QT 31 Oct 19, Phil 3:13-15, What is our "one thing" we do?

Philippians 3:13–15 (RSV) — 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you.

NOTE: The picture here is really about running and competing in an athletic event. A few things stand out -- "but one thing I do." This is really important. This is the driving goal of Paul's life. Nothing else compares. Second item to stand out is the number of prepositional phrases -- toward, for the, of the, of, and in. What is Paul's goal? It is an upward call of God in Christ Jesus. In the races, highly respected officers would hand the reward down to the participant. There is a reward for living the Christian life correctly. We all receive eternal life, but there are rewards only given to those who live completely for Jesus. The mature know this, the immature fight against it because they want to wallow in the world.

PRAYER: Father, I want to live like Paul. I want to earn a reward for faithful service. I want a crown that I can wear and then throw down at your feet to communicate how thankful I am for my salvation. I know I am unworthy of salvation, but I am not unworthy enough to say I'm thankful or to worship you correctly.

QT 30 Oct 19, Phil 3:11, Experiencing the rapture

Philippians 3:11 (RSV) — … that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

NOTE: The resurrection from the dead is a promise in scripture. All believers in Christ who have died are guaranteed a resurrection from the dead. Part of the difficulty with this passage is that the translation here is probably not the best. Paul creates a word "out-resurrection" which is not used in any other place. There are many explanations for "out-resurrection" and I think he refers to the resurrection while one lives, or the rapture. I don't think he feared death and maybe he wanted to die to experience everything the savior experienced. But I think he wanted to see Christ returning to rapture the saints. It is a resurrection out of the body, which is dead because of a sin, into a new glorified body. Only believers alive at Jesus' coming will experience a resurrection from their body into a new glorified body. Believers who have died, will be resurrected from the grave into a new glorified body. And technically, since their dead bodies are decayed, their spirits will be combined with new bodies at the rapture.

PRAYER: Father, it is so hard to imagine life in a glorified body. I am so used to dealing with my sinful nature on a daily basis. I look forward to that day when you will rescue me from this body. I hope to see it and to experience the rapture, because I wish to see justice finally come.

QT 29 Oct 19, Phil 2:27, While we have great hope in death, it is also a sad tim

Philippians 2:27 (RSV) — Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

NOTE: In the earlier part of the letter, Paul said it was far better to be with the Lord. But here, Paul expresses the reality of death to those left behind--sorrow upon sorrow. Yes, we know a believer has a great future, but there is sorrow in the passing of a loved one or a close friend. It is okay. It is normal. It is an emotion that is part of real life and not to be neglected. To be sad does not mean that you don’t believe in heaven, but that you are an emotionally healthy person who loves and cares for others.

PRAYER: Father, help me to encourage others who struggle with the reality of death. Help me to encourage them to cry when a love one passes. Help us not to live as stoic Christians who checked their emotions at the door. We need to be real.

QT 28 Oct 19, Phil 2:20-21, True leaders are genuinely anxious for their team

Philippians 2:20–21 (RSV) — 20 I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. 21 They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

NOTE: I believe that this is the key to leadership, a genuine concern for the welfare of your team. A leader who is looking after his interests is not serving as a Christian leader because the welfare of the team is the  interest of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Looking deeper, the words welfare and interests are not there in the Greek, at least from what I can tell. They are implied. Instead the words yours and themselves are in the Greek. The emphasis is on leaders who are only concerned for themselves as opposed to yours, or the things that are important to you. Paul had no one like Timothy in that regard. He cared about people. This has also been a passion of mine since I took my first job as a leader -- when I was appointed a squadron commander. I am called to love the people who work for me. I need to care for them and to protect them like my own family.

PRAYER: Father, help me to know how I can care for and to protect the people on my team. I want to help them grow as persons. I wish that they could see the love of Jesus Christ in my life. Let me be your light in a dark world.

QT 24 Oct 19, Phil 2:5-7, Extreme humility

Philippians 2:5–7 (RSV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

NOTE: The illustration here of Jesus as God becoming a man is so otherworldly as to seem incomprehensible to the point, which is about humbling yourself. Jesus was God and Jesus emptied himself to become a man. There is no human counterpart other than dying for another person. Paul seems to be saying, I not talking about humbling yourself a little, I am suggest a complete humbling to the point that I die (my estimation of my importance). But then I wonder, can anyone have that type of mind? If Paul, in essence the Lord speaking through Paul, is asking me to completely humble myself for the sake of others, then it must be possible. This is the most difficult struggle of my arrogant life. I really do struggle. I want to puff myself up and make sure that people know of my accomplishments or my knowledge. I need to let go of that. I really need to ditch those efforts.

PRAYER: Father, help me to see today (especially in my class) how I am trying to exalt myself. Bring to mind my quiet time. Expose my sin to me. Give me grace and strength to humble myself for the sake of others.

QT 22 Oct 19, Phil 1:29-30, Stand up for truth

Philippians 1:29–30 (RSV) — 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.

NOTE: I don't suffer like Paul or other first century believers. Yes, my views are marginalized. Yes, my opportunities are limited due to my close-minded thinking. Yes, people may laugh at me behind my back, and even at times, ridicule my ideas publicly. All these things hurt, but they are not suffering. I don't wish to experience suffering, but my point is that I do not want to live in a way to avoid it. It is possible to avoid it. But, I want to be honest and bold with my faith. While the majority may disagree with me, I am not alone. I'm not even sure the majority in churches agree with me. I believe we are undergoing an apostasy in the church today. Apostasy is when believers reject God's word for a worldview opposed to God. But those of us who still believe that the entire bible is the word of God, we need to be unified.

PRAYER: Father, help the true Church to stand up against the wickedness in the world. Give us boldness and courage to say what others do not want to hear.

QT 21 Oct 19, Phil 1:24-25, What is my ministry and am I fully engaged?

Philippians 1:24–25 (RSV) — 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

NOTE: Paul was convinced that it was not his time to go to heaven, because he was needed here on earth. Which is not to say that someone is indispensable to God. Paul was not. God could have found a replacement. But Paul realized that God was using him and was planning on using him more. It is nice to be needed and it is even better when you are needed for the good of all. I wonder if I am needed? It is a good question for all of us to ponder. What is our ministry? Are we engaged in ministry? Are we giving God one hundred percent or enough to get by? Only full commitment is sufficient. God does not need half-hearted servants. I desire to be needed.

PRAYER: Father help me to see the opportunities you put before me for ministry. I pray that I would be fully engaged. I pray I would be whole-hearted. I pray that I would not shrink back.

QT 18 Oct 19, Phil 1:17-18, I can rejoice in all things

Philippians 1:17–18 (RSV) — 17 the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.

NOTE: By the end of his life, Paul was a positive individual. I don't think he started out that way. He seems much harsher in his letter to Galatians. Of course, in the letter to the Galatians, the Judaizers had changed the gospel, and so that is a different problem. Still, he is not bothered by people with the wrong motives. He sees God's hand at work in the good and the bad. He is not discouraged. In fact, he is making special effort to communicate to the Philippians that things are going well. I can't imagine Paul sulking or playing the "woe is me" card. Why? Because he truly believed in the sovereign hand of God in his life. No matter how bad things were going, he trusted in God and maintained his hope in God.

PRAYER: Father, protect me from the world's traps. One of them is to feel sorry for yourself when things don't go the way you want them. Lord, I want to rejoice always and maintain a positive attitude because you are my hope and you are in charge.

QT 17 Oct 2019, Phil 1:6, We have to make disciples for the good of the body

Philippians 1:6 (RSV) — And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Paul was confident of the work that God was doing in the lives of his spiritual children. I wonder why? Maybe because he saw it in their commitment to him. Maybe he saw it in their suffering. I don't see it in my church or most churches I've been involved. I see people, who call themselves Christians, living carnal lives. They are nice, but they are not witnesses. I see gossip and petty arguments and selfishness. I don't see enough disciples or disciple-making -- at least according to Jesus' definition. A disciple is simply a follower, but Jesus put stringent requirements on the term to be his disciple. Maybe Paul's confidence was that he truly communicated and taught people to be Jesus' disciples according to Jesus' definition. Yes, if that was the case, I too could have the same confidence in the church body.

PRAYER: Father open our eyes to the reality of our salvation. Help us to truly live as disciples and to truly make disciples. We don't need facts, what we need is application of the truths to our lives. We know ninety percent of what we will ever know about the bible, but we only live one percent of it. Change us I pray.

QT 16 Oct 19, 2 Thess 3:14, We need to stand up for truth

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (RSV) — If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

NOTE: Obedience to the word of God is not optional even in our country. Freedom, liberty, privacy, and tolerance do not give a believing Christian the right to choose what to obey in the scriptures. Certainly, we cannot force anyone in the church regarding behavior. But, we should not choose to just accept disobedience as their choice. We should warn those in sin, and if we must, we should have nothing to do with those who refuse to obey the word. These are hard teachings and they apply to the major teachings of scripture, not to issues of conscience or personal convictions.

PRAYER: Father, sometimes it is difficult to discern disobedience to specific instruction from the world. Give us wisdom to act in a manner worthy of the gospel and out of love for our brother and sister. We want to see people obey the word for their good.

QT 14 Oct 19, 2 Thess 3:6, We have no responsibility to help the idle

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (RSV) — Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

NOTE: There are some in the church that are poor because they are lazy and do not want to work. They don't really try and they are satisfied with others taking care of them. I almost said "content" but they are not really content because they always want others to do more for them. We have no responsibility to these people. Verse 10 says if anyone will not work, let him not eat. That is the command of scripture. The problem with government taking over the "welfare" business is that people think they are owed or deserving of support by meeting the conditions. They is no real person or face to meet so that they see who is sacrificing and giving to let them eat. We have seriously hurt our culture and certain groups of people by our government programs to help people. Work is good and for our good.

PRAYER: Father, I pray that I would remember this and live by it. I always want to be an example of a person who works, and who shows his belief in work by working. You have given me much, and I want to follow your commands throughout the rest of my life.

QT 11 Oct 19, 2 Thess 3:2, Every church (not the body) has unbelievers as members

2 Thessalonians 3:2 (RSV) — and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith.

NOTE: There are unbelievers and then there are unbelievers. What I mean is that some oppose the gospel because they stand against the entire message of Jesus Christ; and there are others who oppose the spread of the gospel and yet call themselves believers in Jesus Christ. We see them in the church quite often. They are more concerned about facilities and performances and good programs than reaching out to the masses, especially when the masses are lower class or dirty or different. I'm not sure these people are really believers since they not interested in others knowing the Lord Jesus. They are just religious, and "just religious" really means an unbeliever in biblical terms. They do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; they have not been changed or indwelt by the Holy Spirit; and they have no desire to believe everything that the word of God teaches. They are the birds which sit in the large tree stealing the seed lest it germinate in the heart of a new believer.

PRAYER: Father, I want you to give me a heart for others. I desire to see you use my life for the spread of the gospel. I want to be obedient to your word in all that I do. Forgive me for my petty sins.

QT 10 Oct 19, 2 Thess 2:16-17, Works can save us from a fruitless Christian life

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (RSV) — 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

NOTE: I think verses 16 and 17 are tied together even more closely than proximity. I think eternal comfort and good hope are directly related to "establish them in every good work and word." As we involve ourselves in ministry, and in reading and sharing the word with others we truly begin to experience comfort and hope. It is a peace that surpasses understanding. It is found in a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus, and then the application of his word to our lives through works. Works don't save us, but they do save us from ourselves. If we are not working out our faith, if we are not applying the word to our life, we will become nervous, agitated, doubtful, and stressed. Good works done as a result of God's word and the Spirit's direction save us from the trap of the carnal Christian.

PRAYER: Father, I need to remain committed to your word and to applying your word each and every day. My witness, my health (physically and emotionally and psychologically) is all tied to your word and service. Give me an open ear to hear you speak to me.

QT 9 Oct 19, 2 Thess 2:15, We need to apply God's word, not just read it

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (RSV) — So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

NOTE: I tend to rebel against traditions and the thought here might be a little different in terms of meaning. People of that time committed things to memory. You didn't go look it up in a notebook. Constable suggests that you did not really know it until it was memorized. So  the traditions here may not be activities in a church but rather teachings that Paul had given in the past. These were probably the basics of the faith. The teaching and doctrine was memorized and probably also internalized. The traditions or teaching were a part of their lives. This is part of the reason application is so important. When we apply the word of God to our life, we take it to another level of internalization. It becomes a part of us. We need to be regularly applying the word to specific areas of our life in a way that is measurable and accountable. I'm afraid that very few Christians ever do any such thing.

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would be does of the word and not hearers only. I pray we would follow through on specific and measurable application of the word of God to life. I pray we would be accountable to another brother or sister as well.

QT 8 Oct 19, 2 Thess 5:9-12, Refusal to believe has a limit

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (RSV) — 9 The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, 12 so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

NOTE: God sends a strong delusion upon the unbelieving world, because they are condemned. Why are they condemned? Because they refused to believe the truth. God is merciful, but he chooses to withdraw his mercy but to a select few in the last days. Even today, we can see those who refuse to believe and have instead chosen to believe the worldview of things regarding gender, marriage, and sexual relationships. God's word is clear, but people are convinced, by supposed scientists, that they can and should disregard the bible. Scientists can say little about the metaphysical, and the bible does not say much about science -- they do not contradict each other, although each has a purpose and can give more appreciation for the other when understood correctly.

PRAYER: Thank you for your word. Help us to understand it more clearly. Open the eyes of the dying that they may yet live.

QT 7 Oct 19,2 Thess 2:3-4, Even the saved will twist God's word

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (RSV) — 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

NOTE: Previously, Paul had directly spoken to the idea of the rapture. The concern here is that they missed the rapture and now are in the midst of the day of the Lord (the seventieth week) that ends in the return of the Savior but is also a time of intense wrath and persecution. Believers will face persecution in their lives, but they will not have to undergo what tribulation saints will face, the wrath of God against man. The world must still exhibit the rebellion, also called the apostasy, before the day of the Lord can come. That is where even the saved will turn against the revealed word of God. We are already seeing it start, a rejection of the created genders, unnatural relationships, rejection of God's definition of marriage, rejection against God's established rulers, and a rejection against what is good and holy. And a man will be revealed, a godless man, an Atheist, who will stand against all religion, true or not true. Most probably, religion will be blamed for the world's woes, and in some cases that is true. But the worship of the one true God as revealed by Jesus Christ can actually save the world, but the world is blinded to the truth.

PRAYER: Father, I pray my life would show Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. Help me to stand up for my faith. Help me to save as many as possible by my life and words.

QT 6 Oct 19, Isa 53:7, People need to know our faith more than our petty accomplishments

Isaiah 53:7 (RSV) —

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb,

so he opened not his mouth.

NOTE: Jesus committed no crime. His motives were entirely pure. He was not selfish. He did not think of himself higher than others. He loved people. Of all people to be oppress or afflicted, he was not guilty of anything except working to free mankind from the slavery of sin. He died an innocent man and also a guilty man, because he carried the sin of every person who ever lived. In contrast, my hackles are raised by those who speak against me. What's worse is that sometimes they are right. I am a sinner. My motives are not pure. I do think of myself more than I ought. I do not love all people. If Jesus could take the abuse, I should as well.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to keep my mouth shut. If people misinterpret my actions, so be it. I do not need for people to know my accomplishments or my background. What people need to know is that I have a faith in Jesus. That is what should define me to others.

QT 5 Oct 19, 1 Kings 17:4-7, Times of want and times of plenty are times to learn

1 Kings 17:4-7 (RSV) — 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

NOTE: In Streams of the Desert, the Cowman writes,

"THE education of our faith is incomplete if we have not learned that there is a providence of loss, a ministry of failing and of fading things, a gift of emptiness. The material insecurities of life make for its spiritual establishment. The dwindling stream by which Elijah sat and mused is a true picture of the life of each of us. “It came to pass … that the brook dried up”—that is the history of our yesterday, and a prophecy of our morrows." (1925)

I do not like it when people spiritualize scripture. Cowman's insight is a bit of a stretch from this passage, but he is right for two reasons. One, it is true that God tells him to go to a place that later runs dry. God did want him to experience loss and a certain helplessness so that Elijah might trust in God. Additionally, the principle is taught in many other passages of scripture. The best example is Paul's statement in Philippians where he says "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want." There is a secret, but it is not just about "want," it is also about "abundance." There is a great danger in both states, but the dangers are much different. Both can eat at your souls.

PRAYER: Father, you have taken me through extreme times of want and times of plenty. I don't want to miss the lessons you have for me. Give me wisdom to apply your truths to whatever situation I find myself.

QT 4 Oct 19, 2 Thess 1:11, Following through on good desires

2 Thessalonians 1:11 (RSV) — To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power,

NOTE: Paul prays that they "may fulfil every good resolve … by his power, …" A good resolve seems to be a desire on our heart that is a good thing and that God himself may have placed there. We have those things, but we don't always act on them. They are a desire that doesn't have any negative or questionable aspects, but for some reason, we just don't get around to it. We know it would be a good thing, especially in our relationship with God or for the sake of the kingdom, but we just keep putting it off. And so Paul prays that they would follow through on those good things.

PRAYER: Father, I can think of one or two of those things that are on my heart but I just keep finding myself too busy. Give me the ability to set aside the time to make them happen. I was able to do one of those things this trip, but I need to follow through much more quickly than I have in the past.

QT 3 Oct 19, 2 Thess 1:6-8, A terrible vengeance is coming

2 Thessalonians 1:6–8 (ESV) — 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

NOTE: God says "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" in another part of the New Testament. Here he tells us when he will repay. Generally, it is the day of wrath (the seven year tribulations) culminating in the second coming of the Lord. So, the vengeance is a "general" sort of vengeance against all of humanity for the sins against believers in Christ. Certainly, each person who dies without Jesus with face eternal punishment in Hell. No matter how angry we might feel about their crime against us, one could not improve on that. In fact, in those terms, my heart aches for those who have harmed us and for those who are so stubbornly opposed to God. But God is just, and the only payment for sin is Jesus's death or the person's death. In that sense, God is perfectly just.

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to the truth of you word. There is so much wrong in the world. Help us to see our frailty and stupidity. I pray we would repent and believe before the day of judgment comes. Give me boldness to share my faith with others.

QT 2 Oct 19, 2 Thess 1:4, Healthy faith is also emotional

2 Thessalonians 1:4 (ESV) — Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

NOTE: There are some things that you can boast about and one is brothers and sisters in the faith that are enduring persecution and affliction with steadfastness and a growing faith. Steadfastness is not stoicism, but rather a deep-down belief that God truly is working things for my good. It is being able to say that "I am in pain and I do hurt and I don't understand and it seems too much for me, but I believe that God loves me greatly and he will bring good out of the hurt in my life." I like that a whole lot better than the stoicism of some so-called faithful Christians. I'm good at being a stoic, which is why I know it is a fake, a retreat from reality. We need to face life and our emotions because that is healthy.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for emotions and beauty and joy. Thank you even for pain although I don't desire the feeling. More than anything, thank you that you are ultimately sovereign and you have promised to bring good out of all things. Thank you.

QT 1 Oct 19, 1 Thess 5:27, The entire bible is a complete and accurate book we need for life

1 Thessalonians 5:27 (ESV) — I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

NOTE: I never noticed this verse before. The letter to the Thessalonians is one of the first letters Paul wrote. Galatians might precede it. In any case, Paul knew that the church needed to read his letters. I wonder if he also understood his ministry, to write the majority of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Not only were his letters read, there were copiously copied, like other first century letters that God guided. In fact, every book of the New Testament is a first century book with hundreds and thousands of copies by the fourth century. Consequently, it was not the council of Trent that decided what books were cannon, the Holy Spirit had already made that clear in the church by the tremendous number of copies. Books that were not included were not copied in any degree or were not written in the first century -- so much for the lost books of the bible -- there aren't any.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the carefully preserved and accurate word of God. It is a miracle orchestrated by you through people. There is no doubt these books are the exact group of books/ letters we need for daily living. We all need to live under the charge above on a daily basis -- to read the letters.