in every way:
Summary: It is a lovely thing to want to please someone, but only if we do it out of love.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:10b – Two Approaches”… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord …
Summary: Why does Paul feel it is important to live a life “worthy of the Lord?” The answer to that question is why Paul spends so much time teaching us how to live as Christians.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:10a – A Question of Gratitude”… just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
Summary: The impact of God’s grace affects all of us personally, yet at the same time there are universal qualities to our human response to grace.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:6c – Something We Can See”