Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Bible, Completeness, Confidence, Salvation, Scripture

CONFIDENT OF COMPLETION

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” 

I don’t like to leave a job incomplete. When I mow my lawn, I want to be able to trim and mow it in one day. The thought of leaving part of that job undone would drive me crazy. I think I get that from my dad. He taught me to wash a car. He always said that job wasn’t complete until the tires were washed and shined. He compared it to wearing a nice suit but dirty shoes, He said you wouldn’t do that, so clean the tires. Isn’t it strange the things you remember from your parents?

Well, God isn’t done with you yet, either. Paul says as much in today’s verse. In fact, Paul said he was “confident of this very thing.” The Greek word for “confident” is peitho from which we get pistis which means “faith.” In the Greek world, the skill of persuasion was highly valued. Paul knew that, so he used his gift of persuasion to convince the Philippians that God was still working on them.

APPLICATION

What was Paul convinced of? That what God had started with them at salvation was going to be completed in full one day, the day of Christ Jesus. The word Paul uses for “will complete” is epiteleó “from the combination of epi (ἐπί), meaning upon or over, and teleó (τελέω), meaning to complete or to finish.” (Strong’s Lexicon).

In 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul uses this word again. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” We have a part in our completion. We are called to live holy lives. Have you done that today?

Later in the same letter to the Corinthians, we read in 2 Corinthians 8:6, “So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.” Paul asked Titus to complete a task of raising money for the churches in need. It had not been completed. Paul wanted that done. He couldn’t stand unfinished business either.

What are you leaving undone today? Complete it. Ask the Lord to help you do that. Finish the work He has given you to do.

O Lord, complete in me whatever You have for me. Thank You for the complete process of salvation.

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Bible, Communion, Fellowship, Partner, Scripture

JOIN US

PHILIPPIANS 1:5

“in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.” 

Any time I get asked to join something, whether a trip somewhere or a group meeting, I have to ask myself two questions. One – Does this have any eternal value? Two – Do I have time for this? Those two questions usually give me good guidance. I want to be about my Father’s business, don’t you?

Paul was appreciative of the Philippians’ “participation in the gospel.” From what Paul wrote here it seems they had been from the beginning. The Greek word translated “participation” is koinonia. This word is also translated as fellowship, communion or sharing. But one thing is clear – it is not just a casual involvement. Koinónia implies a sense of intimacy and genuine love.

APPLICATION

In 1 Corinthians 1:9, Paul uses this word again. “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” I have heard it said that true koinonia isn’t about cookies and Kool-Aid. It’s about being connected to something bigger than you. We all need koinonia, whether we want to admit it or not.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians we read this in chapter 13 and verse 14. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” Some versions use the word “communion” instead of “fellowship” here. Communion gives more of the intimacy in the relationship. The Holy Spirit dwells within you, if you are a believer. You can’t get much more intimate.

Finally, in 1 John 1:3, 6-7, we see John using koinonia to refer to fellowship with each other and God the Father and Jesus. “3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” So, join the family of God in sweet communion and fellowship and together we can fight this battle and walk in victory.

Lord, I desire fellowship with You and other believers.

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Bible, Grace, Joy, Prayer, Scripture

PRAY WITH JOY

PHILIPPIANS 1:4

“always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,” 

I love to pray for others. I’ve been doing that for a long time. But I must be honest. I don’t always pray with joy. Sometimes I pray for people I am really struggling to get along with. However, God doesn’t let me get away with flippant prayers I make just to say I prayed. So, this verse really hit me hard.

Paul had fond memories of the Philippians. Joy was expressed in his prayers for them. Paul uses the Greek word deesis to describe his prayers. “In the New Testament, deesis is used to describe prayers that are specific and fervent, often in the context of seeking divine intervention or assistance.” (Strong’s Lexicon)

APPLICATION

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul uses this word again where it is translated as “request.” “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,”

These specific requests made by Paul were in joy. That word “joy” is tied directly back to the Greek word for grace. As Paul extended grace to these people he can pray with joy for them. Who in your life can you say that about? How can you extend grace to those for whom you pray?

As you pray today, pray with joy. Let a smile come across your face as you lift each name heavenward. As you smile, I’m sure God is smiling also.

Father, give me joy today as I pray for others.

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Bible, Family, Friends, Prayer, Remembering, Scripture

REMEMBERING YOU

PHILIPPIANS 1:3

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” 

Well, it is true. As you get older, you begin to forget things. For me, it’s where I put my phone or my keys. I can remember things from way back, but short memory gives me fits. They say chemotherapy drugs can cause that. Since I have had that twice with my two stem cell transplants, I am going to use that excuse rather than the getting old one. What do you think?

Paul has strong feelings for these believers in Philippi. Do you remember how that church got started? Paul had been arrested and thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. God caused quite a disturbance. Acts 16:26 says, “and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” As a result of that, the jailer and all his household were saved. Praise God! That would definitely stir your memory.

APPLICATION

Only Paul uses the Greek word mneia in the New Testament. Each time it is used, it involves Paul recalling a memory about someone or something. In Romans 1:9, he writes, “For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you.” Paul was praying for all those he had met in his missionary journeys.

Paul tells the Ephesians, Philemon, Timothy and the Thessalonians that he was “making mention” of them in his prayers. Paul cared enough, despite his imprisonment as he writes these letters, to let people know they were still on his mind and in his prayers. Can you imagine how these people felt knowing Paul was praying for them?

Who are you praying for? Who are you remembering in your prayers? I hope you have a prayer list of people you pray for daily, weekly or monthly. Praying for your own needs is important, but I believe praying for others is much more special to the ears of God. Remember and pray!

Father, bring to my remembrance those for whom I should pray for today.

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Bible, Father, Grace, Greetings, Jesus, Peace, Scripture

FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON

PHILIPPIANS 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I often begin emails to people by saying, “I pray this email finds you doing well.” I don’t use that every time, but I usually use some type of greeting. I don’t just start with my main message. It’s kind of like breaking the ice with someone. They say it is always good to praise, then correct and then praise again. That’s called the “sandwich” method. That makes me hungry, lol.

The Benson Commentary says this about this greeting from Paul, which he used in just about every letter he wrote. “From God our Father — The original source of all our blessings, who is now become our reconciled Father, having adopted us into his family, and regenerated us by his grace; and the Lord Jesus Christ — The one Mediator between God and man, through whose sacrifice and intercession we receive all the blessings of providence and grace.” That’s a clear description of Paul’s greeting, don’t you think?

APPLICATION

Look at what Paul is actually greeting them with – grace and peace. Shouldn’t we want to extend the same thing to others? We should wish them grace, first of all. Grace is central to the Christian faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith.” Paul desires for the Philippians to know this grace fully. All they needed was God’s grace. Works were not required.

Then Paul wishes them peace. You have probably heard it said, “You can’t have peace with others until you have peace with God. And you can’t have peace with God until you have the peace of God.” It is really that simple. Jesus told us, “Peace I leave with you.” When people come to Christ, they often describe it as experiencing real peace for the first time in their life.

I wish for you today grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my desire to see each of you who read this devotional thought experience all that God has for you through His Son Jesus. There is no other greeting I could give you that can last for eternity. Now, you do the same for others.

Lord, give me a true appreciation for Your grace and peace that I can extend to others.

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Allies, Bible, Family, Included, Scripture

INCLUDING

PHILIPPIANS 1:1

“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:” 

Everyone likes to be included, right? Sadly, the world has pushed the issue of “inclusiveness” to the point of absurdity saying that we should be inclusive of everyone, no matter what they believe or how they live their lives. No one wants to be excluded, but there are certainly moral grounds for that. I don’t need to name any of those, do I? As believers, we should know what those are since Scripture is pretty clear about them.

As we begin a new study in the letter to the Philippian church from Paul, we see Paul also offering a bit of inclusiveness to a group. He addresses the letter “to all the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi,” but he extends a special message to “the overseers and deacons.” Why? Because they are the ones who are supposed to lead that body of Christ. He wants them to pay close attention to what he is about to write.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “including” is really just the little preposition sun, which means together with or companionship. It’s the Greek “with” that implies a bond so close it can’t be separated. It’s the preposition used over and over to describe our union with Christ.

Who is included in your own spiritual journey? Do you have allies who walk beside you to encourage you? We all need each other in this walk of faith. We are not meant to do this alone. Just as Paul is calling on the overseers and deacons, we should be calling on others to join us. Some people call this having an accountability partner. I prefer to call them allies, those who are with me to encourage me, not just to hold me accountable to certain actions.

If you don’t have someone you would call an ally, ask the Lord to send someone to you. Maybe someone else is praying for an ally and God wants you to step up. Just think of all the allies Paul had in his ministry. He couldn’t get enough of them. Nor should we. Include others in your walk today.

God, make me an ally for someone today. Put others in my life to serve as my ally also.

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Bible, Falsehoods, Genuine, Scripture, Truth

WITH MY OWN HAND

COLOSSIANS 4:18

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.”

Forgeries are commonplace today. People forge checks to steal money. Others will forge someone’s signature to gain access to property or even a company. And even though it is not technically a forgery, the auto-pen has been used for politicians to sign documents. Someone else is signing for them, though usually this is with their permission.

This last verse of Colossians has Paul confirming his authorship of the letter. He wanted to make sure they knew it was from him and not from someone pretending to be him. Many scholars believe Paul used an amanuensis, which is someone hired to write what you dictate. Matthew Poole says, “The apostle having them on his heart, and here (as elsewhere) likely having used an amanuensis to pen the body of his Epistle, to prevent fraud and forgery he doth subscribe his salutation and apostolical benediction with his own hand, which was well known (Romans 16:22 1 Corinthians 16:21 Galatians 6:11 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 3:17 Philemon 1:19).”  

APPLICATION

How do you apply a verse like this to your own life? What can you possibly get out of this? May I stretch the truth in this verse today? I don’t mean I am going to betray the text. But I have to ask the Lord why this verse is here. I believe he wants us to be genuine in our speech. Truth telling is important. It’s so easy to lie and mislead others. But telling the truth, no matter what, can be costly. Paul knew that. He had not pulled any punches with the Colossians in this letter. He wanted them to know he had penned these words.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (ESV) How about this one? “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. I could go on and on listing verses on truth telling. In fact, do some digging yourself. The Open Bible gives a list of 100 verses on this topic:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/telling_the_truth.

Make sure people know when you speak, they can count on it being the truth. Like Paul, pull no punches, but do it with gentleness, always pointing them to Scripture. Don’t be afraid to affix your signature to anything you have said or written. That way you stand before the Lord as an approved workman too.

Lord, give me only the truth today. Let my words speak of You.

(Today is the last day in Colossians. Tomorrow, we start the book of Philippians.)

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Bible, Completion, Fulfill, Ministry, Scripture

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY

COLOSSIANS 4:17

“Tell Archippus, ‘See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill it.’”

I am nearing the end of my ministry season. I began it back in 1979 when I served as a part-time Music and Youth Director at Bishop Baptist Church located outside of Athens, GA where I attended college at the University of Georgia. My ministry years have seen me in six states and numerous countries internationally. What a ride. I want to finish well.

As Paul ends this letter to the Colossians, he asks them to deliver a message to Archippus. He tells him to watch after the ministry he has “received in the Lord so that” he “may fulfill it.” I want us to camp out today on that last phrase – “may fulfill it.” What did Paul mean by that? Why did he tell Archippus this in particular?

APPLICATION

Strong’s Lexicon says this about the Greek word for “may fulfill.” “The verb pléroó primarily conveys the idea of filling something to its full capacity or bringing something to completion.” Paul was telling Archippus to bring his ministry to completion. It’s interesting that Archippus means “Master of horses.” It was a name which represented strength. Maybe that is why he became one of Paul’s “solidiers” (Philemon 1:2).

Jesus used the word in Luke 4:21. “Now He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” Just as Jesus fulfilled His ministry on earth, you and I have a mandate from Him to fulfill ours. Wait a minute, Carl. I am not in full-time ministry. Oh really? Are you a believer? Do you claim to be a follower of Christ? Francis Chan said (and I am paraphrasing), “The trouble with calling yourself a follower of Christ is you don’t follow Christ.”

What is your ministry? How do you fulfill it? You fulfill your calling by continuing every day to put Christ first in all your interactions with people or circumstances. All we know of Archippus is his mention in two verses. That’s it! But he obviously had a ministry which Paul was concerned about him finishing. Jesus wants us to fulfill our ministry with Him also. Will you do that? Finish the course! Keep fighting every day!

Father God, I want to finish well! I give You praise for the ministry to which You have called me.

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Bible, Gospel, Letters, Scripture, Sharing

PASS IT AROUND

COLOSSIANS 4:16

“When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.”

I had an image flash through my mind when I read this verse. It was not a spiritual image, more of a memory. I remember sitting at my Grandma Carter’s dining room table with all the family gathered around it. We would have this huge spread of food before us, and after saying grace, we would begin passing it around the table. We made sure everyone got the fried chicken and potato salad. Of course, you have to grab one of Grandma’s “cathead” biscuits and then came all the homegrown vegetables. Yum!

Paul wasn’t fixing Sunday dinner, but he was giving instructions to the church in Colossae to pass on this letter to another church body in Laodicea. They, in turn, would pass the letter they had received (which we don’t have) to them. Today, we would just forward the email or the text, right? You have to remember that back in Paul’s day, letter writing was a laborious process, taking lots of time and resources. That’s why he wanted them to share with each other.

APPLICATION

This seemingly unimportant verse here at the end of Colossians is just as important as any other verse. Why? Because it is part of God’s Word! How do we apply what this verse says? Simple! Pass it around! Share the good news. You have been given the greatest story ever told – Jesus Christ came to die for you, was crucified, buried and rose again to give us eternal life. Woohoo! Pass that on to someone.

There was a song in the 70’s that was popular with the teenagers and young adults entitled “Pass It On.” The lyrics were:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
You spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

Won’t you pass it on this week? Share the good news with your neighbor, friend or a stranger. Don’t keep it to yourself. Pass it along. Just like the fried chicken at my Grandma’s table, pass it along. Let everyone have the opportunity to taste of the goodness of God.

Lord, give me opportunities today to pass on the good news of Your Son to someone.

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Bible, Church, Home, Scripture, Worship

YOUR HOUSE CHURCH

COLOSSIANS 4:15

“Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.”

There is some disagreement whether Nympha was a man or a woman or a family name. In this day of gender disorder, I don’t want you to be confused about this. Nympha comes from nymphe which means “young woman” or “bride.” That is probably the best reason to say this was a Christian woman who had opened her home up as a house church. The name is not the important thing. The important thing is what she did.

Paul obviously knew her or knew a lot about her. In the early church period, people met in homes for worship. Where else would they go? Jewish believers couldn’t worship Jesus in the synagogues. Gentile believers couldn’t enter a pagan temple and worship Him. They bonded together in their homes, sharing meals and praising the Lord. Nympha’s home was a well-known gathering place, and Paul sends his greetings.

APPLICATION

Today, we don’t see a lot of house churches in the West. We have built thousands and thousands of church buildings ranging from mega churches to small country chapels. There has been a movement to start house churches but only out of desire, not necessity.

In many parts of the world, however, house churches are a necessity. For instance, in China house churches are the norm. People have to move from house to house to avoid detection by the Communist government. Christianity is frowned upon, and people can be imprisoned for gathering for worship. House churches there take on the same atmosphere as the first century churches.

Why the history lesson? I want to ask you to make your home a place of worship. I don’t mean that you have to start a house church. But let worship spread through your home, giving glory to Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Let all who enter your home know immediately that Christ reigns there. Don’t wait to go to church on Sunday to worship. Worship every day right in your home.

Father, I commit my home to You to use as You see fit.

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