Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
Summary: The name of Jesus has been exalted above every name, but not everyone on Earth has gotten the message yet.
Do you ever wonder why every knee doesn’t bow to Jesus now?
Continue reading “Philippians 2:10a – Of Self and Sin”
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place …
Summary: When we consider where the “highest place” is, we open the door to considering the nature of the universe and the supremacy of the spiritual realm.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:9a – The Highest Place”
… even death on a cross!
Summary: The challenge of understanding who Jesus is continues to haunt us as we read more of Paul’s words. It is one thing to jump on a grenade to save your friends; it is entirely something else to allow yourself to be flayed alive and hung on a wooden cross until dead.
In our last meditation, “Our Selfless God,” we stumbled across what the Bible calls the “stumbling stone.”* In our version of the “stumbling stone,” we realized:
Continue reading “Philippians 2:8c – Life and Death”
… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
Summary: Examining Christ’s humility and obedience opens a fascinating line of inquiry into our Lord’s personality and the world we live in.
Arrogance is the opposite of humility.
Another way of putting it is that arrogance is “self-centered,” while humility is not.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:8b – Our Selfless God”… being made in human likeness.
Summary: As Paul turns the conversation to the nature of Jesus Christ, we discover a dangerous detour that tempts us away from Paul’s main point into a tarpit of our own making.
Before we dive into today’s passage, we need to have a little talk about theology.
Continue reading “Philippians 2:7c – Two Natures”
[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… and of one mind.
Summary: This text challenges us to examine the original text and the concepts that underly Paul’s message.
To begin this meditation, let’s look at Paul’s words in the New Living Translation:
“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2, NLT)
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2e – Paul’s Passion”[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… having the same love…
Summary: Having the “same love” as Christ is a challenge. Understanding why helps us to focus our efforts on serving God’s will.
Paul’s sentences are famously long and convoluted. In this passage, he begins with a series of “if’s,” and then, when he reaches his “then,” he asks his readers to “make my joy complete by being like-minded.”
Continue reading “Philippians 2:2c – Two Kinds of Love”
… without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage touch on a nerve that everyone has experience with: fear.
To get the context for this passage, let’s step back and take a look at Paul’s entire thought:
“… I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”
Continue reading “Philippians 1:26a – Fighting Fear”
… so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Summary: Paul’s use of the word “boast” allows us to take another look at our dual nature in Christ.
“Boasting” is an interesting word. The Greek word Paul used is “kaúchēma,” which can mean “boasting,” “glorying,” or “rejoicing” (Strongs G2745*). The Strong’s Concordance adds an interesting note about this word. It says it can be used in a “good or bad sense.”
Continue reading “Philippians 1:26 – Pointing to God”
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
Summary: Paul reflects on his impending death and how to use his remaining time effectively.
Paul’s dilemma is an interesting one.
On the one hand, “to die is Christ.” Paul knows that to be released from the body of flesh means that he can be fully present with the Jesus he first met on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9).
Continue reading “Philippians 1:21 – Paul’s Dilemma”