Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
[I want to know Christ—] yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings…
Summary: Suffering and resurrection are bound together in this passage. One leads to the other.
The day Jesus died is confusing because so much was happening at the time. Consider, for a moment, all the threads associated with that day.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:10b – The Day Jesus Died”
For it is we who are the circumcision…
Summary: Understanding what Paul means by “we who are the circumcision” requires a brief look back at the history of the Bible.
In the Old Testament, circumcision was given by God to Abraham and every male that was with him (Genesis 17:10). When we talk about circumcision of the flesh in the Old Testament sense, we are talking about something that is uniquely male. Interestingly, when we talk about circumcision in the New Testament sense, it can apply to both men and women.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:2a – Old and New”
… for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Summary: Faith is not merely believing in God, but allowing Him to work in and through us for His greater purpose.
In our last meditation, we looked to Abraham as an example of faith lived out in action (See “Philippians 2:12b – Faith and Action”). Now, Paul has us examining how God worked in Abraham’s life and why action is such an integral part of faith.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:13 – God’s Good Purpose”
… whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Summary: Paul, writing from prison, talks about sharing in the grace of God. This leads us to wonder about what “grace” is and what it means.
Have you ever noticed that whatever you are looking for, you always find it in the last place you look? It’s funny because it is true! It is also “funny” (odd) because sometimes the last place we look is the last place we would ever think to look.
For example, whoever thought the world would be saved by someone crucified by the Romans two thousand years ago?
Continue reading “Philippians 1:7b – The Last Place”… he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Summary: The world and our Lord will always have different priorities. God’s way is the way to Light and Life. The world’s way leads to death.
When it comes to finding contenders for “The Most Counter-Intuitive Statement Ever,” this passage might take the cake.
The whole idea of the cross, as far as the Romans were concerned, was to humiliate and torture a person so badly that no one would ever “cross” the Roman authorities again. Think of the cross as a giant billboard reading, “THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!”
Getting nailed to a cross was not considered a sign of triumph.
Continue reading “Colossians 2:15b – Forced to Choose”… so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Summary: Paul finishes this verse with a statement that Jesus has supremacy in all things. What this means includes a picture of life and a portrait of death.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:18c – A Picture of Life”Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Summary: Like many things, curses come in different sizes and shapes. There is a difference between people cursing each other and people falling under God’s curse.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:13 – “Curse You, Red Baron!””Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Summary: Trying to keep up with Paul’s logic can be challenging. Today’s passage challenges us to consider the importance of Christ’s crucifixion to Paul’s argument against circumcision.
Continue reading “Galatians 3:1b – The Best Kind of News”I have been crucified with Christ …
Summary: When Paul says he has been “crucified with Christ,” he is speaking metaphorically.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:20a – Crucified with Christ”