Birth Certificate or Driver's License

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:9-10

The New Testament contains a number of prayers. Sometimes it’s easy to read through prayers rather quickly. Colossians is a letter that contains some weighty material about the preeminence of Christ. But, before Paul delivered teaching about the identity of Christ, he offered a prayer. Paul asked that God would fill them with knowledge, wisdom and understanding so that they would be able to live in a manner worthy of the Lord. For me it’s a reminder of the difference Christ makes. Knowing Jesus is transformational. Paul had received the good news. He heard about the faith of those who were in Colosse. Paul looked back at their faith in Christ and rejoiced. He looked forward to the road ahead and he prayed. Paul asked that their wisdom, understanding and knowledge would increase. Their receipt of the Gospel was not the end. It was the beginning.

Conversion, like wisdom, takes a lifetime. For some, conversion is like a birth certificate while for others it is like a driver’s license. For the first, the ultimate question is “What do I need to get to heaven?” For the second, the question is “How do I love God?” For the first, the concern is for a moment, for the second, the concern is for a life.

Scot McKnight

I pray that your love for God increases more and more. I pray that God’s love spills over into every area of our lives every day.

Winning and Losing

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (Philippians 3:7-11)

After a weekend of playoff football, we will hear a great deal about winning and losing. If you are a fan of the New England Patriots or San Francisco 49ers, please pardon the reminder. Usually, when we think about “loss”, we focus on the emotions and costliness of the loss. What could have been done to prevent defeat?

This past weekend, I challenged members of our church family to become “good losers”. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul has a lot to say about losing. Yet, his perspective constantly leans forward from what has been lost to what has been gained. It’s understandable when you consider that Paul writes about “gaining” Christ. Paul’s writing in Philippians reflects his understanding of the Gospel. His teaching echoes the message of Jesus. Remember that Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25).

It’s a different type of loss. It’s an incomparable gain. Paul understood that life is found in Christ. He understood that nothing that can be gained apart from Christ could ever be worth as much as knowing Christ. Therefore, Paul could speak in relative terms. Whatever has been lost is just “rubbish” in comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therein lies the challenge for me this week. Does the path and motivation of my life resemble Paul’s? Do I want to be found in Christ? Do I want to know Him? Does my life reflect my love for Christ?

Who's in your heart?

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart

Philippians 1:3-7

If you ask me to identify my favorite verse the Bible, it is very likely that I will produce a “top ten” list rather than a single favorite. It’s just too difficult to identify a single verse. However, one verse consistently ranks very high. It’s Philippians 1:6. For me, this is a verse of frequent mediation and reference. Whether I speak it aloud or rehearse it in my mind, I consider the powerful impact it is had on my life. In particular, I like to remind myself that God has begun “a good work” in me and is more than able to complete it.

The beauty of this verse increases as I consider the context. These words were included in a letter from Paul and Timothy addressed to believers in Philippi. What a great encouragement! But, it’s not fair for me to be selfish with the verse – as if it is a promise that I can simply claim for myself. It’s not enough that I believe that God will complete the work He has begun in my life. It’s paramount that I pass this reassurance along to others. Paul reminded his friends in Philippi that he was compelled to encourage them because of the place they occupied in his heart.

When I carry people in my heart, it increases my motivation to encourage and pray for them. I have just returned from visiting Cambodia. While I was there, one by one many beautiful servants of the Lord climbed into my heart. I will not soon forget getting to see our precious Marife. We have sponsored her for over a year now. When Nick in I embraced her, she climbed into our hearts. No wonder the Apostle wrote, “I thank God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” When I pray for Marife, I trust that the same God, who has begun a good work in me has begun a good work in her life, is going to complete it.

Read Philippians 1:3-8. Who comes to mind? Who is in your heart? Who will receive encouragement from you this week?

Change is Constant

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

Today will be filled with words about change. The search is on for resolve, motivation, urgency, hope and a vision for a new year. Transformation fascinates me. From the simple to the complex, the struggle with change is fairly obvious. It used to be that we laughed about writing the wrong year on a check. Now with the rise of electronic transactions we don’t have to worry about that. Once I preached an entire sermon where I repeatedly referred to the wrong year in my message. The good news/bad news - some noticed, others didn’t.

This morning I woke up with thoughts about the New Year. As I considered the change from 2013 to 2014 on the calendar, I quickly adjusted my thoughts. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. New Year’s Day in our culture is packed with great symbolic meaning. I am well aware that the dawning of a New Year serves as a beacon of hope for some and a dull reminder of inner frustration for others, Questions abound. Can I change? What should I change? Will I change? Why try? For me, these questions lead back to a deeper question. Is my heart established?

Superficial changes are just that. They are superficial. Deep change is another story. At first, it seems ironic that the power of positive change depends on a heart that is established. However, before we can fully engage in “what” we are becoming, we need a clear sense of “who” we are. More specifically, we must understand the source of our identity. The writer of Hebrews mentions a critical foundation for life. In the midst of change, both good and bad, we must have a heart that is “established in grace”. Grace helps us understand the big picture. Even the smallest of steps will either move us toward our destination or away from it. Grace helps clarify, redirect and guide us.

As I reflect on the relationship between grace and change, I must confess that I do crave change in my own life. I thirst for transformation that is anchored in my Savior who is forever the same. Every positive change in life requires a measure of freedom from the past. Our past can hinder us. It can haunt us. But, it doesn’t have to preclude positive change in the future. My freedom is possible because of grace provided in Christ. I anticipate that His presence will continue to affect my awareness of my true identity. Happy New Year! Embrace the change that Christ brings.