Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Summary: Being contented is a state of mind. In these final passages from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he helps us see what is needed to find the same contentedness in Christ that he enjoys.
What does it mean to be “in need?”
In other words, what would it take for Paul to finally say, “This situation is not acceptable!”?
Continue reading “Philippians 4:11 – Contentedness”
… becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Summary: Paul’s words about “attaining to the resurrection from the dead” lead us to consider how we get to the point where we can actually understand what he is talking about.
For some reason, people don’t like to think about death.
People have different reactions to the topic. Some of us obsess about death, some ignore it or make jokes about it. Human psychology has a variety of ways to deal with the unthinkable.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:10c-11 – The Unthinkable”
- … since you have taken off your old self with its practices …
Summary: Understanding Paul’s words sometimes forces us to try and see things from God’s perspective.
Being the person I am, the brain God gave me tends to dwell on the details. Maybe “obsess” would be a better word. In this passage, Paul writes that we have “taken off [our] old self.” This isn’t the first time he has referred to this.
Just a few verses ago, he wrote, “Since you died with Christ …” (Col 2:20), which he followed up with “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ …” (Col 3:1).
Continue reading “Colossians 3:9b – Choosing Jesus”In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ …
Summary: Paul resorts to a metaphor that ties in his arguments about circumcision with spiritual truths that we cannot see with human eyes.
I have to confess that I find circumcision a rather awkward topic for discussion. However, since Paul has mentioned it and provided a handy description, we will go with that!
In this passage, Paul equates circumcision to putting off our “whole self ruled by the flesh.”
I wish it were that easy!
Continue reading “Colossians 2:11 – Cut Off & Born Again”… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Summary: Why does it feel like “putting on” this “new self” is a lot of work? The answer, like so many things in life, depends on how you look at it. Looked at correctly, we are not doing any work at all. Instead we are honoring our King, Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work”… in true righteousness and holiness.
Summary: Today’s passage marks the end of the beginning. In the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul lays out a seven point plan culminating in living a life that is “true righteousness and holiness.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24c – The Seven Step Plan”… created to be like God …
Summary: The idea of being like God can feel a little intoxicating … to the old self. To the new self, being like God is to be like Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus”… and to put on the new self,
Summary: Using a computer for a modern metaphor for a spiritual concept is helpful. We operate in a similar way. The one major difference is that unlike the computer, we get to choose our “programming.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24a – Programmed for Life”… which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Summary: The “old self” is tricky. It wants to be liked so it plays tricks on us to make us think it is doing good.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:22b – Weed Killer for the Soul”