dailywalkinthelight

A Daily a Walk in the Light of God's Word

Archives for February 2019

A Life Worthy of the Gospel

I have been reading through Philippians for a while now since my wife Pat has been home from the hospital.  She has had a rough couple of months.

The study has been a bit sporadic, but two thoughts have really touched my heart and in the end, it may really be only one, but we will have to see how this ends.  The first is living a life worthy of the Gospel.

A Good Work in You

I read through the first chapter and I can see the love that Paul has for the Philippians.  It is so clear, and that love is because of the faith in the Lord Jesus.  By the third verse of the chapter Paul thankful he is for the people of Philippi.

Philippians 1:3-6 (ESV Strong’s)

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I do not know about you, but I would be pretty encouraged if I got a letter like this from Paul.  Verses 3-6 would certainly encourage me to take inventory and make certain that I was living my life in the manner that Paul describes.

To Live is Christ

Paul goes on in chapter one to explain the quandary he is in regarding his future.

Philippians 1:18-24 (ESV Strong’s)

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

What a powerful passage.  Paul tells the Philippians that he knows that through their prayers and the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ he will be delivered.  As I read and reread this passage, I could not help but be reminded of James 5.

James 5:16-18 (ESV Strong’s)

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Paul had great confidence in the faith of the Philippians.  He trusted their faith and their understanding of the Gospel.

Reflections

As I pondered chapter one and specifically verse eighteen through nineteen, I could not help but be reminded of the Samarian woman at the well and the conversation Jesus had with her.  Especially that where he spoke of worship.

John 4:23-24 (ESV Strong’s)

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Paul trusted the Philippians to pray and worship in the Spirit because they too had the indwelling Holy Spirit guiding and directing them.

A Life Worthy of the Gospel

Paul went on to remind them that their lives needed to be worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus.  They needed to stand firm and united.

Philippians 1:27-30 (ESV Strong’s)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

What great counsel to the church.  Can you imagine how unstoppable they were living a life worthy of the gospel; united and trusting in Jesus and not frightened of anything.  Just think how powerful the church today could be if we heeded this counsel.

Humility, Faith, and Encouragement

Paul goes on from here discussing our need to be humble and hold fast to our faith.  He points out the humility of Jesus and it is hard to fathom when you take a moment to consider it.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV Strong’s)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

I do not know about you all, but I know that for me pride and selfishness can get in my way very easily.  Christ Jesus had everything and gave it all up to pay my debt on the cross.  There are no words that I can say that express my thankfulness and at the same time recognizing how unworthy I truly am.

There is a passage that I fall back on all the time.  It is both humbling and uplifting.

Ephesians 2:4-10 (ESV Strong’s)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

As dead as I was in my sin, God loved me so much that He made me alive together with his Son Jesus Christ!  A gift that is priceless.  One that I did not deserve nor could I earn; it was a gift.

Closing Thoughts

I said at the beginning that it was tough for me to say what stood out to me with the study in Philippians.  I think it is still difficult to pare it down.  But today, (and that could change tomorrow), I think what has struck me is to live a humble life united with likeminded believers not afraid of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified.

Jesus suffered to pay my debt.  He was obedient even to the point of dying on a cross.

I must ask myself every day… Am I living a life worthy of the Gospel…

Prayer

Father. I thank you for your Holy Word.  Forgive me Father for those days when I fall short of living my life worthy of your gospel.  Help me keep my focus always on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phi 4:8).  All these things I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

 

With All Your Heart

It has been a long time since I have written a post for my blog.  My wife has been very ill and that has kept me busy much of the past six or seven weeks.  Pat spent much of January and part of February in the hospital, but she is home now and on the mend.  It will take some time, but I know that God is restoring her mind, body, and spirit.

This morning I was going through email and read one that came from a group that I pray for every week.  I read the request and prayed for the group that the Lord might work mighty things in their mission but the scripture that was referenced at the beginning of the email stuck with me.   The Passage was Proverbs 3:5.

Proverbs 3:5

I read that passage verse and I could not help but think of this last six or seven weeks.  It is a very simple verse, but it carries with it such power.

Proverbs 3:5(ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

I read it repeatedly.  Every time I did, I thought about Pat and the hospital and the issues regarding her health and whether I was living this passage or was I getting in God’s way by trying to take control of the situation.  I prayed a bit more over this verse and pondered my attitude and I went to my bible to get the context of the passage in the email.

Proverbs3:5-8

I opened my Bible and I found that verses 5 thru 8 were highlighted.  So, I read through the passage.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV Strong’s)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

As I read these passages, they reminded me again of my actions in the hospital and at home.

Reflection

As I pondered this passage and Pat’s progress and my own faithfulness I was overwhelmed by the past weeks.  God has done amazing things in healing the place where her surgery took place and He is doing great things with her other issues as well even though at times I wavered through all of this.

I know that I spoke these words to everyone that I talked to in the hospital and out, but at times I wavered.

There was a point that the doctors were uncertain as to what was wrong with her.  In the middle of that I faltered.  I put on the good face, but there were times that I fell back on my own understanding rather than trusting in God.  When I would falter I kept falling back on this verse in Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV)

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

But even then I would find myself faltering.  It was a tough night and the adversary tried everything to capitalize on this weakness to make me feel more isolated.  But the Lord did not leave me, even if my vision was a bit clouded by my circumstances.

Ecclesiastes 4

In the middle of this dark day the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage that I needed to reach out.  It was important not to be alone.  He brought this passage to me.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

As soon as the Lord pulled my eyes away from my wife’s circumstances to His Words of council I reached out to a brother from my church and just talked over things with him.  Once we began to speak with one another the load became lighter.  My fears about Pat’s circumstances faded and my trust in the Lord grew stronger.  My faith was strengthened.

Yes, I still had my moments that night and into the morning, but that morning my fears were abated by the test results.

I could do nothing but give thanks to God for not only the test results, but for His counsel and for the brother with whom he connected me.

Closing Thoughts

As I look back on this past six or seven weeks, I have to say that I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father.  Of course, I am thankful for the healing I see in Pat, but I am also thankful for the wonder of His counsel and faithfulness.  I know that I fall short in honoring Him every day, but He has NEVER left my side.  I look back at the first few verses of Proverbs 3 and am overwhelmed by the sound counsel of every word.

Proverbs 3:1-8 (ESV Strong’s)

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

These eight simple verses are so powerful, but like everything else in God’s Word, they are easy to overlook or forget.  That is why verse three is so important.  All through the Word of God, He reminds us of the importance of having an intimate understanding of His Word.  It is part of our armor, (Ephesians 6:10-20).  It is also important to be a part of the body… the church so that when you falter or struggle you are not alone.  Our adversary longs to find us weak and alone.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

We need to be sober-minded and, on our guard, and we are best when we draw near as a flock to their shepherd.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your Word.  Thank You for the family of believers that you have placed around us to call on when we are weak and struggle, and to support when they might need our support.  Thank you for the wisdom that you share with us freely if we simply seek it out.  To you, God be all the Glory! All this I pray in Jesus name.  Amen.

 

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