let the same mind be in you

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today's reading is a great example of thinking theologically about life. Paul urges his readers to base their lives and the way they treat others on Jesus' life. In this case, he's especially thinking about how we use power and how we approach others. Some scholars believe that the second paragraph was taken from a hymn the congregation would have known. Whether that is the case or not, it's certainly one of the most powerful images of Christ's ministry and one I hold dear and hope to live.

God bless,
Sam

Philippians 2:1-11

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ²make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 

⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, ⁸he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

love and changing our ways

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Peter has been talking about suffering: Christ's suffering and the suffering we are likely to face as his disciples. Today he moves from there to discipline. By this he means being focused on living the right way. He reminds his readers that they used to live immorally, but now as Christ's followers, they should live righteously, focused on Jesus. He encourages us to take our actions and speech seriously because God empowers us and calls us. He also reminds us that love is at the heart of the Christian life. If we live for love we will do well.

Blessings on your weekend rest and activity,
Sam

1 Peter 4:1-11

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.



4They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.



7The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

lawless?

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today's reading begins to wrap up this first section of the letter. Paul says Jews do have an advantage since as a community they have heard God speak to them over a long period of time and therefore have a great chance to know his will. The fact that some have not followed doesn't change God's calling. Then he addresses what seems to have been a common accusation against the church. It seems that people claimed because Christians believed in God's loving forgiveness that they stopped caring about behaving the right way. Paul shoots down this argument immediately. Paul believes that God's grace is what matters for forgiveness, but that God's calling is to a new life free from sin. God still calls us to follow and still pours out forgiveness and love freely. Listen for his voice today in your life.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 3:1-18

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, “So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.” 5But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!


9What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10as it is written: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God. 12All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, there is not even one.” 13“Their throats are opened graves; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of vipers is under their lips.” 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery are in their paths, 17and the way of peace they have not known.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

living as ambassadors

Good morning brothers and sisters,
This letter is one of Paul's shortest letter, written to a leader in the church named Titus. Apparently, Titus was given the job of appointing elders in the various churches in Crete to strengthen the churches for their ministry. The point of the letter overall is that God's grace has saved us from the hostility, hatred and anxiety that is the situation of most of the world. Because of God's grace, we are called to live in a way that reflects God's love. In other words, we are called to treat others with love and to be self-disciplined to build up community. This new loving, disciplined, gentle life is a response to the way God has loved us.

It's also a result of wanting our lives to reflect our faith well for others. If people encounter Christians who are rude and judgmental or wild and irresponsible they will be less inclined to come to Christ. If they meet Christians who are loving, hospitable, kind and responsible, they will be drawn closer to find out more. Whenever people know that we are Christians our behavior testifies to our faith. Part of our calling is to be ambassadors for Christ by living in a way that reflects his amazing love for us so others want to meet him too. How will you show Christ's love today?

God bless,
Sam

Titus 2:11-14

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.