New Devotional Guide

Greetings to all of you who are following the devotions posted on this blog. Thank you for staying with us throughout our study of Philippians! We hope that you have grown in your walk with the Lord through that study. We would be delighted if you shared your experience with us on info@nairobichapel.org.

We have a fresh study coming up soon. We shall post the outline and let you know what the new book is by Thursday this week.

In the meantime, read your Bible, pray every day if you want to grow.

The Lord bless you!
Daily Devotions writer.

The Gifts: Resources and Christ-likeness Phil 4: 10-20

Yesterday we talked about contentment and said that all that we have comes from God, it is cared for by God and it is given to us by God so that it is available to others. Today’s section is one of the most vulnerable section in Philippians—because it is personal and it is about money. I remember one of my American professors in graduate school saying that the American society (and ours too) has turned liberal about everything, the vulgar and holy, secular and sacred, all but money. It is very rare to disclose even to family members how much one earns, saves or spends. Money is a taboo subject.

Of all leadership and spiritual matters, money is also the hardest issue for a Pastor. Defensive antennae and questions might be raised when a discussion comes up in church about needs and budgets. Many pastors have learnt to tread carefully. In this passage on the gifts that Paul received, I can sense Paul’s tension at having to tackle a hard subject with a church that he loves and cares so much about, “you have at last renewed your concern for me…” “I have learnt to be content in whatever circumstance…whether well fed or hungry” …” “not one church shared with me in the matter of giving…”

Not withstanding yesterday’s lesson on contentment, does it mean that at times there was no one to support his work, that he really struggled financially? Are there times he went hungry? Did he try to plant churches but could not for lack of resources? We know that in some places he made tents to make a living. In 1 Thessalonians he says and his colleagues worked night and day to provide for themselves so that they would not burden anyone while they preached the gospel. Thankfully, the Philippian church had provided for him, indeed he was amply supplied and grateful; the truth is that there are churches and christians that give generously.

It is much ado about a big deal. Money is a big issue in ministry. Just as the fields are ready for harvest but the workers are few, so are the resources limited and the needs so many. We need to pray that God will raise supporters for his work. We also need to pray that God will help us to develop and act on very personal and scriptural convictions on giving.

You know, part of the discomfort of today’s pastors is the controversy surrounding the prosperity gospel. So I would like to place this issue in the framework in Christ-like curriculum that we have considered in earlier devotions. Growing in Christ-likeness is about making Jesus and all his interests the focal point (center) of your life, including your wealth. When you give away your resources, you are re-orienting your compass from what you possess to the “True North”, to Christ. In other words, you love God so much that cannot withhold anything from him.

It is like what couples do when they say the wedding vows “all that I’m I give to you, all that I have I share with you…” At that point thess vows are motivated by pure love. It is exactly the same thing that should motive our giving and any other form of commitment we make to Christ. It is in this context (of total surrender to God) that our giving is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice before God because it is given freely like the love of a new bride or groom. It is also in this perspective that “God loves a cheerful giver”, “gives back, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over…” and “supplies all our needs according to his riches in Christ”.

Question for reflection: what is your personal, biblical conviction on giving? How do you act on it?

Contentment in all circumstances: Philippians 4:10-14

We have said before that Philippians is one the most personal letters that Paul ever wrote to a church, an indication of a deep relationship of trust, affirmation and affection. In chapter one, he recognized their partnership with him in the gospel. He was making reference to financial support that the church gave towards his church planting work. In today’s passage he expresses gratitude for a gift they had just sent to him through their messenger, Epaphroditus.

Paul continues to teach this church by his example, the values of being like Christ. One of these values is contentment. He says “I have learnt to be content whatever the circumstances”. Let us focus on this value:

How do we learn to be content? Contentment as used in this passage is an attitude of the heart that is born of another spiritual practice called simplicity. Simplicity is an inward reality that comes from the security of our relationship with Christ. We said that Paul had learnt to nurture only one ambition: to become like Christ. This put everything else in perspective for him. Whether he was being opposed, attacked, or in need, Paul was neither distracted, intimidated or anxious. He had great sense of personal security through his relationship with God. It did not depend on what he owned or lacked, or what people thought of him, or how they treated him, or what he was deprived of.

Simplicity does not mean that we become ascetics. An ascetic person regards possessions as a hindrance to spiritual life and renounces them. There may be a few people called to denounce all their wealth so they can be liberated from the slavery to it (like the rich young ruler that Jesus told to go sell all his possessions and give to the poor), but on the norm it is not a mark of spirituality for most of us. God’s intention is that people should be well provided for. Simplicity means that we intentionally put material things in their right place—only after God and after human relationships. The call of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God in childlike trust, thereby producing an inward spirit of trust and contentment.

Living in poverty or being poor also does not mean we are living in simplicity or contentment; it is not a mark of spirituality either. I know some poor people who have a terrible poverty mentality even when things are going well for them. They always want a little more help, a bit more wealth.

The kind of simplicity that produces contentment is characterized by three inner attitudes. One, whether much or little all that we have is a gift from God (and by implication if we do not have, God is aware of the need); secondly, what we have is cared for by God and thirdly what we have is available to others as they need it.

Learn a Bible Study Skill: Study Tools

This is our last week as we study the book of Philippians. We have other books coming up so we shall continue learning bible study skills along with the devotions. Today, in the chapter subdivision where we learn a Bible study skill I would like to focus on tools that can assist you to get to know and study your bible better. Bible study helps include the following:

Bible dictionaries: They are essential to help you define difficult words. They also explain historical and biblical cultural information. They function just the same way a language dictionary works. These are good study tools.

Concordances: These help you to find every use of a word in the Bible, or to find where a particular verse can be found. It is easy to use. The words are arranged alphabetically, like a dictionary, and then arranged serially as they appear in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. If you want to find a verse but only recall one word, look up that word as you would in a dictionary. The word will most likely appear many times. Look under the book where you suspect the verse can be found. I have owned a simple concordance for the last nine years and it has proved very useful for finding verse.

Cross-references: Some bibles have references on the margin indicating where else you can find similar verses or repeated thoughts in the rest of the Bible. I have found these particularly useful when I'm studying a theme, a topic or subject or a Biblical character (Concordances are also useful in this regard). You can see what other books of the bible have to say about the same topic. A cross reference bible is one of the most useful study tools that you can have.

Commentaries: These vary with the authors. Some are comprehensive, to include historical notes and definitions. But they are also views and opinions by someone about a bible passage. Usually they are done systematically, from Genesis to revelation. The actual commentary and interpretation of a passage may give you an idea of the meaning, but it is not good to rely on someone else's interpretation. Do not also rely on study bibles, those that have notes on the lower half. All these are usually they are written from a different cultural perspective. The only authoritative reference is scripture itself.

Bible study tools are easily available at in local bookshops. At the least, invest in a good bible with cross references, like the NIV gold edge bible. They are great for helping you connect and understand biblical themes. However nothing supersedes your own disciplined, prayerful reading and dependence on the Holy Spirit to enlighten you on the scripture.

Commitment to Christ-like Virtue Chapter 4: 4-9

One of the most popular verses in the New Testament is Philippians 4: 4 “rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice”. I’m not sure we understand the meaning when we charge up each other with this verse, especially when we say it to a discouraged person. Certainly it can apply in many situations but I want to suggest to you this verse and the other four that follow it are nearly a summary of all that Paul has been teaching and demonstrating in Philippians. And the lesson is this: being joyful comes from the depths of a Christ like character.

In the previous devotionals, we have been talking about growing to be like Christ. One spiritual teacher highlights characteristics of Christ like people. Let me merge his categories with this passage plus some previous verses to show you what Christ like people are like:

Behavior: Christ like people have trained their bodies (they work out their salvation, 2vs 12) to do good and to be repulsed by evil. So they are not constantly trapped by their tongues, hands, mouth, ears, and eyes. Their senses are automatically inclined towards good. Everyone will notice as in chapter 4 vs 5, their “gentleness”, and they are “Children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which they shine like stars” (Chapter 2: 15)

Attitude and feelings: They are trusting of their Father in heaven who can provide everything they need (Matthew 6: 25-34). If something is amiss, they pray and trust. As such they are “not anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, make your request to God”. Their feelings do not control them. They subject their feelings to Christ.

Thought life: God and all that pleases him is never out of their minds. They think about him all the time. “Whatever is true, noble, right, trustworthy….think about such things...” they are optimistic, not as a result of a pep talk or a feel good movie or chit chat with friends but because they have trained their thoughts, bodies, everything to focus on what is godly. The result is that Christ like people are content people, for the peace of God guards their hearts and minds (Vs. 9) as God keeps them fulfilled.

Will: Christ like people are devoted to doing what is right. They “do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others…” Chapter 2: 3. And because their will is inclined to what is good, negative emotions and judgmental attitudes will be rare. Their primary feelings are love and compassion over others in any given situation.

Let me reiterate this: rejoicing is not merely a willed response in a moment of negative emotions. True joy wells out us naturally when we have trained ourselves to be Christ like and it flows out into a stream of praise to God, rejoicing.

For your consideration today: think about your attitude, behavior, thought life, your will and feelings in light of the parameters of today’s discussion and honestly answer the question, how much are you really like Christ?


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A Call to be United: Philippians 4:1-3

Today’s passage is short, only three verses. In fact only verses two and three have a thematic unity. Verse one is a thought continuation of the previous chapter. In this verse he calls them “my joy and my crown”. It is an inspiring and affirming word after he has just said some difficult things in chapter 3 vs 18-19, and a plea in chapter 4 vs 2, and just before he makes mention of a dispute in the next verses. Paul is so filled with the grace of God that he is able to teach difficult things and to care in the same breath.

Euodia and Syntyche are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Neither are we told of the nature of their issues. We learn that they have worked closely with Paul and that they have a disagreement that Paul has come to know about. He pleads with them to be united.

It is worth noting that Paul is not vindictive. Use your imagination a little. Surely there must have been some wrong done by one of the ladies. One of these ladies had probably hurt the other terribly. But the details are deliberately omitted. He neither takes sides nor dwell much on the dispute. He chooses to focus on what is helpful, what will build the rest of the church up, what will advance the gospel. He even esteems them when he recognizes their work with him for the sake of the gospel. Perhaps they will discover that their issue is not such a big deal after all. Someone has said that half the things that we so passionately fight or disagree about are not worth the fight at all.

The appeal is not just to the two women, it is also to the other believers to take an active part, not to take sides but help the two women end their differences.

I read of two nuns who lived together. One nun was very kind, gentle and caring. But the other nun was mean, never got along with anyone else so no one wanted to share quarters with her. The kind nun offered to live with her. When she was asked why she offered, she said, “I think it is a terrible burden to have a nature like hers, but it is even worse that she is not aware that she is carrying such a burden. I ought to be more understanding and love her as she is.”

Paul writes to the Corinthians “from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come” (2Cor 5: 17). No matter how insufferable some Christians get, we need to see them through the eyes of Christ. God has found them worthy of his love and attention, and if they happen to be serving him, he has chosen or allowed them to be where they are serving him. Let us see what God is doing and can do, and we will find the strength to pray and be compassionate towards them. God may also use their difficult nature to make us more like Christ as we learn to love them for who they are.

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Commitment to a Christ-like Life: Philippians 3:12-21

A better Christ-like life is possible, we noted in yesterday’s reflection. How do we move from where we are to that better place? A look at today’s passage points the way:

Vs. 12: “not that I have already attained all this”. Paul knows how far he has come, but knows he also has further mileage to cover to become victorious in Christ. Most of us are great Bible readers, worshippers, ‘prayers’ and church goers, but we put little effort to getting to know ourselves. If we do not know who we are, we will not see the need for change. As a ministry assistant at the church, I have discovered that most problems are very easy to solve, and that the solutions make all the difference. Usually the problem is that I do not know that a problem exists in the first place until I pay attention to the details! Be aware of yourself, your surroundings, how you relate to people, how you relate to Christ, and then you will discover areas in which you need grow. Like Peter, be a learner; turn yourself into fertile ground for Christ to work in. In my case, I’m amazingly discovering that even spiritual answers are available to me out of all the cumulative years of walking with Christ and his people. I just need to consciously ask the right questions and pay attention for the answers.

Once you know yourself, then you know the difference you wish see in your life. This is already spelt out through the life of Christ, his faithful followers like and numerous scripture passages. Philippians 2: 15 ff says we are to be “…blameless, pure, children of God without fault in a crooked generation in which you shine like stars”

“I press on to take hold of that which Christ took hold of …” if you know the change you want, take intentional steps towards the vision of your new self. Now, the problem with our day is just the sheer number of attractions and distractions that demand attention. But just in the same way we have to be disciplined to eat healthy, sleep, exercise or make financial savings, so do we need to be disciplined in taking steps to grow to be like Christ.

Some steps are obvious: read scripture consistently, be faithful to your small group, pray regularly and so on. Some steps require that we make a sacrificial resolves like Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abenego (Dan 1:8)—ditch your tv and movies, break fellowship with bad friends. Some steps may need to be more intense, like reading relevant literature in your area of growth, or seek professional counseling. I once knew a Christian who was so insecure in his relationships that he could be demanding and manipulative. Since he was a good reader, I gave him the book, “When people are big and God is small” by Edward Welch. The change in him was almost instantaneous as reading opened up the path of self understanding and maturity in Christ likeness. Whatever it takes, press on to become more Christ like.

“Join with others in following my example…” Whatever steps you take, take them in the context of relationships that model of a walking with Christ. Find people that will spur you to godliness. Hebrews says that we are surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses. Paul’s life as seen through Philippians has modeled for us how we are to grow in Christ likeness. There is consistency of his teaching, attitude, thought and action. These are are kind of people you should sorround yourself with. Significant personal and reciprocal relationships are a very powerful influence in keeping us on the track of Christ likeness. I have been blessed with a few of these throughout my Christian life.


Question to reflect on: What do you need to grow to be more like Christ? What intentional steps can you take in that direction?

Please post your reflections and comments on this passage

A Call to Know Christ: Philippians 3:7-11

In our continuing commitment to learn how to study the bible, let us observe something fresh in today's passage: the regularity with which some words are used. Take a pencil and circle or underline the word "Christ" in this passage. If you are using the NIV version, you will circle four “Christ’s” and four pronouns referring to him in this short passage. Now underline the number of times the word “know” or phrases that allude to knowing. Noticing details like this helps you find the author’s punch thought in a passage. The punch thought is what we shall reflect on today.

When Paul repeatedly points to 'knowing Christ", he wants to leave his readers in no doubt as to what he is talking about. He is neither bemoaning his suffering (which we sometimes like to emphasize when we read this particular passage. As we noticed earlier, he has come to terms with his imprisonment and in fact sees it as a way to advance the gospel). Nor does he complain over the loss of his Jewish credentials (as much as his achievements prove a point to his opponents, he does not want a pity party over his losses). . He only mentions the things above in vs 5-6 because he is also giving a warning against putting confidence in them. To emphasize the centrality of his message he repeats the references to Christ over and over again. Without a shadow of doubt, only Christ matters now.

What’s my point? When we surrender all that we once held dear (you know that song?), we are not to keep looking back to it nostalgically otherwise were are still in bondage of those things we once held dear and can easily go back to them. Remember the Israelites in the desert? They missed the cucumbers and melons of Egypt and were unable to focus on going to the Promised Land. You know what happened to them.

Secondly, even Christian successes can be a threat especially to well meaning, serving Christians. Yesterday I quoted in part a teacher who says, “In the spiritual life, no one can afford to rest on their laurels. That is a sure recipe for falling”. He continues to say that attainments are like the manna given to the Israelites in the desert, only good for the day (Ex 16:4, 16:20). Past attainments do not place us in a position of merit, and are no reason to slow down our pursuit of knowing God…no matter how far we have advanced, we are never out of danger. We must continually be active in our transformation into Christ likeness.

Paul is not merely calling us to have a head knowledge of Christ. He is talking about being changed to the point where we behave as Jesus would in any given situation. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us will acknowledge we have personality weaknesses that that constantly rub others wrong. You may able to preach powerfully, a great writer, a prayer warrior, a skilled worker, a faithful spouse. But our best moments are more like mountain top experiences that do not necessarily deliver us from our personality flaws . We are not to settle and call these flaws “thorns in the flesh”.

A better Christ-like life is possible. If you doubt this, follow the story of Peter the Apostle from the gospels, through the book of Acts (15), to the references that Paul makes of him in his letters, to the epistles that he (Peter) has written. You will see a man who struggles with a strong ego, who gets in trouble over his abrasive personality but who is progressively transformed by Christ. One thing Peter never does is to give up. He quicky sees his own errors and repents (remember repenting is not remorse, it means to stop doing the wrong thing and start doing the right thing). This is the kind of atitude in which the Lord finds fertile ground for transformation (as well as being entrusted with leadership). That is what knowing Christ is all about: relentlessly pursuing him till we are changed to be more like him.

As you will notice in the next passage, Paul tells us he is yet to know Christ fully, though we can see from his attitude that he is far advanced in that goal. But it is a lifetime goal.

My question for you to reflect on today is, where are you in the continuum of pursuing Christ likeness? Are you intentional in growing into a better disciple of Christ? Or have you become comfortable with your weaknesses?

Do Not Put Confidence in the Flesh: Philippians 3:1-6

In today’s passage, Paul is warning the Philippian Church against being led astray by some Jewish Christians that were using their identity as Jews to make it hard for non-Jews to be Christians. The key mark of identity for Jews was circumcision. Paul uses very strong words to describe them, “Watch out for those dogs, those mutilators of the flesh”, to indicate the seriousness of their error of putting confidence in the human achievements. These can destroy like a devouring dog. Let’s reflect on this.

First, matters contextual. Yesterday I highlighted the importance of taking note of context. In this passage you may ask, why would Paul use such strong terms to describe the Jews? Historical context reminds us that Philippi was a Roman colony. Most residents were non-Jewish, those whom the Jews called ‘gentiles’. Jews thought the gentiles were beneath them. On the other hand, the gentiles thought the Jews uncouth because of their ritual practices. Literary context also shows us that Paul was sending Timothy to Philippi. In Acts 16 we learnt that Timothy was only half Jewish. There was a possibility that some proper Jewish Christians would question his credibility as a messenger to speak to the church. Paul may have found it necessary to lend credibility to Timothy.

Secondly, matters devotional. Do you know the story of Samson in the book of Judges 13-15? It has to be one of the most tragic leadership stories in the Old Testament. God chose and anointed Samson to be a leader for his people even before he was born. Anointed in the Old Testament context simply means employment by God. God says there is a job to be done and you are the person to do it, whether to become a prophet or a king or leader. Now, Samson was employed and empowered by God to lead Israel in battles against their enemies, the Philistines. But Samson’s strength worked against him because it became a source of pride, indulgence, and irresponsibility.

I make Samson’s case to point us to the lesson that we can learn from today’s passage. Your achievements can be a threat to your walk with Christ. Paul's achievements as a Jew blinded him from knowing Christ untill that day that God confronted him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). A spiritual director once said to me, “Your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness”. The more I look at people with exceptional gifts, the more I see the truth in this wise priest’s counsel. For most faithful believers, it is not the big three sources of temptation (sex, money, power) that threaten our walk with Christ and our ministry. It is the credentials, the successes, the past victories in which we put our confidence. They become a source of pride and drive our hopes for the future. We have to be constantly vigilant of the motives of our hearts, aware of the scripture in Jeremiah 17: 9, “The heart is deceitful above things and beyond cure, who can understand it?”

As one wise Christian teacher put it, “in matters of the Christian walk, never to rest on you laurels”. If you think you are standing firm, watch out…

True to his character, Paul turns our eyes away from ourselves, to focus on Christ in the verses that follow. That is the subject of tomorrow’s reflection. In the meantime, would you reflect on what I have told you my spiritual director priest told me:

What is your greatest strength? How is that also your weakness and how will you guard your heart againist this weakness?

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Learn a Bible Study Skill: Context

Today is another subdivision where we learn a Bible study skill. We have looked at scripture and observation. Let me share with you an important step of observation: context.

You cannot observe properly if you do not take time to pay attention the context of the book. Can you believe that some Christians were opposed to the radio in its early days? They said it was a satanic invention, and found Bible verses to support their opposition “Satan is the prince of the power of the air”, they said. They did not take time to understand the context in which Paul said that in Ephesians. We might laugh at this today, but we can make similar mistakes when we take Bible passages out of their context.

In the Bible, context include such matters as the identity of the author and his readers, the time, the topic and reasons for writing the book. There are two types of contexts.

Literary context is the words, sentences, paragraphs or chapters that surround and relate to a text. It helps us to see how the passage fits in the larger section of the whole.

Historical context is the language, customs, culture, beliefs and history of the author and his audience. It allows us to enter the world of the readers, speakers, writers and other characters that appear in the literary context, and shows us how a part of the bible fits into the world of the time it was written.

We can learn the context of some books through other books of the bible. For example some of the most interesting stories found in the books of Kings and Chronicles provide the background historical context for the books of the prophets. The prophets wrote to the very kings described in those books, but we rarely make the connections. By the way if you are ever in a rut in your devotional life, or you have had a really bad day and do not feel like reading the Bible, or you are out of touch with your spiritual self, try reading a random story from the books of Samuel, Chronicles or the Kings. You will be surprised at how your heart will warm up towards the characters in the stories and how quickly you will connect with God. Also, it is best to read the stories in whole sections in more or less the same way you read a novel.

The same applies to the books of the New Testament. You get so much more from your small devotional sections if you take time to read the whole book first. When you read it as a whole, do not work too hard to take away a spiritual lesson as much as to understand the characters and the bigger picture that the author had when he wrote the book. That prepares you to learn the lessons of the smaller sections. If you read a whole book especially in the Old Testament, you will understand that some of the stories are not ethic or morals for us to learn. They serve as a warning so that we do not do the things they did and therefore perish the way they did. Examples include Samson's escapades with Delilah, Solomon’s liaison with a thousand women (did he really marry them?), Ahab’s and Jezebel’s greed, the kings Jeroboam and Rehoboam leading their people into rebellion and so on.

Now, back to Philippians. At the Beginning of this study (see the first blog), I gave you a historical introduction to the church of Philippi, taken out of the books of Acts 16. If you have not already done so, take time today to read the whole book of Philippians in one sitting. It will not take you more than 30 minutes to read thoughtfully in one sitting, and it will be worth the time and effort.

Please also post your reflections and comments.

Epaphroditus, another faithful servant: Phillippians 2:25-30

The immediate occasion for the writing of the book of Philippians was the return of Epaphroditus to Philippi. Epaphroditus had been sent by the Philippians come to Rome to bring a gift to Paul when he was in prison. They also intended for him to stay in Rome and be Paul’s personal attendant, his armor bearer if you like. Paul was awaiting his prison sentence, so by serving him, Epaphroditus was putting his own life on the line. He could be charged with the same charges facing Paul. He must have been a brave man and just like Timothy, one who did not look to his own interests first but those of others and of Jesus Christ first.

Epaph had fallen seriously ill. As we see in this passage the Philippians had heard that he was sick and were worried. One commentator suggests that he had contracted a deadly plague in Rome, and that his healing was probably miraculous against all odds. This is why Paul saw his healing as an act of mercy from God, so that God would spare the both he and the Philippians from the sorrow of loosing him. So he sent him back so that the Philippian church would be encouraged. It was also possible that Paul was thinking in the interests of Epaph, that a change of environment would help him to stay healthy. With Ephaph as the messenger, he sent a letter to give the Philippian Church first hand information about his circumstances.

Whatever you do, do it all unto the Lord. Whether he was preaching and being a pastor to the Phillipians, or serving Paul as a servant, or being a messenger, this man whom we know little about did it with all his heart. Being set apart to serve the Lord is not just for the high offices. It is the attitude of the heart that matters in whatever you do.

This particular passage is a commentary on Paul as much as it is about Epaphroditus. Paul is in the shadow of an uncertain prison sentence, yet he shows a profound consideration for Epaph and the church at Philippi. True to his character, Paul is never too absorbed by his own troubles to think of the troubles and needs of those that are working with him. For Epaphroditus, he takes time to write a good commendation so that he will be accepted when he returns home. This is also a testimony of his deep trust in the Lord that the Lord can take care of him. In the earlier verses he speaks as one who has entrusted his life and work to the Lord, and here acts consistently. It is not difficult to see why he rejoices in the Lord always.

For your consideration: When you are faced with challenges in your work place or at home, do you pass on blessings to those that relate with you or do you displace the stress? And if your role is like that of Epaph, that is to serve as an armor bearer, do you do it with all your heart? What is your atitude towards your work for the Lord?

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Timothy, A Faithful Servant: Phillipians 2:19-24

Timothy was a born in what is modern Turkey of a Greek father and a Jewish Christian mother (Acts 16:1). From childhood Timothy had been taught the Old Testament 2Tim 3:15. In Acts 16, Paul invited Timothy to become his assistant and circumcised him so that his Greek ancestry would not be a problem when they preached among the Jews. Timothy is a co-author or an assistant to Paul when he wrote six of his letters to the churches, that is 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1, 2 Thessalonians and Philemon, as well as being the recipient of 1, 2Timothy.

In 2Timothy 3:15, Paul writes to Timothy "Do your best to present yourself to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth".

We have noted before that Paul has had a close relationship with the Philippian church and did his best to nurture this church. But Like Jesus, the strength and continuity of his ministry was working very closely and mentoring a few disciples then sending them off to carry on the work after himself. Timothy is one of those inner circle disciples in Paul's ministry. What makes Timothy stand out?

He is selfless. Timothy is the epitome of the passage we talked about earlier of humility and self denial. Paul says that unlike everyone else, Timothy looks out to the interests of Jesus Christ. Can that be said of you?

Timothy has proven his character: his track record is good; he is consistent, faithful and dependable. Paul actually sends him to other churches in other Epistles, certain that he had a reliable representative and pastor for these churches, without blemish or guile.

He has served with me in the work of the gospel: Timothy works, not for Paul but with Paul in serving God. Our goal in serving is not that men may notice and praise us. It is that we may lead others to experience the goodness of God. There is an Old Testament story that amplifies this, in 2 Kings 7:5-11. Israel had been besieged by an invading army and everyone was starving. Four leppers went out to the enemy camp and found that the enemy had scattered in fright. They ate and hid some provisions to themselves, and then said to each other "we are not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves". The gospel is like that, good news that we cannot keep to ourselves. We have to share it so that others may have life. The motivation for serving is that others may also experience the goodness of God that we have experienced. Timothy is like that.

Though the goal is not to be praised by men, we do notice that Paul takes time to highly commend Timothy the Philippian Church. This gives confidence to Timothy and makes his word credible to the church.

Consider: Here is a passage that was true of Timothy. Is it true of you? "For Christ’s love compels us, since we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died…that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again”.

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Learn a Bible Study Skill: Scripture

Today we have one of those chapter divisions where I teach you a bible study skill. Last time we looked at the second letter of in SOAP. Let’s back tract a bit and look at, S, scripture. But a listen to story first:

When I was probably 7 or 8 years old, an army of safari ants, those little black creatures that bite and cling viciously invaded our compound. I found a disused can of doom (pesticide) from a corner in our old house. I examined it this way and that way and just as figured out how to pump the pesticide out, an uncle appeared. He grabbed the can out of my hands. He twisted it every which way trying to open it, not listening to me and not reading the manufacturers instructions on the can. Meanwhile the vicious creatures were headed for his newly hatched chicks. Finally, he got a knife and ruptured the tin so he could ‘pour’ the doom on the insects. It blew into his face giving him a terrible headache for days and please don’t ask about the poor chicks!

The Bible has been called the manufacturer’s manual for the humanity. We, typical human beings need to hear this wisdom again and again—when all else fails, read and follow the instructions! 2Tim 3:16 says that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Note all those italicized functions. Also note what it does not say.

Now, we Christians are obviously trying to read the manual. But in many cases we come to a scripture text either with a preconceived notion of what it says, or with the question—what does this passage say to me? This allows us to find almost any idea in that text. Sometimes we snatch an affirming or comfortable snippet of truth to suit the moment; sometimes nothing registers. If we come across hard truth, we may think of how it applies to someone else, not ourselves. Someone has said we should actually ask, “what does this text say against me?”

A pastor told of a member came to her to discuss her marriage situation. She was a ‘dedicated’ Christian, but she divorced her first husband so she could marry another man. The pastor asked her, “If you knew divorce is sin, how did you justify leaving your husband for another man?” The woman replied “Pastor, I do not need to tell you what the Bible says, that God is love, and he does not want me to be unhappy. Neither do I need to remind you about the grace of God, do I?” She continued “I intended to ask for forgiveness and come back to the Lord even before I began the affair. I haven’t committed the unpardonable sin, you know”.

This kind of selfish interpretation is repeated in many small and big decisions among today's Christians—simply because we choose which parts of the Bible suits us. This is called ‘proof-texting’. A proof text is basically a favorite verse on which we impose a meaning that might meet our felt need, maintain our comfort zone or confirm our firmly held opinion. It can also be a verse that has become popular over time, overshadowing other scriptures that are its opposite but equally true and equally applicable in the same situation. For example, we say that “God is love”, but how often do we say, “God is a consuming fire?” Both verses are in the Bible, hmm? We usually rubberstamp proof-texts by ‘praying’ them but really, we are shunning the hard road of obedience.

Here is my point, when you come to scripture read it attentively and responsively. Submit to its authority as the word of God, listening first. After listening, the right response is to obey what it says. If you are convicted then act on the instruction and repent if it's a rebuke. Repentance is not merely remorse, you know, rabbit tears that a child sheds when caught stealing sugar. To repent is to turn away from what you have been doing that is wrong and start doing the right thing according to scripture.

Look at two verses that we usually proof text from passages we have covered in Philippians.

Philippians 1: 6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” What good work is Paul referring to? Is everything we are doing, even if it is good, began by the Lord? Will the Lord always carry our ‘good plans’ to completion?

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” . Why does Paul say it is God who works in them (take a look at the first part of vs 12)? Is everything we do even with the best intentions, God’s will and God’s purpose?

Think of other passages in the rest of scripture that we usually proof text and share them with other readers on this blog.

Please post your comments.

A Call to Commitment to One Another: Philipians 2:12-18

I was in a meeting recently where someone mentioned alcoholic anonymous, the group that addicts of alcohol can join to recover from alcoholism. Apparently when you join AA, you get a ‘sponsor’, that is someone you can call any time night or day 24/7 if you feel any desire to drink or need any help. That person can also call you and ask any question. The goal is to help you stay sober. At its best it is a deep relationship of trust, commitment and vulnerability. These are the very same values that mark Paul’s relationship with the Philippians.

What strikes me is the personalized address in several phrases of today's passage.The use of personal pronouns and terms of endearment shows what Paul is saying is coming from the depths of his heart. Take a look at this:

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed... (vs 12),”

“That I may boast about you… (Vs 16b)"

“I’m glad and rejoice for all of you… (vs 17)"

“So you too should be glad and rejoice with me… (vs 18)”

But even before this one, the previous passages are filled with all these personal references that give you the impression that you are 'listening in' into a personal conversation. Take a look at some more verses:

“I thank my God every time I remember you”—1: 3
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership” 1:4
“It is right for me to feel this way about you” 1:7
“I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” 1:8
“If you have any encouragement…make my joy complete…” 2:1-2

Here is what I’d like us appreciate about these references: to a large measure, the maturity of the Philippian believers is the result of how closely they have related to Paul. I think it is a reality in human beings, that we are stronger or better off if we have wholesome relationships with one another, right from childhood, families, in school, in the work place, in church. Those we relate with closely in the household of faith are the ones that help build us up in our walk with the Lord (hence the need to be in a small groups). And here are the markers that lead people into wholesome relationships, especially as I glean them from the personalised phrases above:

Trust: One of our pastors likens relationships to a bank account. Trust is like the savings you keep depositing in that account. Trust is build by being dependable, keeping your word, not betraying confidence placed on you by the other and thinking in the best interests of the other person. Of course it is a two way effect, for the other person must reciprocate with trust. When you invest and build trust, then there can be vulnerability with each other.

Vulnerability: It is the willingness to expose yourself to someone else, to let them really get to know your needs, your failures, your fear, even successes. There has to be depth of honesty, openness not deciept, truthfulness, not double-sidedness. Paul had not only build trust with this church, he had shared everything with them and they know exactly his needs, situation, his hopes, even his hope to die and be with Christ.

Commitment: Trust and vulnerability will not go far if there is no commitment to invest in the relationship. I have had a good friend whom for about a year we were prayer partners. We had build trust and were vulnerable to each other. We helped each other through a difficult season of our lives. But now I can feel the relationship slipping through our fingers like grains of sand, for we are so busy we no longer find time to meet. Both of us need to do something otherwise she will not be able to speak into my life and I will not be able to pray for her. Paul longs to come and meet the Philippians and when he can not, he writes a letter and sends his best helpers to be with this church.

Now, these values are great but not an end in themselves. Relationships have to have a purpose. I highlight them to say that if we want to shine as beacons of light in a dark world (2: 15), we have to have ‘sponsors’ who help us ‘stay sober’ (see reference to AA above). We need to have vulnerable relationships under girded by trust and commitment to one another. These will keep us accountable to the confession we have made to the Lord, and in turn make us witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In an earlier blog, we mentioned the markers of Paul’s relationship with the Philippians. These are thankfulness, confidence and affection. We signed off with the question, “how can you build up the kind of relationship that Paul had with this Philippians church? Well, try building trust, vulnerability and commitment into your relationships.

Think and act: Do you have someone in your life to whom you are truly vulnerable, but beyond that, one who constantly points you towards Christ and the values of the kingdom of God? The reverse of that is, can you be trusted? Can someone be vulnerable to you and know that you will lead them to the one who knows the way?

Please post you comments

A Call to humility: Philippians 2:1-11

Our earlier admonition in Chapter 1 was that no matter what happens, “conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…so that you will be able to stand firm as a witness to the gospel of Christ. For Christians, our unity is our witness. That was Jesus prayer in John 17: 21. But honestly Paul, surely Jesus, how do we remain united when we are so different?

The answer to this question is the essence of this whole passage, summarized in verse 3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves”

This is what church fathers called ‘self-denial’ or, giving up what you consider is your right. Self-denial is a strange message to many ears today because we are more comfortable with words like self-actualization, or self-fulfillment or self-esteem, you know, words that make us feel good. There is nothing wrong with them in their right contexts. But self-denial is not the same as self-contempt. It is really very simple. What causes people to disagree? It is the need of each person to have his or her own way in a situation. When people argue and disagree, very important values are at stake and each is passionately committed to one side or another, sometimes with good cause. But quite, often not listening to others’ opinion is a sign of a deeper problem of a powerful, self-centered ego. Some people will not have it any other way unless they are in charge and their presence is felt (mostly men). Those that loose the argument then enter into a pity-party, anger, or bitterness and rally others that are disgruntled and rebellion builds up (mostly women). The winner of the argument then feels justified to continue having their way, and the disgruntled continue rebelling. Conflict builds up.

This is where Paul advocates the medicine of self-denial, which Jesus points the way as eloquently sang in the "Hymn of Christ" in vs 6-11. Jesus was God, with a right to all power. But he left the power to become a servant. He even became the lower than a servant and allowed himself to be humiliated on the cross. That was what earned our salvation. He in turn was exalted to the highest place by God. Our happiness is not dependent on getting what we want. It depends on doing the will of God.

Most international crises would be averted if some would just give way to others. For example if warlords of Somalia would choose one of them to become president, the country would be united by a normal government. Security would be assured. No more pirates off the Somalia coast. No more hijacked ships on their way to Kenya etc.

Scale that down to your own home or work place. If you were to step with Jesus into the path of self-denial and listen to your spouse, work mates or friends and do nothing out of selfish ambition, how much radical goodness would you unleash? You would disarm the power of sin to control your circumstances, and you will be happier if others around you are happy.

Think it over: Would your relationships improve if you stopped trying to have your own way?

Please post you comments.

Whatever happens...stand firm Phil 1:27-30

I mentioned in an earlier blog the story of Benazir Bhutto. She was fighting to re-establish the rule of democracy in her country which had been taken over by a ruthless military regime. When her party supporters got news she was arrested, some began to jostle for leadership, some were bribed to abandon her party, some tortured to make false accusations against her. Many of them were cowed into silence till there was no one to champion her cause while she was in prison.

Not so for Paul. If something worse happened to him, Paul did not want that to be end of the witness of the gospel. Hence his strong admonition to the Philippian Church: “whatever happens to me (either to be released or killed), conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. Let us face this as a question: Can todays Christians always be counted upon to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ no matter what?

When we hear of suffering, we often imagine crucifixion, or being thrown to wild animals in the Roman games. It is that far-removed experience of early Christians, and if we too lived at the time, we would suffer and die for Christ as they did. Or so we imagine. We might think of suffering Christians in communist countries and imagine we too would be victorious if we were in their shoes. But, do you ever stop to think what suffering means for you in this day and age, living in Kenya as it is? Let me tell you a sad story but all too familiar story.

There is a woman in my neighborhood who was a committed, spiritually gifted Christian for many years, very involved in her church since her youth. She is endowed with the kind of physical beauty that turns heads. In her late twenties she suffered two terrible betrayals. Her engagement to one man was called off on the eve of the wedding when he cheated on her. A few years later her second fiancé was killed in a car accident just some months to their wedding. Now she is well into her thirties. She got desperate. She slept with a man who is not her husband. She is pregnant and unmarried. Her pain over the loss of her fiancés is still very real, but on top of that she has added the confusion of betraying what was a very strong relationship with the Lord. Soon she will have the added burden of single motherhood.

Paul says “It has been appointed for us not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him…” vs 29. I wouldn’t wish to trivialize the issue, but suffering is still real to any Christians, anywhere. That is because we have chosen to live according to values of the kingdom of God. By so doing we are up against the devil who prowls all over looking for victims. He long figured that physical torture will not always cause Christians to abandon their faith in God. He devised subtle ways of making Christians suffer, but to us they assume faces like betrayal, denial or deprivation. How often we fall in his traps!

Our call is to discern the our personal call to suffer and face it with the wisdom God has given for our contexts. Note that the goal is not to feel pain, whether physical or phychological. The goal is to honor God by obeying him, no matter what. That was the resolve of Meshack &co. "...but even if the God we serve does not rescue us from the fiery furnace, we will not worship the image of gold" (Dan3: 17-18). It was also the resolve of Job (Job1&2). Less noticeably, it was the resolve of David when he refused to kill King Saul who had become paranoid and was trying to kill David. Rather than dishonor God by killing God's annointed king, David chose to suffer by going survive in the wilderness for many years, instead of living comfortably in his father's home.

A Christian businessman may loose a contract worth millions of Shillings just because he will not bribe. He suffers the shame, the scorn of associates, the loss of income. A student may fail an exam because he will not cheat. The single woman well in her thirties may have to turn away advances of a non-believing man in spite of social pressure and the tick of the clock. You see, the choice to suffer does not mean that you will enjoy the pain. Far from it. The pain is real and nobody wants to hurt. It just means that if the situation calls for it, for the sake of being true and faithful to the Lord, you make the hard choice, take the road less travelled and live with it because it is the only choice open to you as a Christian.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in the woods and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Poem By Robert Frost

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Learn a Bible Study Skill: Phillipians 1:27-2:1-18

Today’s passage is a large section. My division this way is intentional. You will notice I have then subdivided the passage for the next three days study (Vs 27-30, 2:1-11, 12-18)), but even today the large section is entitled to a whole day of reflection. That is because I want to teach you a skill. Every time we come to a larger division, I will teach you one more skill that will help you get the most out of the Bible.

Instructions: Read the whole passage, getting a general impression of it all, without trying to understand every detail. Then respond to the following questions:

1. Read 1: 27: Paul says, “Whatever happens…” what is Paul expecting to happen? Refer back to the passage we looked at yesterday, 1:19-26.


2. Look at 2:1-4: What is the one thing that Paul desperately hopes the Philippians will do in these verses? What are the lesser expressions of this one thing?


3. Vs 12-18: In what ways are the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling?

Have you responded to the above three questions? Well done! Now, remember the acronym S.O.A.P. that we learnt in Church last Sunday? You are already engaged in the first letter, S—Scripture, and now have just conquered the second letter, O—Observation.

Observation is simply looking at what is there. Read or listen in just as you would listen to a reporter tell the details of an accident. Sometimes you have to refer back to earlier verses or chapters. Sometimes you need to know the wider context of the whole book. But it is simply dealing with facts and details as they are stated in the text. It is the first step to understanding the bible. It is really simple, but sometimes we overlook it in our haste to find out what God's word for us for the day.

In most books of the bible, observation is also a key to understanding the circumstances of the author, his audience even his message. You do not need to read extra biblical sources to understand such books. For example the first three gospel and Acts are self-telling stories. Every time you read a book of the Bible, remember it was first written to a live audience that lived in real time and space, just like Newspaper reporters write their articles for real people that live within the same world as reporters. We shall discuss more about this later.

If you would like to practice the "observation" skill further, take a look at a little interesting and curious incidence that happened in 2 Kings 2:23-25. Before I tell you anything about that passage read and observe carefully, then post your observations on this blog. We will engage in further discussion about it.

Over the next three days we will take a closer study of each of the subsections just as we have done in the previous days.

Paul's Circumstances: Philippians 1:11-26

Tonight I talked with my neighbor, a French woman married to a Russian guy. In France, she was employed in civil service, her role, to screen refugees from eastern Europe (Bosnia, Chechnya, Yogoslavia etc) seeking residence in France. She listened to countless stories of suffering, especially of women at the hands of evil people. Because of all the pain, she is convinced there is no God, for God would not allow human beings do the evil things to fellow humans. For her, we are all on our own on this pitiful planet so we can do what we like.

What a contrast once again to Paul’s attitude as seen in this passage! Here are some insights:

Paul is convinced all things work out for the good of those who love the Lord, and so he rejoices—vs 12-18, cf. Romans 8:28. The good here is that the gospel is heard by even those in the highest levels of government. At that time Christianity was a new and strange religion so even palace guards were curious. I suppose they were also bored so hearing Paul was good sport (I think being a security guard is a most boring job; all due respect to guards). There is an interesting story in Acts 24, 25 and 26 of Governor Felix and King Agrippa who initially listened to Paul out of curiosity, though Paul was defending himself. As he spoke their consciences were smitten but of course they did not believe. This must have happened a lot in Rome as Paul was in jail. Even the believers were encouraged to preach fearlessly beyond the prison walls. So the gospel spread. It's like the old African riddle, "out of the stinger comes the sweet"-what is that? The bee and honey.

God is at work, whether through good or flawed motives of his servants: Vs 15-18: Paul knows of contentious preachers that mean to stir up trouble for him. But also sees beyond trouble to the good, redemptive outcome of their message about Christ. Jesus saw things the same way. The disciples once saw a man who was not a disciple casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They stopped him. Jesus told them, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you” (Lk 9:49). So long as their message is correct, let them be. At least they are not in league with the kingdom of darkness. It makes our work less hard. So what do we look for? That in our lives Christ is honored, that we are walking in obedience, and that we are a good example even to those with not so noble intentions in their work for God. Pray for them but do not stand in judgment over them. Leave it to God to judge their work and determine whether it is grass to be burned or silver to be purified.

Hope is maintained amidst suffering vs 19-24: Any sort of prison, be it self-imposed or forced on us is a miserable place. And though he adopts an attitude of joy, Paul does not enjoy being in prison. He is capable of doing so much more if he were free, planting new churches, building up believers. So he is not settling for preaching to the guards. He hopes and prays that something better will come up soon. That something better may be death, which will take him to be with Christ. He actually longs for death. It reminds me of a song of the 90's by Sandi Patti, "another time, another place"

“so I’m awaiting, for another time and another place,

where all my hopes and dreams will be captured with one look at Jesus face,

oh my heart keeps burning my soul, keeps yearning,

sometimes I can hardly wait for that, sweet, sweet-some day,

when I will be swept away to another time and another place”

Ever imagined that the greatest pleasure on earth will never compare with the pleasure of being with the Lord in heaven? That is the best reason to never compromise your walk with the Lord. You dont want to miss heaven.

Paul's resolve is rekindled vs 25-26: Paul does not just hope for death. For the sake of the church, his hope shifts from death to life, that he would rather be released. He renews his resolve to continue to nurture the young churches he has planted. His new energy is an encouragement to the Philipian church that is discouraged by his being in prison. Paul always inspires hope and energy.

Here is a thought: We can and should adopt a positive, joyful attitude amidst negative circumstances, but it does not mean that God wants us to remain in them. Like Paul, our sights should be set high on what things should actually be, on how good they can be. That is hope which then gives us impetus to pray and work hard for a better reality.

What is your take on this devotional? Please post your comments.

Paul's Greetings and Thanksgiving: Philipians 1:1-10

Recently I read the autobiography of the Lady Benazir Bhutto, an astute politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan. She was killed in a bomb explosion in 2007. In her book, she tells of how she was severally imprisoned, sometimes under house arrest and other times in official jail. The disturbing memoirs are marked by the agony of political persecution, the anguish of separation from family, the absence of hope beyond the cause for which she was imprisoned. It is a sad story.

Not so for Paul. As he writes this letter, he is also under house arrest in Rome. He is allowed visitors who can meet his needs, but he has no freedom. His every move is watched and restricted by austere Roman soldiers. Yet we do not see a hint of despair in Philippians. Quite the opposite, Phillipians has been referred to as the "epistle of joy". It is a letter written by a happy friend to trusted friends. Chapter 1: 1-11 is an affirmation of a warm relationship.

Let's take a look at some of those markers of friendship:

Thankfulness and joy vs. 3, 4: unlike several other epistles where he grieves over the churches, Paul remembers the Philippians church with thankfulness. In this verse, Paul is recounting his joy because of their partnership with him in the gospel. We will discuss partnership when we come to the gifts, but for now think back: has a friend ever done something for you that so overwhelmed you that tears jumped out of your eyes involuntarily? That was Paul’s feeling, welling deep out of his heart into prayer for the Philippians.

Confident and affirming vs 6: Paul cannot be with the Philippians physically, and though he longs for them he has faith in God, that God will complete the good work he began in them. This translates into an inspiring prayer in Vs 9-10, that they may have love and discern what is right and pure. Paul knows that God will teach them his ways, and also that they are mature enough to repond to God's guidance, and therefore he does not need to fret over them. So he affirms them. When you relate to people that are likely to be vulnerable (and especially to younger siblings or old folk who tend to tell tales of how things are not working), do you inspire hope in the God who can work out all things right, or do you propagate the misery?

Affection and longing vs 8—Paul does not just love the Phillipians. Indeed any Christian can love because God has commanded it. In Paul’s case there is real warmth of feeling and trust. You cannot contrive affection. It comes out of the depths, like a cool, clear stream that flows from the belly of the hills. You could say that love is like water. It is necessary. We cannot do without it. But sometimes loving is hard, for love is muddied by many things. If you have ever watched water flow from the source of at the base of a hill, you know that is the sort of drink you long for when you are thirsty. Paul longs for the Philippians in the same way. But what is the secret of his affection and longing for this church? As we shall see in Chapter 3, he has nurtured one ambition—to know Christ and him only. He is totally satisfied by Christ, and so he can love out of a pure, overflowing heart.

To the measure that we know we are loved by God, so can we be thankful, confident and affirming of others, in other words, love in the true biblical sense of that word. Otherwise we smother others with our neediness and our gifts become a form of managing those relationships. They in turn become dependent on us and they cannot grow beyond our own level of growth and circumstances. Let us pray that God will teach us to love and care for one another as Paul did for the Philippians.

Here are two questions for reflection: Would Paul write Phillipians Chapter 1:1-11 to you? In you relationship with others, how can you build up the kind of relationship that Paul shared with the Philippian church?

You are welcome to post your reflections and feedback on this passage.

Our Weekly Study Outline of the Book of Philippians

Week 1
February 2: Introduction to Philippian Church: Acts 16
February 3: Paul’s Greetings: 1: 1-11
February 4: Paul’s imprisonment in Rome 12:-26
February 5: Encouragements 1: 27-2:18
February 6: a. Encouragement to Stand Firm 1: 27-30

Week 2
February 9: b. Encouragement to united and humble 2: 1-11
February 10: c. Encouragment to work out our salvation 2: 12-18
February 11: Introduction of the messengers 2: 19-30
February 12 a. Timothy 2: 19-24
February 13: b. Epaphroditus, 2:25-30

Week 3
February 16: A call to commitment 3:1-4:9
February 17: a. Commitment not to the flesh 3: 1-6
February 18: b. Commitment to Christ 3:7-11
February 19: c. Commitment to Christ’s purposes 3: 12-21
February 20: d. Commitment to unity 4: 1-3

Week 4
February 23: e. Commitment to virtue 4:4-9
February 24: The gifts 4: 10-23
February 25: a. recent gift: 4:10-14
February 26: b. The earlier gifts 4:15-20
February 27: Closing benediction 4: 21-23