Scripture – Life and Faith

The Advance of the Gospel: Selfish Motives vs. True Intentions

In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul provides insight into how the message of Christ is being proclaimed and how the gospel is advancing, despite his imprisonment. Intriguingly, there seem to be two groups of people within close proximity to Paul, possibly in the city where he is imprisoned, each preaching Christ but with divergent intentions.

One group proclaims Christ out of goodwill and love, stepping into the void left by Paul’s incarceration. Their motivation is driven by Paul’s dedication to defending the gospel, which is now public knowledge, given his impending trial for his belief and proclamations. These unsung heroes might not be directly identified, but Paul, in his letter to the Romans, does acknowledge several individuals for their ‘hard work in the Lord’. It’s possible that he might be referring to some of these individuals.

Understanding God’s Plan in Less Than Ideal Circumstances

Such situations force us to ponder the grand designs of God. When seen from a human perspective, we notice problems, gaps, and less than ideal circumstances. Yet, God always seems to have His people precisely where they need to be for the advancement of the gospel.

In the first chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul assures them that they lack no spiritual gift as they eagerly wait for the Lord’s revelation. This statement suggests that they have everything they need to be the Church at that moment. An analogous situation is unfolding here; despite Paul’s imprisonment, the gospel is still being propagated. Those free to continue the mission have everything they need to carry on the work Paul initiated.

Unveiling The Motive Behind Gospel Proclamation

On the other side of the coin, we encounter another group of people with less than altruistic motives. Their proclamation of Christ is driven by envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition. Though they remain unnamed, their objective is clear – to sow discord for Paul.

How does Paul react to this less-than-ideal situation in verse 18?

With joy. He rejoices!

Regardless of the motivations, Paul celebrates that Christ is being preached.

And at this point I have a few questions for old mate Paul.

Does Paul believe that the ends justify the means? Does it matter how Christ is being proclaimed? Are the motives behind our evangelistic or mission endeavours of any importance, as long as the gospel is being spread?

Questioning Our Motives in Ministry

Reflecting on Paul’s emphasis on motives rather than methods, and his subsequent admonishment of selfish ambition, it’s clear that motives do matter. Despite the poor motives of the second group, the gospel continues to advance. This is a cause for celebration, but it also poses a challenge. We must continuously assess our motivations in ministry and mission.

We need to question ourselves: Why am I involved in this ministry? What kind of attitude am I bringing into serving this way? Is my motive pure, or is it centred?

Despite Our Flaws, the Gospel Advances

It’s a humbling realisation that even when we falter, God’s work continues. Despite our own brokenness and failures, the gospel continues to advance. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, salvation comes through grace and faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our relationship with God isn’t about performance; it’s about God’s grace gifted to us through Jesus Christ.

In serving God, we have been gifted the opportunity to partake in His work in the world. Even if we falter, God’s work continues, and the message of Christ still advances. It’s not about perfection in our service but the humble acceptance of the fact that God can use us despite our imperfections.

Inherent Challenge and Joy

As we strive to serve in the mission and ministry of Christ we do so with and goodwill. We need to continually evaluate our motivations and seek to align them with the purpose of Christ. When we face the challenges of ministry we seek to do so with humility, remembering that our failings do not hinder God’s work. Instead, they highlight the boundless grace of God, as the gospel continues to advance despite our weaknesses.

We read and watch plenty who on the surface seem to serve with motives that are questionable to us. Yet, as Paul’s experience suggests, even these circumstances cannot thwart God’s plan. The gospel continues to spread, and that in itself is a reason for us to rejoice!

The Triumph of the Gospel

In the end, Paul’s tale is a testament to the triumphant advance of the gospel. Despite less-than-ideal circumstances, despite the challenges of imprisonment, and despite the differing motives of those spreading the Word, the message of Christ continues to resonate far and wide. In every circumstance, we are reminded of the astounding grace of God that ensures the gospel’s advance.

In our service to God it isn’t about a flawless performance or ulterior motives; it’s about participating in the divine symphony of the gospel. Even when our notes falter, the music plays on, bringing joy to the listener and proclaiming the glory of God. The opportunity before us is to be part of the melody in the mission of God through the message of Christ

This post is part of an ongoing series where we dive into the themes, messages, and lessons found throughout the book of Philippians. For earlier posts please see:

The Advance of the Gospel: In Suffering

When baking, it’s often wise to follow a recipe, as it guides us to create the delicacy we envision. It instructs us on the ingredients to add, how to mix them together, and even specifies the right oven temperature to bake that perfect cake you’re dreaming of right now.

In the grand scheme of Christian ministry, we often expect a similar recipe for success. We anticipate a clear path, a favourable environment, and the right mix of circumstances to see the advancement of the gospel. Yet, in the narrative of the Apostle Paul, as seen in his letter to the church in Philippi, we find a different kind of recipe. After affirming the friendship he has with the church in Philippi in v11, Paul goes on to describe his current situation in v12-26. He speaks about how his imprisonment, a circumstance that doesn’t look like a favourable environment, is actually helping spread the message of Christ in v12-14. It might not be the gospel recipe book we would imagine, but amidst suffering and persecution, even amidst selfishness and ego, the message of Christ is being proclaimed and advancing. And it is to these verses we turn now in our little series on Philippians.

The Unexpected Catalyst: Paul’s Imprisonment

In v12-14 Paul writes,

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Despite the dire circumstances Paul finds himself in, the gospel continues to advance. Almost unexpectedly, the message of Christ makes progress even while Paul is confined in prison.

While in prison the guards and others in the palace find out why he is there. As the guards rotate through their shifts word gets out that Paul is imprisoned because he claims Jesus as Lord. This has religious connotations because of the Roman gods and idol worship. It also has political connotations because at this time the Roman Emperor was considered divine and a ‘son of god’. When Paul is publicly declaring Jesus as Lord, and as the Son of God, we can understand there might be a bit of push back. No one is to be considered Lord except the Caesar himself.

It seems, however, that Paul’s imprisonment is an inspiration to the other believers with him or those in close contact. The gospel is advancing because Paul is suffering and locked away, and it is inspiring Christians in their boldness to share this message of Jesus with others too.

Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances the gospel is at work inspiring faith.

Inspiration from Unlikely Heroes: Stories of Faith Amidst Persecution

Inspiration for our faith can come from a range of sources and through a range of people. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been deeply moved by the stories of other Christians and the significant impact their lives have had on others. Some of these have been missionaries and Christian workers of the past, like Jim Elliot, John Paton, Corrie Ten Boom, William Jay, JI Packer, Joni Eareckson Tada, to name a few. Others have been people I know, colleagues, family members, teachers, and people in churches I’ve been in. My faith is inspired by those who are living out their faith despite hard circumstances and situations. In fact, it is in hearing these stories, that often include hardship and suffering, I have found the gospel advancing in me, it is working in me through the life and times of others.

That may well be a reason why Hebrews 11 and 12 are so powerful to me. Those chapters in Hebrews list saints of the past, saints of the Bible, who are an inspiration to our faith. Their stories are written to inspire our faith.

There is the aspect of inspiration here, mixed with the persecution of Paul, locked away for his faith and proclaiming the gospel.

Flourishing Faith in the Face of Hardship: The Unforeseen Advance of the Gospel

Today we can search and read information about Christians around the world who are living out their faith despite the threat and reality of persecution, particularly in the majority world.

In the 1950s missionaries were kicked out of China at the time of the revolution yet the gospel advanced to such a degree that there are now millions of believers living out their faith in less-than-ideal situations.

In more recent times in Africa, Boko Haram are an extremist group who persecutes Christians in Nigeria on a regular basis. Yet as many are killed for their faith the Christians continue to live lives of faith under the most harrowing of pressures, instability, and concern for their lives.

In Iraq, Christian families and churches face threats on a regular basis. Despite the constant pressure and threat, house church leaders continue to minister, and against all odds, the gospel continues its work, advancing the message of Christ.

Knowing the stories of Christians past or present are inspiring. Their faith, their hustle, their confidence, and their trust in the Lord. Through their faith and faithfulness they display the ‘all surpassing value of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 3:8).

How does knowing about these stories impact your own faith? How might you live differently knowing that the gospel can advance in the most unexpected environments?

Through suffering, through hardship, through difficulty the gospel advances. And for us today we can be inspired, encouraged, and given courage in our walk of faith. In what, from a human perspective, might be the least expected environments, the gospel can indeed flourish.

This post is part of an ongoing series where we dive into the themes, messages, and lessons found throughout the book of Philippians. For earlier posts please see:

Gospel Partnership Is Prayerful Partnership

Saying you are going to pray for someone is a common occurrence in the Christian faith. We hear the needs of others and strive to support them. Prayer is our go-to action when we cannot provide tangible help, and it’s far from being the ‘least’ we can do. This is not to diminish the reality that it is more than likely we can do something to meet the needs of others, but in times of grief, in times of poor health, in times of relational breakdown, there might not be anything concrete to do.

One of the best ways to encourage someone in prayer is not to just tell them that you will pray for them. I mean, how many times have we promised to pray for someone, only to forget later? But like a number friends of mine, a great way to fulfil that which you promise is to write the prayer in a text and send it to them. Not only does this mean something to the person on the receiving end, but it also means you actually pray for them too!

Well, this is what Paul does here in the opening section of Philippians, specifically in v9-11. He writes out his prayer for them.

As we have discovered previously, we have read the heart and affection Paul has for this small church, and now we read what Paul prays for them:

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Prayerful Partnership: Cultivating Love

First, Paul prays that their love will keep growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment.

Often we might think we need more information and more knowledge of someone in order to grow in love. We might tell ourselves that we can’t truly love someone unless we have a deeper relationship with them.

Here Paul flips this kind of thinking and shows that love should already be a given.

Paul’s expectation is that members of the church already have a foundation of love for one another, and within that thought he prays that this love will grow in knowledge and depth of insight.

We might think this way toward others, even at the church we attend. It’s a common misconception that we can only genuinely love others when we have a deep knowledge of them, even within our own church community.

Interestingly, this isn’t what Paul expects. Love should already be among us because we know God together in Christ. As 1 John 4 reminds us, God is love, therefore we should love one-another. So, when Paul prays for their love to grow in knowledge and discernment, it’s under the assumption that love is already a foundational element of their church community.

The call here is to go to love quickly, and pray it may grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Prayerful Partnership: Bearing Fruit

Second, Paul prays for the church to discern and approve of superior and excellent things. He hopes that they will be pure and blameless when Christ Jesus returns.

Here is a connection to our future hope. A day when Christ will be with us and we will be with him. How that manifests itself Paul doesn’t say, but he keeps this at the forefront of our minds.

And this leads to the final line, a prayer that the people of God at Philippi might be willed with the fruit of righteousness, that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Perhaps you’re one who grow their own vegetables. And if you are then I imagine you are aware there is an art to planting your anticipated produce at the right time. If it’s not planted at the right time then there will be no fruit produced. Here we read of ‘fruit,’ a metaphor for the visible actions and attitudes that result from being ‘right’ with God. This fruit, this evidence of our relationship with God, is made possible through Christ Jesus.

In being made right with God through Christ the fruit of that will be displayed in the way we conduct ourselves. The way we love one-another. The way we partnership with joy together. And as Paul writes further in v27, in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Just as we found joy in the gospel partnership last time, we now discover its prayerful aspect as well. May we be a people who partner with others through prayer, and praying for the fruit of righteousness that comes through our Lord Jesus.

This post is part of an ongoing series where we will dive into the themes, messages, and lessons found throughout the book of Philippians. For earlier posts please see:

Gospel Partnership Is Joyful Partnership

After Paul gives his initial greetings to the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:1-2), we immediately sense just how much joy and affection he has for them. In v3-8, we read of how their partnership in the gospel is a joyful partnership.

Prayers For The People

In v3, Paul gives thanks to God for this church. Even while in prison, he is reminded of them, thankful for them, and feels a great sense of joy for them because of the partnership he has in the gospel with them. I imagine Paul chained up in a Roman prison, a smile on his face as he lifts up prayers every time he thinks of his friends in Philippi.

In this, there is a small challenge for us. How often would we think of people in our lives or throughout the day and lift up prayers for them? I’m sure, like me, you think of numerous people throughout the day as you write an email to them, consider what they’re doing, or see them pop up on our social media feeds. What if we lifted up prayers for people we think of or hear about throughout our day? What a great challenge for us to do.

Partnership With The People

In v5, we are given insight into why this church is so precious to Paul. It is the partnership they have in the gospel.

What ties or binds Paul with the Philippians is the gospel. Together, they follow Jesus and have had their hearts and lives turned upside down because of the message of Jesus. And so, they are bound together as sisters and brothers in Christ as they know him and share his message with others.

In Acts 16, which is where we read of Paul’s first interactions with the people of Philippi, we learn of how the church began. Now, 10-12 years later, as he pens this letter to them, Paul continues to recognise the connection they have with one another, not only because of the support he has received from them but also because they serve and share the message of Christ together.

I began my ministry journey in a small village called Ain Zhalta, in the mountains of Lebanon. Over 15 years ago, my wife and I spent two years serving as teachers and mission workers among an ethnic group called the ‘Druze’. And each Sunday, we would meet in a terribly cold stone and tiled church that had very limited heating, with a handful of other foreigners and a handful of Lebanese people to worship together. But what I remember rather vividly in those services, while listening to Arabic worship songs and a sermon I couldn’t understand, was the connection I had with those in the church there and the connection I had with those in our home church back in Melbourne.

There was a partnership in the gospel. In the gospel, we met together. In the gospel, we prayed together. In the gospel, we had fellowship with one another. In the gospel, we served and shared the message of Christ together.

I’m not sure whether you’ve visited a church overseas, or across our city, or in another part of the country. But when you do, you have an immediate partnership—a partnership in the gospel.

A little while ago, we had visitors from the USA join our church for a month. In my brief conversation with them, they highlighted how great it was to come along and know the connection we have together because of the gospel.

The unity, the partnership in the gospel, is a key concept for us being the church, being the people of God.

There are lots of groups in our communities that meet, do activities, and build relationships and friendships. Many do them very well, whether it’s a kindergarten or a school, a sporting club, an art class, or a library. Whatever it might be, little sub-cultures and communities are formed and centred around something.

Partnership Centred On A Person

As the church, we are centred around the gospel – the person and work of Jesus Christ – the message of Jesus. This is who brings us together, this is who forms the nature of our community, the nature of our church, the nature of our partnership.

No Jesus. No church. No partnership.

Pretty simple, really.

However, when we recognise and embrace the foundation of our faith – Jesus Christ – we begin to see the beauty and richness of gospel-centred partnership. It is in Jesus that we find a common ground, a shared purpose, and a bond that transcends our differences and unites us in love and service.

As we come together in Christ, we experience the joy of true fellowship. Our shared faith, hope, and love in Jesus enable us to support, encourage, and strengthen one another in our journey of faith. We celebrate our victories, weep with one another in times of sorrow, and walk hand in hand as we strive to live out the gospel in our daily lives.

What a blessing, what a joy, that is.

Gospel partnership is therefore a joyful partnership.

No wonder Paul continues to use effusive language about the church and affirm the role God will continue to work in them until the day Christ returns.

Through the gospel, there is joy.

Through gospel partnership, there is a joyful partnership.

This post is part of an ongoing series where we will dive into the themes, messages, and lessons found throughout the book of Philippians. For earlier posts please see:

Bible Reading – The Nehemiah Reminder

In my mind, one of the most moving parts of the Bible is all about reading the scriptures.

Tucked away in the Old Testament, there in Nehemiah 8, is the story of Ezra reading the ‘book of the Law of God’ (8:8) to Israel. While God’s people had been released from captivity and returned to the Promised Land they remained dispirited about the condition of their cities and land. In particular was the poor condition of Jerusalem, whose walls remained in rubble and disrepair. In the midst of this comes Nehemiah who takes on the leadership to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and in doing so begins to bring hope to the nation.

And here in chapter 8 is where the people of the Lord hear the word of the Lord for the first time in a long time. In v2-6 we are told that,

“On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose…Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

I’m not sure what stands out to you, but there are a few things I notice in reading this.

First, those who came to listen to the reading of the scriptures were ‘men, women, and all who could listen with understanding’ (v2).

Men and women coming to hear the Law of God being read is probably not something we think too much about, that seems reasonable and natural in our minds. But that comment about those who could listen with understanding is an interesting one. Are these children? I imagine it does. Those who could understand the reading would be there to listen but those who were too young to do so weren’t. Yet, not all adults have the faculties to listen with understanding either. And so it may also mean that there were adults who were unable to comprehend the scriptures missing from the gathering as well.

Second, this was a long reading of scripture (v3).

From daybreak till noon is surely a 5-6 hour reading of the Law of God. I’m not sure I’d be able to get away with that length of Bible reading in our service this week, or any week for that matter. So this was a long period of time to listen and a long period of time to speak the scriptures. Although, to be fair, if you’ve ever read the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy then you’ll understand the hours it takes to do that.

Third, there was attentiveness to the reading of scripture (v3).

I’ve spent many a morning trying to read the scriptures and my mind has been distracted and inattentive after about 25 seconds. I’m sure we’ve all experienced reading something and then about a page or two in we realise we’ve got no idea what we’ve read and have to go back and re-read. Or, when the reading of the Bible is happening in church we drift off to other thoughts or get captured by one aspect and chase a rabbit trail in our minds. Well, it seems that those who were in this particular hearing of the scriptures were attentive to it. Given this was a 5-6 hours reading, this is no mean feat.

Fourth, the placement of Ezra, the reader of the Law (v4).

Due to its importance and the significance of the reading of the Law Ezra is placed front and centre. While we must recognise he is the mouthpiece for the words of God he is positioned high above the gathering and in full view of everyone. I find this instructive in how we might consider the public reading of the scriptures in our churches and congregations and gatherings. Making the reader, and of course the book, central to the group in order for people to see and hear is important.

Fifth, the visibility of the Law of God (v5).

It is common practice in some churches for public readers of scripture to read words off their phones or other devices. I appreciate the ease of this technology, the adaptability in terms of versions, and the ability to write notes when sitting as a congregation member listening. However, call me a Luddite but the physical Bible being read to the congregation matters. I may well have said that the best Bible to read is the one in front of you a few weeks back, but the best Bible to read in the public assembly of a church is a physical one. It means something. It helps the listeners hear. It gives a visual representation of God speaking to us.

Sixth, the physicality of the people (v5).

Notice how the people rise for the hearing of the Law. There is a reverence to hearing God’s words read. There is active participation in the reading event through the moving of bodies in order to hear. In some churches today this is still the case, although I haven’t seen this occurring in a long long time. I wonder whether this is worth instituting again to highlight the importance and participation of the hearers?

Seventh, the reading of the scriptures leads to worship of God (v6).

Ezra’s blessing of the Law is affirmed by the assembly. Not only that but the response to the reading of the scriptures is the worship of God. And for me this highlights two things, (1) the reading of the scriptures is to bring about a response of worship in those who hear it, and (2) hearing the scriptures being read is equal to hearing God. Through the scriptures God speaks to his people and this drives them toward worship. It is not the worship of his Law for the Law’s sake. It is not what might be called bibliolatry, idolising the Bible. It is recognising that the words of scripture are God’s Word.

This is a moving portion of scripture for me as it reminds me of the power, reverence, and significance of the Bible, God’s Word. It leaves me wanting to hear it more, read it more, and see this occur more in the lives of churches and congregations. How great would the witness to God be if we held up and honoured the Bible like those here in Nehemiah 8!? How great to have people attentive, participating, and worshipping the revelation of God through his scriptures!?

Well, it seems I’ve begun the year and a return to writing regularly by focussing on Bible reading. There could be worse topics to write about, couldn’t there? In any case, if you like to catch up on some of the posts that focus on reading the Bible then feel free to browse along:

Psalm 103: Praise The Lord

It is certainly difficult to go through this Psalm without recognising the call to praise. The beginning and the ending couch this Psalm in words to encourage praise.

Note how personal the writer King David is as he expresses himself.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” in v1-2.

And in v20-22,

“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.”

This is something deeply personal, something coming deep from within here. It is like David is willing himself to praise.

There are times, aren’t there, when we have to will ourselves to do something. Whether it is chores around the house to trying to work through our emotions in a lockdown due to a global pandemic. Here David sounds like he is willing himself to praise. Like the marathon runner willing herself to get to the finish line so too David is willing himself to praise.

Often praise, encouragement and thanks don’t come easy. Often we can be so consumed with our own self and all the problems we have to deal with that we soon forget or fall out of habit of praise, of thankfulness, of gratitude. Here we get the sense of David, writing in reflection from years of experience, willing himself to praise God for who he is and what he has done.

For David realises all of what God has done. Not only for him personally, but also for the whole of humanity. He remembers God and all his deeds and dwells on the action of his compassionate God, which in turn draws him to praise.

As we close this three-part series on Psalm 103 I encourage you to remember, dwell, and praise God this week.

It has been a tough 12 months.

You may have taken the opportunity to sit with God and spend more time with him this year. But, in the conversations I’m having with people I suspect the majority have not. And so I wonder whether this might be a good time to spend some time with the Lord.

If you’re one who is in a habit of doing so, I encourage you to keep going.

But, if you’re one who hasn’t sat with God, opened his scriptures, read and thought of the things of God in a while then I encourage you to do so this week.

Take 30-60 minutes. Open a Psalm, maybe even this one. Write down a few things that strike you as you read it. Pray about what is on your heart. Express those fears and worries and anxieties to God. And dwell for a period of time, something we’re not used to, on your compassionate God who is slow to anger and abounding in love.

Because when you do, experience tells me that the Lord will meet you where you are at and will draw you toward praise just as David is here.

It will do your soul and your life much benefit.

This is the third of a three-part series on Psalm 103. The first post, ‘Remember The Lord’, can be found here. And the second, ‘Dwell on The Lord’, is here.

Psalm 103: Remember The Lord

In Psalm 103 we come to a psalm of thanksgiving, perhaps better described as a hymn of gratitude, as the writer, King David, moves from heartfelt personal praise to inviting all of Israel and all of God’s people to remember the Lord, dwell on what he has done, and give him praise.

In v2 we read, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits…”

I’m not sure about you but it’s very easy to forget things. I would’ve forgotten more of my life than remembered it. I’m sure you are the same.

I mean, we all like to think we’ve got good memories and can remember a lot, which of course our amazing brains can. But we’re also not all blessed, or perhaps cursed, with a photographic memory. And so we remember many things we’ve done, sights we’ve seen, and words we’ve listened to. But the reality is that we forget more than we remember. Which to me seems like one of the Lord’s graces toward us.

Who wants to remember those really embarrassing comments we’ve made to colleagues or others we don’t know so well? Who wants to remember that embarrassing experience we had in high school or going through those years of puberty? Who wants to remember the acute grief we experience when a loved one passes away? There is actually plenty in life that we don’t want to remember.

But, there is also the negative side to forgetting things. We find ourselves forgetting names, numbers, faces, people, dates and times. And as we get older this can have repercussions on our quality of life.

But David’s point in this Psalm is not a negative one, it’s a positive one. It’s the encouragement to remember what the Lord has done, to remember the benefits that come with knowing God. For there are plenty of benefits that the Lord has given us and when we remember these things we are led to praise and gratitude for them and for him.

This whole Psalm seems to list the benefits available to us, but in v1-6 we read specific benefits of:

The forgiveness of sin
The healing of disease
The redemption of life from pit
The crowning of love and compassion upon us
The satisfaction of our desires
The righteousness and justice of God

In the busyness of life it is easy to forget the benefits that come with being crowned a child of God. And these are incredible benefits! Even David, considered to be a ‘man after God’s own heart’(Acts 13:22) evidently needs to be reminded of these things.

And all these benefits we see fulfilled through our Lord Jesus. This baby Jesus we remember at Christmas, this God-child we read of through the Prophets and writings of scripture, this Son of God born to a teenager in a derelict town, is the one who fulfils all these benefits and provides us with all these benefits through his life and death on a cross.

And so who would want to forget these things?

We take photos to remember the experiences we’ve had and the places we’ve been to. When we look back on photos we’ve taken, our memories take us back to what we’ve done and experienced. We don’t want to forget that sunrise, or that waterfall, or that animal we got up close to. We don’t want to forget that party with friends, or that dinner with family, or that person we met. And so we take a photo as a keepsake, to help us remember.

This list here is a reminder for us, a keepsake, as is all of scripture, which helps us remember God for who he is and what he has done.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread 2.0

Last week I did a little explaining about the verse in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (Matthew 6:11). And while it was accurate enough, there are further implications worth noting. The Lord’s Prayer gives us a terrific model for communing with God, I suppose that goes without saying considering it is our Lord who gives it to us! But as we scratch more deeply at how we might pray we learn, particularly in the realm of asking God for our needs, Jesus teaching us how to live.

With this in mind, here are some further reflections that I pray go well with you.

(1) Our needs include the physical and the spiritual.

There are some in the Christian church who believe that this body we have here on earth is simply a temporary vessel. They minimise the body and the physical in our world and over-emphasise the spiritual or the life to come. At times this has led to people and groups toward asceticism and a drawing away from others toward cultic practices. At other times this has led to abuses and sacrifices of the body. Neither of these are particularly biblical, and contradict scripture and the example of Jesus. We notice that in the life and ministry of Jesus he is concerned not only for the spiritual condition of the people but also for their physical needs.

As James Montgomery Boice comments,

“We can see what God thinks of our human bodies, when we remember that he Himself in Jesus Christ took that body upon Him. It is not simply a soul salvation, it is whole salvation, the salvation of body, mind and spirit, at which Christianity aims.“

(2) We are reminded to take it one day at a time.

If you’ve ever heard a player or a coach of a sporting team be interviewed, then you’ll be familiar with the phrase, “we’re just taking it one game at a time”. For us believers, it is right to be taking life one day at a time.

It is important to recognise that Jesus is teaching us to pray for each day and reminding us of our need for God. It is important to understand that our dependence on God and needs from God are given to us each day. Therefore, there is intentionality in coming to God daily in prayer as we recognise our needs and dependence on him. As we petition God, as we come before him with the requests that we have, the needs that we lift to him, we show our daily dependence on him.

The whole act of prayer is an act of dependence.

(3) Our request for daily bread points us to our need for spiritual nourishment.

I presume you know that glorious taste of fresh bread. Sometimes there is nothing better than a fresh ham and salad roll for lunch. And who are we kidding, it’s always more than one when the rolls are at their freshest.

While it sounds odd to say that we need to feed on Christ, that we need to feed spiritually on God, the only other place in the entire Bible where a request to ‘give us bread’ is spoken by Jesus while he gives a sermon on spiritual bread in John 6. Jesus said,

“I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.” They answered, “From now on give us this bread.’ Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:32–35)

In context, the people he was speaking to were thinking of physical bread, but Jesus turned them away from these physical things to himself as the One who could satisfy the far greater hunger of the soul.

So, what does it mean to feed on Christ?

It means that he is the source of all our spiritual life and as we grow in him and come close to him we are nourished, contented, and satisfied in him alone. The hunger and yearning we feel within our hearts for our Creator is fulfilled through Christ as the bread of life.

As we hunger for achievement, or for love, or for happiness we recognise these are good in themselves when used as God intends. But at the heart of our faith, and at the heart of this prayer, is the realisation that it is only Christ who satisfies, it is only him who fulfils our deep hunger and need.

This continues our series in the Lord’s Prayer. More posts can be found at the following:

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread 1.0

Well, I wonder whether you’ve ever signed a petition?

I suspect you know what petitions are. A petition is where you put your name down in support of something. Perhaps it is asking for policy change in government, for better conditions in the workplace, or for support behind a particular injustice in the world. Whatever it may be, and whether it is done online or on an actual piece of paper, petitions are a way of showing your support for a particular cause.

There are also parts of everyday life where we petition others, where we ask people for something we would like or need. Perhaps it is a student petitioning their teacher for an extension in the assignment. Or a child petitioning a parent for ice-cream after dinner. And in a similar way, when we come to God in prayer and lift up our needs to him we petition him. We ask him for things. We ask him for our wants and needs.

In Matthew 6:11, in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus continues to teach his disciples about prayer through this particular phrase, ‘give us this day our daily bread’. And in similar fashion to previous posts (see below) it is worth reflecting a little on what Jesus is teaching us.

First, when Jesus says, ‘give us this day our daily bread’ he is talking about depending on God daily.

As Christians we recognise that we are living a day at a time. It sounds cliche, but we do not know when we will die, and we do not know what will happen tomorrow.

This requires us to depend on God.

When we depend on ourselves or on others then we will be let down, but with God we have a solid foundation. A God who rules and reigns, and who is always faithful and dependable. And so a mark of a follower of Jesus is their dependence on him for their needs. We come with a posture of dependence on him.

To depend on God is to fully trust in his care for us. That despite our circumstances–in happiness or in hardship–we continue to have a posture of dependence on God.

As Leon Morris writes in his commentary on Matthew about this verse,

The prayer encourages a continuing dependence on God; it does not countenance a situation in which the disciple asks God for a supply for a lengthy period, after which prayer he can go on for some time in forgetfulness of God. He depends on God constantly, and this dependence is expressed in this prayer.

Dependence on God is not simply a once off occurrence. It is something that is required of us daily. It is a practice, a discipline, to continually depend on God.

Yet, there is also a cautionary reflection here worth noting.

When we are comfortable. When we have everything we need. When we don’t need to depend on God for as much as we used to then it is common to let this dependence slide. We must be careful not to fall into this trap, not to change our posture from one of dependence to independence.

Second, when Jesus says, ‘give us this day our daily bread’ he is talking about asking for our needs.

Whenever we pray we are generally asking God for something. And this gets to the heart of petition. Petition is that word that defines prayer as asking God for stuff. Stuff that may include inner comfort and strength, to physical needs like food or finances, to wisdom and discernment.

And don’t hear me saying this is necessarily wrong. God encourages us to come to him with everything, and in all things.

In fact, as I’ve read over this Lord’s Prayer I’ve noticed just how much asking there is of God. In fact, everything from v10-13 is really a prayer of petition. We find ourselves asking for:

his kingdom to come,
his will to be done,
our daily bread,
our debts to be forgiven,
not to be led into temptation, and
to be delivered from evil.

By my reckoning there are six requests, six items of petition to God in this prayer.

And when Jesus specifically prays the petition of ‘give us this day our daily bread’ he wishes us to pray for the needs that we have, the needs necessary for life.

Martin Luther, the great Reformer of the 16th century wrote that this use of ‘bread’ was symbolic of ‘everything necessary for the preservation of this life, like food, a healthy body, good weather, house, home, husband or wife, children, good government and peace’. In essence Luther was saying these are the necessities of life, rather than the luxuries, of which a couple here and there may be debatable.

Whatever the case, here in Matthew 6:11, in this petition given to us by our Lord, we find an aspect of our prayer life that involves asking for our needs.

This continues our series in the Lord’s Prayer. More posts can be found at the following:

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

There comes a point when so much analysis, or in this case, exegesis, can mean you miss the bigger picture. And sure, there is often much to be learnt from studying the detail of a leaf, but it just might mean you miss the overall vision of the tree. This can happen when we study scripture. We can become so narrow in focus that we miss the wider picture of what’s going on.

As we come to this phrase, ‘On earth as it is in heaven’ we must recognise that this needs to be read in conjunction with the beginning of the sentence,’ Your kingdom come, your will be done’ (Matthew 6:10-11). For the sake of this series on The Lord’s Prayer I have separated these various phrases, but in reality the prayer Jesus is teaching us, and his disciples, means they are intricately connected. As RT France comments,

“The prayer embraces the whole scope of this outworking of God’s purpose, but its focus is not on either present or future, but on God himself, whose glory must be the disciples’ first and deepest concern, before they consider their own needs.“

And so one could get caught up in the comparison of earth and heaven. I think it is fair to suggest that the prayer is making a distinction between both places, an actual earth and an actual heaven. But before the questions that naturally arise begin to form it is helpful to remember this is as much about recognising God and his ways before lifting up our own requests.

Yet this prayer gives us hope. For when we understand ourselves in light of God’s goodness and holiness, when we understand our own need in contrast to who God is, we realise we are in need of more of heaven and less of earth. As people who begin this prayer in worship, recognising God as God, we know that it will not be our action but the action of God that will ultimately bring this prayer into reality.

And it is the action of God that achieves anything and everything for us. It is the action of God that provides salvation. It is the action of God that shows love. It is the action of God that provides mercy. It is the action of God that brings justice. It is the action of God that grows godliness. And of course, all these things come from the centrepiece of this action–the cross.

In the Incarnation, Jesus’ coming to earth, we find heaven coming to earth. God comes to humankind in a personal and relational way. And while we continue to live in the ‘now and not yet’ tension–where God’s kingdom is here, but it’s not all here–the action of the Incarnation gives hope and shows a glimpse of what is possible.

You may well have images of large golden buildings and paths coming down through the sky when you envision heaven coming to earth. This is most certainly a mistaken image. Already God has made clear he does things in ways we humans least expect, such as coming in the form of a baby, birthed in a dirty stable, and found in a small out-of-the-way village.

So in our prayer ‘on earth as it is in heaven’, it might be better to understand that in heaven God’s will is perfect, there is no bad thing to hinder it. Heaven is God’s will perfected. And when we pray these words, ‘on earth as it is in heaven’, we are hoping for similar circumstances here on earth. And given the current state of our world, it might be time to pray this more fervently than we have done before.

This continues our series in the Lord’s Prayer. More posts can be found at the following: