Digging in Deeper: Philippians 2:25-30

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“But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need—since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

It’s tough sometimes knowing when something should be a habit and when it should be merely an occasional affair. It takes wisdom to know when some event should be annual or ongoing and when it should be a one-time thing. This is especially true in the church. When we do something that works, that’s really exciting. Just because it works though, doesn’t mean we should necessarily do it again. It doesn’t mean it should become a permanent fixture in our ministry. Sometimes it is time to go, but there are also times to stay or even to come home. I say all of this because of what Paul has to say about his next ministry partner. Let’s talk about it.

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Doomsday Prepping

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Jesus had a lot to say about the end of the world. He spoke of judgment as often as the prophets of old. That makes sense given that He was a prophet. He was far more than that, of course, but He wasn’t less than that. As we move forward with Luke in his story of sacrifice, we find Jesus having a conversation with the disciples about the future and judgment that was coming to Jerusalem itself and the world as a whole. It’s a wild picture. Let’s take a look at what He has to say and what it might mean for us with Easter in view.

Doomsday Prepping

Everybody knows the world is going to end at some point in the future. It’s not a matter of if; only of when. And I don’t say that simply as a Bible-believing follower of Jesus. Secular scientists tell us that at some point in the hopefully distant future the sun is going to go supernova, explode, and that’ll be the end of our solar system. Fun fact: that was not always the “common knowledge” that it is today. Used to be, all of the smartest people in the world “knew” the universe was eternal. It has always been here and would always be here. Christians with their beliefs about the end of the world with the return of Christ were so quaint and primitive. Albert Einstein famously introduced a made up fudge factor into some complicated equations he discovered that let physicists describe the universe in very mathematical terms that resulted in their showing the universe was eternal because if you solved them without that, they pointed to a finite beginning point of the universe, and he “knew” that wasn’t correct. Then science caught up with theology at about the same time that we invented weapons capable of utterly destroying the world several times over, and since then, everybody has known the world is going to end at some point in the future. 

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Digging in Deeper: Luke 22:25-26

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“But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called “Benefactors.” It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.'” (CSB – Read the chapter)

I almost never just watch a movie or TV show anymore. I am constantly on alert for where the Gospel is on display in it. Sometimes I wish I didn’t do that all the time, but I can’t turn it off very well. Fear not, though. This doesn’t mean I never really enjoy anything I watch. I still enjoy much of it immensely. In fact, I would even argue that I enjoy it just a little bit more than I would without having my Gospel radar up because I see things in the story that add worth and meaning to the story I might otherwise miss. A case in point is the movie Ford vs. Ferrari that I finally got to watch this past week. I’ve been looking forward to seeing it for a long time, and I was not disappointed. Let me tell you why.

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Morning Musing: Philippians 2:19-24

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“Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy  to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Ministry can be an intensely lonely affair. I don’t say that out of complaint because I don’t often feel it, but merely observation because it is a reality for so very many who have accepted God’s call to service, especially in a full time capacity. You are often surrounded by people, but because of the nature of the work and the nature of the world, it is often difficult to know who you can really trust to let in. Overcoming that takes effort and intentionality. Paul took a path that could have been very lonely indeed. But he did the work to avoid that trap and its dangers. At the end of chapter 2 here, he talks about two of the men he held dear. Let’s take a look at each in turn.

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Morning Musing: Philippians 2:14-18

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“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

One of the things you learn a as a parent as that there are two ways to do something. You can do it happily or you can grumble your way through it. Well, you don’t actually learn this so much as experience it. Often. This is the kind of thing you expect from children, but adults are hardly immune from it. It is far more common than it seems like it should be for us to forget that grumbling our way along is bad for everyone. When this leaks into the church, it can make a real mess. Paul offers some counsel here to lead us in a different direction. Let’s take a look.

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