Philippians 2:1-4 - Fulfilled Joy - Unity and Humility

Philippians 2:1-4

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Message: Fulfilled Joy - Unity and Humility 

Time: AD 62. One of the 4 prison epistles. 

What the Lord is Saying: This was the sermon yesterday (1/19/2025) at Hoffmantown Church by Lamar Morin. Great message and text. The idea of this text is one of my favorite ideas (do nothing from selfishness) and yet one I know that is hard to practice. As I have been doing I started by looking at each verse and doing a one line summary of the text. 

1 - Encouragement (in Christ), Consolation (of love), (spirit of) Fellowship, Affection, Compassion

2 - Make my joy complete - same mind, same love, united, one purpose

3 - Nothing selfish - regard one another more important

4 - Look out for interests of others

Be of the same mind - Make others more important

Disclaimer: We are not to think poorly of ourselves. This text is not saying that we are to think that we are to hate ourselves. We need confidence in who we are. 

This passage stems from Philippians 1:27, "conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel of Christ." In verse 1, we are encouraged why? Because we are in Christ. These are the words to the church in Philippi. It starts with the Gospel. This is what it is to be a Christian - to be one in Christ. 

Then there is my response - Consolation or comforting one another in love. As the body of Christ, we are to comfort one another. 

And there is joy by being of the same mind. I love this idea of same mind or unity. There are things that don't matter or that we will disagree on - like politics, money, jobs, free time, color of carpet, chairs or pews, hymns or worship songs, frequency of Lord's Supper (sacrament), practice of discipleship and evangelism, Sunday school or home groups. The disagreements are many and varied. But we still must remain in unity and be of the same mind of what it means to be in Christ. We can disagree but not on Truth. We are united and intent on one purpose - to Glorify God and make Him known. 

Once I am in Christ, my focus is on others. I am to be an ambassador in sharing truth. And I am to always place other people's interests above my own. I immediately think here of taking time to share the gospel with others, to invest in other people's lives rather than serving my own needs for entertainment and rest. 

And I think about my relationship with my spouse, my wife Pamela. I am to love her and place her interests above mine. That is so hard to do and practice, I admit. 

Summary: In Christ, we are to think of others, have unity and through this our needs will be met. 

Prayer: O Father, I need your help each day to show your love to others. I desire to be a person that encourages unity. Thank you for differences. Thank you for my faith and being in Christ. Help me to make sense each day of not doing anything from selfishness or empty conceit but to be humble. Help me to not out for my own interests, but the interests of others. 

John 12:20-26 - Death and Glory

John 12:20-26

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Message: Death and Glory

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: This chapter starts with Mary anointing Jesus which had the disciple Judas questioning it, then he went to Jerusalem as Passover was near and was greeted their with people crying out Hosanna 'Save Me' and blessing Jesus' arrival and Jesus comes on a donkey. But these things were not understood by the disciples at the time, though later they would look back and understand. Despite of this many still were understanding though the Pharisees were bothered that people were understanding. 

Verse 20 mentions Greeks who were part of those going to worship. Verse 21 they want to see Jesus. Philip told Andrew and both came to Jesus (verse 22). And then we have some lessons by Jesus. As I look at the Bible, now and through chapter 17 will be a lot of Jesus talking and speaking. 

Jesus begins in verse 23 by saying His hour has come. Up to this point he had mentioned it was not yet time for his departure. Hour is an interesting word for it seems to refer to time more than only an hour. It is language that is often said in the Bible that is not literal but refers more to a span of time. Either way, Jesus realizes the Son of Man will be glorified. Jesus refers to himself in the first person and as he does says Son of Man. This title has great meaning for Jesus will be the perfect man in taking away the sin of the world, substituting as the animals did annually, but Jesus will do once and for all. He has mentioned thus far his authority that comes from the Father.  But conversely is his person, fully man. Son of Man is simply a term for human. Ezekiel was called a Son of Man. 

In verse 24 he makes a reference to a grain of wheat dying to produce fruit. He says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." It is interesting because he clarifies a little what He means by the hour having come for him to be glorified. He speaks of a grain of wheat falling from its stalk, no longer receiving nourishment from it and falling to its death. 

Alone. This is interesting because there seems to be something significant here. Jesus will die alone. Salvation is not a group effort it is his personal death. He will die. He is also alone in salvation. He is it. There are no other answers for the salvation of man. And so he compares himself to this grain of wheat and is speaking of Himself. 

I don't know it is an interesting phrase of meaning. Once it goes to the ground though, it will bear fruit. His death results in resurrection and out of this resurrection will come fruit. Many will be saved out of this resurrection. Disciples are washed in the blood of Jesus to bear fruit. 

In verse 25, Jesus mentions further that to love life is to give it up. Jesus loves mankind. He loves all people. God loves the world (John 3:16). But to keep people always with God he must lose that life. And Jesus mentions one must hate their life to have life eternal. We must give up our life. Again this is another phrase that speaks to life and giving it up or surrendering it. 

These are the words of Jesus that feel the hardest for me to obey in this life. To hate one's life is just so opposite to how my life is lived. I think often of the pandemic and this complete focus people had on preserving life. I never saw it more clearly than during this time. And I suppose I continue to witness it in this life - this zeal and 100% desire to stay well, to preserve life, to keep going. And yet that approach seems so opposite to these words. If there is one thing that continues to keep me hiding from the preaching of the gospel it is this - I love my life. Not that I think I will be killed for sharing my faith, but in that thirst to do things that protect me and my well being and keep me from being embarrassed or labeled a radical, I stay hidden from the public eye. I talk of everything going on in this world but the salvation of others. In sharing about my week, it is all about what I have experienced in that week. Nowhere am I losing my life. I might lose my life to serve others but even often in serving others there is selfish gain in stroking pride, in stroking my accomplishment, in thanks. There just isn't enough 'surrendering.' There is self protection. 

And so verse 26 is the natural next verse -- If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. After losing one's life, we then serve Jesus. And in this service is a promise - serve Me and the Father will honor him. And so that's it. Serve Jesus. Lose one's life. Die to your life and it will bear fruit. Lose one's life. Serve Jesus in losing one's life and dying to it. I am a servant. Larry Norman wrote that song and I remember him saying he wrote this about his dad because his felt this expectation to do what his earthly father said. He couldn't do what he wanted to do in his life. Instead he is a servant. And yet born out of that experience by Larry Norman in which he seems to write almost in anger is the idea that we can be the Lord's servant. Do this serve and your life will be honored. See the connection - to have one's life honored by Father God, what must we do? Serve Jesus. The two are connected. 

Summary: Greeks looking for Jesus and then Jesus speaks about his future death and how He will and we need to lose our lives to find fruit and abundant life. 

Promise: Serve Jesus and the Father will Honor you. 

Prayer: O God, your words are truth and life to me and yet assaulting to me. It is so hard God because I love myself too much. And instead I need to love You. Not simply more than I love myself. I need to love You. Lord, keep assaulting me with these words and training me and teaching to lose my life for Your sake. Lord, I need to make more mention of You in my day. I need to lose my life. I need to follow You in losing one's life, hating one's life, serving you Jesus. This is my journey and if I am being honest my real desire and ambition as a Christian, a Christ-Follower. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Mark 10:31 - The Right-Side-Up Kingdom

Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.

Message:  The right-side-up kingdom.

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface -  Jesus has concluded this lesson on salvation by reminding his audience that the heart must leave behind all that it holds dear and go in the opposite way. And we need to realize that persecution may come. And the reward for this type of commitment is eternal life. 

Jesus continues to speak in a way that is different. He started chapter 10 talking about marriage and basically that a man and woman, when brought together by the Lord, will make the extra effort to stay together. He then remarks the favor he places on little children. They are indeed precious and important to him when often they are glossed over in the world. And then he speaks to the idea that all must be surrendered to him, even in our money, if we are truly going to be his followers. 

This passage now centers on a very small verse - But many first will be last, and the last, first. 
Again, at first glance, this passage does not make any sense. In a race, the last finishers are not first, they are last. In a race, the first finishers are not last, but they are first. So, how are we supposed to understand this from Jesus?

Jesus provides these words on the heels of his message to the disciples and followers and even the rich young ruler about the how salvation happens, how entrance to the kingdom of God occurs. It is a conclusion of that message by saying the first will be last and the last first. DeGarmo and Key wrote a song called All the Losers Win. It is this idea that those who are often considered last in this world will be first in the Kingdom of God (the poor, the children). When we forsake all and follow Him sometimes we give up our riches to do this.

Summary - Jesus wants to express something to his disciples and followers and that is His way is different, unique from the worlds way and when we love others the way he has loved us, hopefully they people will see that we are different. In this lesson, the last are first. It is not the wealthy that automatically enter the kingdom of God as wealth can make you feel like you are in need of nothing.

Promise: Our churches should look different to the world. We should have a way of conducting ourselves that stands out, rather than mirrors what we are seeing in the World.

Prayer: Lord, your messages are indeed different. They are unique. Help me God to be this type of person. Help me to be sensitive to my wife's needs and not to be so focused on fulfilling my needs. Lord, I am weak. I need your strength to help me through this type of living. I am a selfish creature that often thinks that getting my way is what will make me happy. But, serving others holds a greater role in our lives.

Proverbs 30:24-25 - Small But Wise

Proverbs 30:24-25

²⁴ Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
²⁵ The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer;

Message: Small But Wise

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 
Solomon now introduces the reality that there are four of God's creatures on this earth that are exceedingly small, but exceedingly wise. It is a reminder to us that wisdom is not about stature but mostly allowing God to work through you to be the person you are set out to be.

I think one of the things that would be apparent is this small creature does what they are made to do. An ant brain has about 250 000 brain cells. A human brain has 10,000 million brain cells. So, the ant's brain cells is 1/40th of a human. It is rather amazing to think about and yet they have one sole message, to acquire what they need to survive. To me, there purpose is squarely one of divine providence as God made them the way they are. We are reminded here that we can learn something from them, though we wouldn't think because of their size. Yet, within their brain size they are able to go, retrieve food or what they need in the summer so they have it for the winter. Isn't it interesting that they also have a short life span of 30-45 days so this means the preparation they are doing is not for themselves, but for their brothers who will be around in the future. They are obedient to their instinct.

Proverbs 6:6-8 has already mentioned - Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. We are here  comended to get up and do something, reminding us the ant is a hard worker. Don't we always need to be reminded of this as we are so often focused on not working, but playing or resting. Isn't it interesting that it is days in which we have worked that we feel like the day has been the most complete?

The ant acts in a wise manner, doing what is best for him. Verse 25 even describes the colony of ants are not a strong people. These animals have at their instinct a wisdom that is wiser than the human. Though they are not strong they still prepare their food in the summer. Preparation does not have to do with strength. This seems to be an important reminder.

Also, we can see that ants often need each other to carry something. Thus, they work together well.

Promise: The Lord has designed us to cooperate with one another.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the illustration that you provide with the ant. Help me to learn from the ant even that you have commissioned me for a great work, to provide for my family, to take care of them, and to take care of this home that you have provided, to take care of those in the church that are commissioned to be your ambassadors full time as well as those serving overseas. Lord, help me to remember this. My job is to help others and provide for those you have put in my care. Keep me for from laziness.

Romans 16:5b-7 - Paul's Fellow Prisoners

Romans 16:5b-7 - Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

Message: Paul's fellow workers
 
Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying: 

Here are 4 individuals mentioned by Paul that we know little about.

Epaenetus is shows as the first convert in Asia. At the time of this writing, Rome's empire is divided into provinces and Asia is one of those provinces. Asia's territory included modern day Turkey. Ephesus was Asia's cultural center. Prisca and Aquila had ministered in Ephesus (Acts 18). So Paul was reminded of Ephesus and now Epaenetus, the first convert of Asia. This is all we know.

Mary is to be greeted next. She was a hard worker and well known in the church, to be mentioned.

Andronicus and Junia are the last two mentioned, fellow prisoners. There has been disagreement by commentators throughout history as to whether Junia is male or female. If female, the wife of Andronicus. If male, a fellow prisoner.

What makes people great in the world? I think it is often special talents or things they do or their individual way in which they stand out. What makes people great in the Body of Christ? I think Paul is calling attention to it here and it being "others focused." It is Philippians 2:3 and "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." Our focus should be on others and not making ourselves great, but others great. I think that is what Paul is noticing in these people that he is mentioning. They are his fellow workers. He says in verse 7, "They are well known." And then he also says, "They were in Christ before me." Paul makes it clear. They are great not because of Paul, but because of Christ in them. 

Promise: What sets people apart is their focus on making others important and living for others.  

Romans 14:19 - Peace and Mutual Upbuilding

Romans 14:19 - So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Message: Building others up

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:

So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding of one another. - Amplified

So then we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that helps strengthen one another. - Living Bible

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. - New King James Version

For me, the overriding theme I see from this text is having a concern for others. It is a willingness to put aside my own momentary desires or wants in order to build up another person.

The beginning of verse 19 has the same thought in mind in each translation with the phrases, "let us pursue" or "we must always aim" or "let us definitely aim or eagerly pursue". Thus, this isn't a statement of, oh by the way. The overriding thought of the believer in his relations to one another is to seek peace. This is something that is definitive and means I must make a special effort.

Philippians 2:3 says, "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves."

I do not think that this means we cannot disagree. I also do not think that this context means unity in thought. Right now, in my life, I am in in a state of personal sacrifice as I raise my children. Their needs are greater than mine own. However, This does not mean I give them everything they want. But I am the parent, the authority, often the strong person, and I need to behave in such a way that I am aiming for eagerly pursuing peace in our relationship. This presents a challenge. It is a daily struggle. I have a need to provide for my family and do those things that are best for them and it is hard to navigate between what they want and what I think is best. I tend to err on the side of giving them what they want which is often at the expense of my own desires. I hope that I am making the right decision but I also think I get too focused on thinking there is only one right decision. I guess I just hope that by giving them what they want I am not harming them.

Well, back to the passage.

I think it is somewhat of a given that I am going to do what's best for myself. And so it is necessary to be reminded that I am to build up others. One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 4:29, which to me says we are to not tear down others with our words, but edify them, or bring them up. 

Warren Wiersbe says that our desire is not to get everyone to agree with us, but to pursue peace. Don't cause others to stumble, but help them to grow and mature in Christ. 

One of the things I liked about attending a small church was the building up that takes place among different age groups. And yet small churches don't always yield this. I attended a small church and people lived in a rural area and were accustomed to being to themselves and not opening up or sharing much. So, the small church didn't guarantee community. 

I've noticed that some churches have two different services, catering to different likes of worship styles. The problem is this manufactures separation rather than community. It may not be the intent, but it is tragic that we cannot compromise.
 
Promise: If I desire to focus on others and everyone does this, then each person's needs will be met.