Partners in the Gospel

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:4-6

From Guest Blogger Colin Proft:

The Joy of Partnership. The word “partnership” comes from the Greek word, koinonia. It is an intimate fellowship. It is the bond of a family. Our relationship with other Christians is not a business partnership or social club. To the contrary, we are to be completely united as one body under Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul made it clear: “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3).

Notice two things that lead to experiencing the full riches of understanding. We are to be encouraged in heart and united in love. The body of Christ is one body but made up of many parts. We do not function properly when we refuse to work in harmony. Paul is simply praying the same thing that Jesus prayed for just hours before his trial and crucifixion: “That they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23).

Carried to Completion. We are sojourners and strangers on the earth; we are looking for a better country — a heavenly country. The world is not our home. Heaven is our home. As we journey through this life, we will experience all sorts of difficulties, setbacks and struggles. Sometimes this life can feel like a battleground. There will be blood, sweat and tears. We will experience brokenness, pain and loss.

Matt Redman, a worship leader and song writer based out of the UK, penned the following:

Scars and struggles on the way, but with joy our hearts can say,

yes our hearts can say: Never once did we ever walk alone.

Never once did You leave us on our own. You are faithful. God, You are faithful.

Matt Redman singing "Never Once"


Prayer: God, You have called me by name and promised to bring me safely home. Help me live in the security of Your promise that You will never leave me. Amen.


#Uncommon 

Christ in Me

Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:11

From Guest Blogger Colin Proft:

For much of my Christian walk I have struggled with feeling like I’m supposed to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit through my own strength. Shouldn’t I be ever-increasing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22)? Yes. Absolutely! But the reason for such a change is not due to my own effort! It’s because of Who lives inside me.

In Colossians 2:9-10, we read: “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” Earlier, Paul simply stated, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Stop trying to produce fruit in and of yourself. Just abide in the Vine. Abide in Christ. Be rooted and built up in Him. He is the Cornerstone of the spiritual temple, the Head of the Christian body, and the Spiritual Rock from which we drink from in the desert (1 Peter 2:4-6, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Worship leader and song writer Tim Timmons frequently talks about when he was a “Varsity Squad” Christian — he read the Bible faithfully, prayed, tithed and led worship for many years; in short, he was doing everything he was “supposed” to do. Yet, when these truths of Scripture began to dawn on him, it completely changed his perspective on what it meant to follow Jesus.

I pray we all discover the incredible meaning of, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, lives in us. What would happen if we really lived that way?

“Christ in Me”

by Tim Timmons

The same great light that broke the dark

The same great peace that calmed the seas, hallelujah, is living in me

The same great love that gives us breath

The same great power that conquered death, hallelujah, is flowing through me

And what, what if I believed in Your power and I really lived it?

What, what if I believed Christ in me, what if I believed?

I would lay my worries down, see these hills as level ground.

What if I believed, Christ in me?

Tim Timmons singing "Christ in Me"

Prayer: Lord, help me abide in You and know that Your power is at work in my weakness. Amen.


#Uncommon

Debt

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…  Romans 13:8

From Guest Blogger Dan Thews:

Two men are walking down a dark alley. Suddenly, robbers jump out from a corner and demand money. Nowhere to go, the two men take out their wallets; one of them says to the other, “Wally, remember that debt I owe you of 200 dollars? Now I give it back to you before these here witnesses. My debt is paid!”

Debt!  Who likes debt??! In the beginning of Romans 13, the apostle Paul speaks of the obligation we have to pay our taxes — like it or not. Now, in verse 8, Paul turns his attention to our private financial concerns and says, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” That probably doesn’t surprise us. We know that as Christians we should meet our commitments as a matter of spiritual and moral obligation. But then, St. Paul does surprise us by adding an instruction concerning the obligation to love, calling it “the continuing debt to love one another.”

Love is a continuing debt for the Christian? Love is a debt that needs to be paid? How does that make any sense? In the world, love is the theme of countless movies, songs and poems. Love is a warm and fuzzy feeling that everyone hopes will somehow come their way — but there is no guarantee. Love seems to reside in people’s minds as something between a noble ideal and a pleasant optional extra. The apostle insists, however, that love is an obligation as real as taxation and personal debt repayment!

In 1 John 4:19 we hear, “We love, because He first loved us.” Think about how much God loves us! Enough to send Jesus to die for our sins. How could we ever repay that debt? We can’t. But we acknowledge that continuing debt by loving one another. If someone wrongs you or hurts you, “forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another” (Colossians 3:12-13). In doing so, you reflect the love of God and say “thank you” to our amazing God!

Biblical love is a continuing debt we can never repay. But unlike worldly debt, it is a joy to try!

Prayer: Lord, help us acknowledge the debt of love we owe and use us to love like You love, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.


#Uncommon

One Body

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body.  Romans 12:4-5


It’s really easy to compare ourselves to others. Sometimes that leads us to think too highly of ourselves (see yesterday’s post on “sober judgment”!). Conversely, comparing ourselves with others sometimes leads us to think too little of ourselves. We wish we had someone else’s talents, someone else’s lifestyle, someone else’s skinnier, younger body.

People of the first century (the time of Jesus and Paul) were no different. Some would think, “Because I’m not a leader, I don’t count as much. Because I don’t preach, I’m not as important as the pastor.” Paul counters that untruth with the words of Romans 12:4-8. (He goes into even more detail in 1 Corinthians 12. Read that when you have time.) For those who think their gifts are more important … as well as for those who feel their giftedness is less significant … the word is the same: “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” (Rom. 12:5-6); but we are all part of the body.

Every single gift is critical. Do not resent the gift God has given you (thinking it is less, envying others); and don’t begrudge the gifts God has given others (as if yours is better, looking down on them). Be content with the part He’s given you to play. You have a role for which you are uniquely designed. So, as Paul says, if your gift is leading, lead. If God gave you the gift of teaching, teach. If serving, serve with joy. If encouraging is your thing, be generous with your affirmation and cheering, as if you were giving it to the Lord (see Colossians 3:23; Ephesians 6:7).

God has crafted you by His grace to be just what He wants you to be. Enjoy that. Celebrate it. Understand that even the rough places and the difficult experiences have shaped you for the unique role you play “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). And on the flipside, don’t expect others to be just like you. They are uniquely gifted by God’s grace too. Enjoy the diversity of Christ’s body; marvel in the ways each person is “uncommon.”

Prayer: Father, by Your design You give different gifts to each person, making each of us uncommon. Lead me to live in gratitude for how You fit all the pieces together. Amen.


#uncommon

 

Things Above

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:2-3

Yesterday’s post (In View of God's Mercy) emphasized the critical phrase, “God’s mercy.” Our whole life depends on God’s mercy, so the person transformed by Christ owes everything to Him.

In Colossians 3, Paul makes a similar point: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). The uncommon life flows from Christ’s work. He raised us; we set our hearts and minds on Him. If we truly grasp what God has done in Jesus Christ, we worship Him and thank Him by turning to Him.

For just a moment, imagine attending a funeral where a young person’s body lay lifeless in a casket. Family and friends are mourning. It is a devastating scene. Imagine, however, that Jesus walks in the room, breathes new life into that dead body, and that young person sits up, walks around, and then lives for many more years. Where life had been cut short, it is restored. Where dreams had died, they are alive again.

Can you imagine the reaction of that dead person? Or the reaction of the family and friends who witnessed the spectacle? I imagine the celebration would last for a very long time! I imagine Jesus would have our attention … and our loyalty. Jesus could ask anything, and we’d give it. How could you not give your allegiance to the One who gave you such a gift?

“Unlikely!” we might say. That Jesus would come in and raise someone like that. Yet God has already done this for every one of us who is baptized into Christ. Not physically (yet). We do not see it with our eyes, but He has breathed new life into our dead spirits. We have been “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1). It is a miracle, no less spectacular than the raising of a dead person.

AND … get this: the Bible tells us that the spiritual resurrection is a down payment, a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come — the resurrection of the body, eternal life. “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). True, lasting life is ours in Jesus. Set your heart on Him. Become passionate about His kingdom, not the fleeting stuff of earth!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the miracle of my resurrection. Help me turn my full attention to You, for You are my life. Amen.


#uncommon

Uncommon

Call me a FOOL.  Seriously.  I want to be a FOOL.

A "fool" for Christ, that is.

The apostle Paul says, "If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18).  Which means that what GOD thinks is important is quite different than what the WORLD thinks is important.  The world values power, prestige, possessions.  God values submission, selflessness, sacrifice.  1 Corinthians 1:  "The message of the CROSS is foolishness" to the world.  But "God chose the foolish things ... the weak things ... the despised things."

Most people look to be on the top ... to be the best ... to out-man, out-pace, out-score, out-gun.  Most seek glory by what they do or what they own ... to be better, to be noticed.

But consider how Jesus Christ turned glory on its head!

• Matthew 16:  Jesus has just told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  Then he says, "Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
• Matthew 20:  The mother of James and John comes to Jesus with the request, "Grant that one of these sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."  Jesus replies, "You don't know what you are asking ... These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."
• Matthew 27:  They crucified Jesus.  "Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left."

Christ's kingdom and glory are evident, not in how we would normally view triumph, but in the self-sacrifice ... in what looks like defeat ... in what looks like shame and humiliation.  The cross is utter foolishness.  Yet God's power and God's wisdom are on display there!

So if God's power and wisdom are found in what the world calls foolish ... I WANT TO BE FOOLISH for Christ.  Paul said in Romans 1:16, "I am unashamed of the Gospel" ... which is the CROSS ... "because it is the POWER of GOD for the salvation of everyone who believes."


So, here's what I believe:  God has rescued me in Christ.  He has set me apart to be His own child.  God has called me into a life that seems utterly foolish to many people — taking up self-sacrifice and humility and service in His name.

In a word:  now that God has called me in Christ ... he calls me to be UNCOMMON.

My church, this next week, is setting out on a 40-week journey of faith and spiritual growth.  We're calling the journey, UNCOMMON.  We're using these words from Colossians 3:1-3 as a basis for the next 40 weeks:  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Setting your hearts and minds on things above means viewing life and success in very different terms than what we hear in the news and in sports and in politics.  It means being rather UNCOMMON.

I'm excited to see what God is going to do.  What He'll do in me, what He'll do in my family and in my church family during this school year.

Check out this intro video ... and wherever you are (not just the people of Faith, Appleton), feel free to join us on the UNCOMMON journey.

2 Peter 3:18 — "Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

More on Uncommon.

Want a real spiritual workout??  Take the 100-day Uncommon Bible Challenge.  Memorize 100 verses in 100 days.  Sort of like P90X for the soul.


#uncommon  #uncommonbiblechallenge