Philippians: 100 {Conclusion} Let's Run

A month. A march. A mental marathon. 

There’s more to see, more to learn. Running to a fro in the Bible, digging deeper into it’s pages, reveals yet more hills to climb, and even greater wealth to gain.

Little use in running for a season, only to abandon the sneakers to some dark neglected closet corner. Everyday, the path is there. But choice alone brings shoe to sidewalk. 

The month may be done, but the march and the running have barely begun. 

There’s more hills of understanding to climb. 

There are more passages to dig into. 

Let’s do it..together. 

Philippians:130 Transformation

“Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:30

•   •   •   •   •   •   •   •   •

As extraordinary as he was, he lived on this planet. 

The apostle had no greater access to grace. Nor had he greater wars to fight than we.

Same war. Same conflict.

Same grace. Same victory.

Only because He’s the same Savior.

Paul fought a good fight.

He finished his course.

He followed the light-

Which brings no remorse

He looked unto Christ,

The Author, the End,

Whose grace had sufficed

To always attend.

How daring and bold!

How valiant his heart!

But scripture has told

Of a different start.

For Paul had been Saul,

A leader for wrong.

And yet came the call,

"With Me you belong."

So if you, like me

Are not yet a Paul,

By faith look and see

What God did to Saul.

Through conflict and grief,

Through trial and test,

God granted belief

Where there'd been unrest.

Our Savior is true.

His grace is the same.

For Paul, me and you

Our Lord overcame!

And so we may walk

In newness of heart,

Secure in the Rock

No more to depart.

Though through desert storm,

And darkest of days,

God's grace can transform

In marvelous ways!

Philippians:129 Gifts

“For unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29

It’s not on our wish list.  

But contrary to human thought, it holds the highest of honors. 

Enoch and Elijah, who both tasted eternity without seeing death, did not somehow receive a better gift at the hand of God than did John the Baptist. 

Fellowship with Christ in His sufferings means fellowship also in His consolation. 

...and in the world to come, eternal life. 

Of all the gifts that heaven grants

To humans on this earth,

The highest honor God implants—

The weightiest of worth,

Is fellowship with Jesus Christ

To share His suffering,

To taste of what He sacrificed

Yet trust mid anything!

Philippians: 126 Radiation

“That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” Philippians 1:26

How can a human being

Impart abundant joy?

Especially while facing

Such trials that annoy?

How can one be so noble

As not to whine and sigh,

While fettered and immobile,

And likely soon to die?

True joy is not created

By those who dwell on earth

But yet it’s radiated

From those of second birth.

It’s only in receiving

That humans can impart,

The joy of faith’s believing

Into another’s heart. 

Philippians: 125 Purpose

“And having this confidence, I know I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;” Philippians 1:25

Life is a trust too holy for selfish use. 

There's a reason to get up in the morning.

Heaven gives that purpose.

And lives that purpose.

•   •   •   •   •   •   •

And lives that purpose.

There’s a purpose to be living;

There’s a challenge to fulfill;

And it always takes relinquishing

Our own deceitful will.

For we live to serve our Savior-

As His very hands and feet.

So that in all of our behavior

Heaven’s joy might be replete.

And yet this purpose practically,

Is high and deep, it’s true.

For in serving Jesus faithfully,

We’ll serve our brother too.

Philippians: 121 Life

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

In attending a creation conference, I see this verse with the spectacles of genesis.

Life in creation and salvation have the same origin. 

Christ is life.

        Life is Christ.

             In Him, death is nothing less than gain. 

If something can’t come from nothing,

Nor matter be born with years;

If life cannot come into being

When never before it appears;

If eggs cannot come back together

When poured into saline test bowls;

I tell you my friend, altogether

The One who made us, made our souls.

You see, life cannot come to a desert

Except by the unnatural rain.

Nor dead things to living revert

When they do not have life to regain.

To live as a christian is higher

Than our highest thinking can go.

It’s change too profound and entire

For it to take ions to grow.

My friend, when we know our Creator

As Him who is living and gain,

We’ll know Him the more as Redeemer

Who grants life from His own dying vein.

This miracle will not take ages

To form a new creature in Christ.

You see, God has paid for sin’s wages,

And Jesus shed blood has sufficed.

This power of God for creation

Is redemptive as well at its core.

For one would dispense with salvation

In banishing what came before.

And how can we know where we’re going

If God cannot create today,

A heart in whom Jesus is living-

When life is His own word away?

Philippians: 120 Hope

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Philippians 1:20

With faith in what God’s doing,

And peace with what He’s done,

We can have this expectation-

That He’ll finish what’s begun.

Surrender is essential

For Christ to work His will,

But in yielding all to heaven,

Heaven can our hope fulfill.

What greater aspiration

Than this can there be found?

That Christ in me be magnified

And praise to God resound.

If this remains our longing,

Our aim, and confidence,

Then Christ and God that cannot lie,

Our hope will recompense.

So you see, the Savior’s working

Is both to will and do.

And when our hope is set on Him

It surely will come true.