ONE SPIRIT

Lord, through your Spirit, make us one,

united with you and with your Son.

Help us love each other as you love,

with tenderness and compassion from above.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Philippians 2:1-2

kŏinōnia²⁸⁴² – from 2844; partnership, i.e. (lit.) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, contribution, distribution, fellowship.

agapē²⁶ – from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; spec. (plur.) a love-feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

sumpsuchŏs⁴⁸⁶¹ – from 4862 and 5590; co-spirited, i.e. similar in sentiment: - like-minded.

            Paul’s desire was that the Philippians would be unified in love and purpose. This echoes Christ’s desire as he prayed for believers saying, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:21-23).

            We sing “We are one in the Spirit,” but do we practice it? God’s Spirit has the ability to unite us if we draw near to him. In order for us to be one in love, spirit, and purpose, we must each be in fellowship with the Spirit of God. Then the type of love that can come only from the divine influence in our lives (grace-charis⁵⁴⁸⁵) will enable us to be like-minded. We can only be one in spirit if we are each abiding in Christ (John 15). When we become more closely associated with Christ and become intimate with him, we also become closer to other Christians.

            Father, Christ prayed that we would be one with you and then with each other. That is my prayer. Help us to stand united in our faith and love through the power of your Holy Spirit. Let our love for each other be a witness to the world. Help us to forgive as we have been forgiven and love through the power of your grace. 

SOME FAVOR!

Lord, sometimes I fear

that persecution is near,

that you will not allow us

to continue in sin.

Lord, do what you must

to mature each of us.

Draw us closer to Jesus,

and complete us in Him.

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him,

but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had,

and now hear that I still have.”

Philippians 1:29-30

charizŏmai⁵⁴⁸³ – to grant as a favor, i.e. gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue: - deliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant.

paschō³⁹⁵⁸ – to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful): - feel, passion, suffer, vex.

            Some favor! That’s what I thought as I read this, especially in light of the full definition of the word translated “granted”. But then the Lord brought to mind James 1:2-4.

             Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many

             kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops

             perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be

             mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Paul had just finished telling the Philippians to have good conduct, stand firm, and fight for the faith together no matter what happened. He encouraged them not to be frightened by the opposition because they would be saved by God. Then he tells them they have been given the favor of suffering for Christ.

            The trials God allows in our lives can be faced with joy because we know he is maturing us to be like Christ (Romans 8:29), and the end result will be our glorification when he returns to take us to the place he has prepared for us (John 14:3). I know it is true in my life and have heard others testify that the greatest times of growing closer to God are the hard times.  I grew tremendously right after my husband left me. My pain and fear drove me back to church where I was nurtured and discipled by a fantastic group of singles. My years of longing for children and struggling to continue to trust God to give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4) strengthened my relationship with him, especially as I had well-meaning people tell me I just needed to accept the fact that I would always be single and childless. Ministering to my father during his last days in the hospital brought me even closer to God.

            We have not faced the trial of persecution that Paul and his Philippian friends were all too familiar with, but I know people who have. It served to make them stronger in faith.  Beatings, imprisonment, and even being exiled from his homeland made one Romanian friend more resolved to share Christ than ever. My Ukranian friend and her family continued to proclaim Christ after he father was imprisoned. The persecuted church abroad has a great sense of what is truly important. It is difficult to learn those lessons in a land of plenty.

            Lord, I pray for a great awakening in America; but I feel it may only come after a time of persecution. Lord, strengthen your children for the trials you allow, and help us to face them with joy.

TO LIVE IS CHRIST

 New Year’s Song

If this were to be my final night upon the earth,

I know I’d have confidence that I’ve received new birth.

I know that I would be with You, Lord, the moment that I died;

and yet to think that I could die tonight, my eyes fill up and cry...

Because there’s so much here to do…

I have some friends and family who still do not know You.

And even though I say with Paul for me to die is gain,

for then I’d be with Jesus Christ, and I would have no pain;

I must also say with Paul for me to live is Christ.

So if I’m given one more day please let me live my life

in praise to You, dear Lord,

telling others what You do through Your word

making sure that all my friends have heard

bearing witness to the world about Your love.

If this were to be Your final night upon the earth,

would you have the confidence that you’ve received new birth?

Do you know you’d go to heaven if you died tonight?

If not, I pray you’ll open up your heart to Jesus Christ...

Because there’s so much love right here.

You could have a brand new life to start a brand new year.

There are people here who’d love to show you how to start.

Just come to one of us if God is speaking to you heart.

Then we will show you in His word how you can know him too.

Believe me when I tell you it’s the best thing you can do

to give your life to Christ, to allow Him to come in

and change your life so that you can know for sure tonight

that you will see heaven’s light because of love.

If this were to be your final night upon the earth,

do you have the confidence that you’ve received new birth?

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

kĕrdŏs²⁷⁷¹ – of uncert. affin.; gain (pecuniary or gen.): - gain, lucre.

            My grandmother died of lung cancer in my bedroom in October of 1985. In December of the same year I was planning the New Year’s event for our singles group at church. With Grandma’s death so fresh in my mind, I was pondering life and death and purpose. What did it matter if I had another year or not since I knew I was ready to be with the Lord? After all, to die is gain. As I re-read the entire passage around this verse, I realized that Paul chose life in order to bring assurance of life to others. The Lord gave me the song above to share that thought with the singles on New Year’s Eve.

            Father, help me always to live with the purpose of “knowing Christ and making Him known” as Dawson Trotman so aptly put it. You have gone to prepare a place for me as you tell us in John 14, and it will be glorious gain to be with you. However, help me to trust you here and now to fill me and use me to bring others to your kingdom.

THE IMPORTANT THING

Lord, keep my focus on the important thing…

That Christ be preached both far and near.

No matter what the speaker’s motivation,

Let your word come through loud and clear.

“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way,

whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.

And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”

Philippians 1:18

prŏphasis⁴³⁹² – an outward showing, i.e. pretext: - cloke, colour, pretence, show.

chairō⁵⁴⁶³ – a prim. verb; to be “cheer”ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impers. espec. as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: - farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice.

Televangelists – no, Paul didn’t have to deal with them. However, he is talking about the very type of person we think of when we hear that word. Before the verse above Paul described people that were preaching out of selfish motives and some even to try to cause him further harm. Then he makes the conscious choice to focus on the most important thing – that Christ be proclaimed.

Paul also chooses to rejoice. He can be calmly happy because he knows through the Spirit that God is in control even of those who are insincere. He knows that God sees beyond the words and looks into the motives of people. God sees our inmost thoughts. Paul can trust God to deal with those who are out for their own gain and knows that God has the power to even further his kingdom through them.

The Lord uses whom he chooses to use. It does not matter if I approve of their methods or even their motivation. The important thing is that the Gospel be proclaimed. God can even use those who think they are working against him to unwittingly drive people toward him. I don’t need to fret about those who seem insincere or motivated by selfish gain. I can follow Paul’s example and trust God to shine his light on people.

Paul once referred to himself as “the chief of sinners” (I Timothy 1:15). If God can use a sinner like Paul to proclaim his word, he might even choose to use a sinner like me or you. Apart from his marvelous grace we are all completely unworthy to serve him. How dare we waste our energy fretting over whether or not someone else is proclaiming him rightly? We just need to expend more energy telling others the good news and trust God with the results!

Father, help me to keep my focus on what is important…knowing you and helping others to know you. Let me worry less about how others are using the gifts you have given and expend more energy in hearing your voice on how to use what you’ve placed within me. 

Superlative Supplication

When we pray for the growth of fellow believers,

Are our prayers boldly superlative or mundane?

Do we pray for showers of what God wants to give,

Or do we content ourselves with light rain?

God is able to do beyond all we desire,

But we ask so little in his name.

Pray that your friends will be filled to the brim

With his Spirit and never be the same.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more

 in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best

and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ –

to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9-11

pĕrissĕuō⁴⁰⁵² – to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (trans.) to cause to superabound or excel: - (make, more) abound, (have, have more) abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above).

plĕrŏō⁴¹³⁷ – to make replete, i.e. (lit.) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (fig.) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish ( a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, and, expire, fill (up), fulfill, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

            When Paul asked God for something, he used superlatives. He prayed expecting God to answer to the fullest. One reason he could do this was he knew he was praying for things the Lord wanted to do. He was praying within the will of God.

            We know God wants our Christian friends and relatives to grow in their relationship with him and to honor him in all that they do. So, let’s pray boldly that he will enable them to do so! Dare we pray like this for our children, both biological and spiritual? It’s amazing that we do not. So often our prayers are watered down. Pray for huge things believing that God is able to do them. Then wait expectantly to see how he answers. It may not be the way we envision it, but he will answer in his own time, in his perfect way.

            Father, I pray that you will fill the children you have so graciously given me with your love until they overflow. As they grow in their relationship with Jesus, develop their discernment that they may remain pure. Let the fruit of Christ’s righteousness be extremely evident in their lives. I pray that their lives and my own would bring glory and praise to you since it is only by your power that we can do any good thing. Thank you for redeeming us, and thank you for continuing your work in us until the day of Christ Jesus.

God Will Finish the Work

Oh, Lord, help me yield completely to you.

Take me out of the way of the work that you do.

For I’m just a branch, and you are the Vine.

I am powerless unless in you I’m entwined.

Any good work people see in me

Is the project you started and you will complete.

“I thank my God every time I remember you….

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:3 & 6

ĕpitĕlĕō²⁰⁰⁵ – to fulfill further (or completely), i.e. execute; by impl. to terminate, undergo: - accomplish, do, finish, (make) (perfect), perform (X –ance).

 Ultimate Make-over

            Perform the jaw reconstruction necessary to correct my overbite, and whiten my teeth while you’re at it. Tone and firm my abdomen after ridding me of excess fat. Remove the unsightly moles from my face and back. Free me from glasses.  Style my unruly hair, shape my eyebrows, and use make-up to mask anything that can’t be permanently repaired.

           

If I won a spot on that television show where someone is granted their dream make-over, it would change my outward appearance. All of the things I listed would make it easier for me to look good each day, but none of them would change who I am. And none of them would make me what I really need to be.

Have you ever just exhausted yourself trying to be all that others want you to be, all you wish you could be, and what you think God expects you to be? 

Face it; we are not capable of re-making ourselves. However, there is One who is able to take an old, broken down me and bring forth a new creation! (II Corinthians 3:17) It really isn't a matter of trying but of dying (Galatians 2:20).  We must daily die to ourselves and allow Christ to live through us. God will be faithful to completely finish the good work he starts in us. We just have to keep placing ourselves in his skilled hands. The ultimate "make-over" can be yours. Just trust yourself to the Master Creator and be amazed at what He will do!

Father, I thank you that self-improvement is not what you desire of me. I thank you that you are orchestrating life’s ups and downs to make me more like Jesus. Continue to “mold me and make me after your will,” as the old hymn says. I can no more make myself more like Jesus than the lump of clay can turn itself into a beautiful vase. So Lord, I rest in your ability to form me according to your will and submit to your hand as you spin this pottery wheel called earth each day, shaping me with every turn. 

GIFTS FROM GOD

“Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change³⁸⁸³ like shifting shadows.

He chose¹⁰¹⁴ to give us birth through the word of truth,

that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

James 1:16-18

3883 – parallagē-  transmutation (of phase or orbit), i.e. (fig.) fickleness: - variableness.

1014 – bŏulŏmai – to “will,” i.e. (refl.) be willing: - be disposed, 

minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will (-ing).

Blessings in my garden - banana peppers

Father, you are never-changing, steady and in command.

Every blessing in my life came down from Your hand.

You chose to draw me to You  through the word of truth,

That I might have eternal life and ever be with You.

Since You have adopted me to be among your daughters,

I now, through grace, have access to Your springs of living waters.

Help those springs flow through me, spill out and overflow

That I might have the privilege of helping others know

 The marvelous grace You’ve extended to each one

Who, by faith, receives the gift You provided through Your Son.

Temptation

Purslane Attracting Bee

“Blessed is the man who perseveres⁵²⁷⁸ under trial, because when he has stood the test,

 he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

 When tempted,³⁹⁸⁵ no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my dear brothers”

James 1:12-16

5278 – hupŏmĕnŏ – to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; fig. to undergo, i.e. bear (trials) have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

3985 – pĕirazō – to test (obj.), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, temp (-er), try.

Only through Your power, Lord, can I not be dragged away.

I pray Your Spirit within me will give me strength to stay

On the path of righteousness, the straight and narrow way.

When desires draw me in like a flower draws a bee,

Help me, Lord, to turn around and from temptation flee;

For I long to receive a crown life, to lay as a gift before Thee.

Fading Flowers

Daylilies fading after summer bloom.

“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

But the one who is rich should take pride²⁷⁴⁴ in his low position,

because he will pass away like a wild flower.

For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant;

its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.

In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”

James 1:9-11

2744 – kauchaŏmai – to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense): - (make)boast, glory, joy, rejoice.

Father, keep me from taking pride in material gain or glory;

for all possessions will fade away, as will my earthly story.

Help me to remember that this life is a mist or a fading flower,

But I will someday dwell with You through your grace and power.

Keep my eyes on the pure joy of knowing Christ, my Lord.

Please help me focus on Your will and seek it in Your word. 

WISDOM

“If any of you lacks wisdom,⁴⁶⁷⁸ he should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe⁴¹⁰² and not doubt,

 because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

James 1:5-8

4678 – sŏphia – wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual).

4102 – pistis – persuasion, i.e. credence: mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher) especially reliance upon Christ for salvation: abstr. constancy in such a profession: by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

When a believer asks in faith

for wisdom from our Lord,

he can rest assured it will be given

as promised in His word.

If he would avoid being tossed about

like a wave upon the sea,

he must put his faith in Christ alone

to meet his every need.