Eyes, Hearts, and Lives for God – September 11
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44
1 Kings 13:1-10; Phil. 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47
The Saint Stephen’s Bible study that meets on Thursday afternoon has been reading the Acts of the Apostles. We are tracking the tales of ministry and relationship in the Apostle Paul’s travels across the coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea. It is in Acts 16 that we first read of Paul’s stop in Philippi. He baptized households, healed those afflicted by demons, and ended up in jail. He also endured an earthquake during imprisonment. Lives were changed through this time of Paul’s pilgrimage. The affinity for this church community is obvious in the Letter of Paul to the Philippians.
Addressing the message to the saints – the people encompassing the heart of ministry – and those in leadership – the bishops and deacons, Paul and Timothy begin, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” They open with a salutation, relaying God’s grace and reminding the hearers and readers of God’s peace. We find similar openings in Paul’s letters to the churches in Corinth (1 Cor 1:3) and Galatia (Gal 1:3).
Then, Paul expresses how he gives thanks to God each time a memory of his ministry in Philippi crosses his mind. Do you ever think about a meaningful time and find yourself slipping into a space of gratitude and appreciation for those people, places, and things? As our minds wander and reflect, what would happen if – even for those really hard experiences – we looked for where God was present with us and those around us?
Paul says that he is “constantly praying with joy in every one of [his] prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” (v. 5-6) Can you imagine how affirming that message would feel if you heard those words? There is a deep connection between the missionary and the church community, for they influenced one another profoundly. Paul’s preaching in Philippi fueled the hearers to spread the Good News to their European neighbors, passing along the hope, healing, and transformation that comes from the love of Jesus.
Paul did not issue these words lightly. He knew that persecution and trials were ahead for him, and for the church. He knew that following the words and message of Jesus was risky. He also knew that the promise of new life through the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ was the way, the truth, and the life. Love grounded in that reality of redemption and rebirth was something worth the effort. I read Paul’s words in Philippians 1:9 and appreciate them more deeply as I remember the context surrounding his ministry: “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best” (v. 9).
That feels like my challenge today – to pray this prayer for all in my circle…and then to widen that prayer to include those for whom it is hard to have love. For when our love overflows, everywhere we step is filled with love. And for that love to be overflowing with understanding and awareness and wisdom – we will have clarity of vision. And with clear eyes and full hearts, in the words of Coach Taylor in “Friday Night Lights”, we cannot lose…for we are grounded in the love of God.
Humbly,
Katherine+
Questions for Self-Reflection and Daily Challenge:
In this excerpt from Philippians, Paul models a method of teaching and support that we can incorporate into our lives: Reflect. Give thanks. Pray to God. Relate those feelings of appreciation to those we love. Spend some time today applying this process to those for whom you are connected.