Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)
9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Reflection
In this prayer we see Paul’s heart for the church unfold, summing up how we live as a called people. In every way we are to live lives worthy of the calling we received, lives that God really takes pleasure in: fruitful, in close relationship with God, strengthened by Him at every turn, and always full of joyful thanks and gratitude. God loves for us to live these kinds of lives and by His Spirit empowered us to do so. We were rescued, forgiven, and redeemed to live like this.
Responding to the Transmission
We are called to share in this inheritance. Let’s pray for our communities, campuses and missional groups this prayer that Paul prayed. May we grow up in this calling in every way according to God’s plans and purposes for us. Let’s grab hold of what God is doing in us and through us, His people.
]]>Philippians 1:27-2:11 (NIV)
27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
2:1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Reflection
When reading, some of us tend to skip over the preface and go straight to chapter 1. We might be so used to doing that, that we don’t even realize that a book has a preface. Something similar can happen when we try to live out the calling. We can get caught up in what we are doing that we ‘skip over Christ’, forgetting the reference point for living as a Christian. Not so with Paul. Encouragement for him is sharing in what Christ has done and is doing, and the only way to live is following his example. Christ has to remain the focus throughout, the ‘preface’ of a called people, or we are left only with good deeds and intentions. Here specifically it is the divine humility that Paul is focusing on. God’s people are to be united, sharing in Christ’s humility and service.
Responding to the Transmission
Just like Paul, let’s be led into worship today and caught up into who Christ is and what He has done. Read over the section describing Christ’s humility a few times. Allow the Spirit to give us this deep desire to imitate our Lord in every way and especially in His humility. May this increasingly become the mark of who we are as His people.
]]>2 Peter 1:3-10 (NIV)
3His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
Reflection
No doubt about it, growing up in the calling is hard work. Twice we read here about making ‘every effort’ along with a long list of qualities that we are to excel in. Living and growing in this calling is not something that just happens, something we do casually or even are passive about. But if we skip right to the list we miss out on the how and why. We might find ourselves just taking part in religious routines without any real power to grow. The passage, however, makes clear that power is Christ’s and that He gives us everything we need to live and grow. Empty routine becomes active participation in what Christ is doing in our lives and our communities. A people called are not so just by name, but by every living expression, reflecting the One who calls and empowers us.
Responding to the Transmission
We need real power to live and excel in the calling. The good news is that Christ has already given us everything we need. He calls and He empowers us to bring this calling to full expression in us. If there are things we do that have become dry routines, forgetting why we do them, or as we see qualities of our character that are not increasing in expression like Christ, let’s come to Christ with those areas. Let’s receive again why and how we live and grow. Let’s also pray for our communities that, empowered by the Spirit, we would continue to grow up into living this way together…for the sake of each other and for others to know God’s grace.
]]>Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV)
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Reflection
Time lapse videos enable us to see processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye, such as snow storms or a flower blooming, and allow us to take a step back and see the big picture of how it all came to be. In this passage, Paul pictures Christ as the full-grown man and his church as the body of this full-grown man. However, the church is still in the process of growing up and being built up to the maturity and stature of Christ. Without time lapse, we might be stuck on the circumstances of the church at the current moment, forgetting what God has in store for the calling of his church. If we were to use time lapse to see the church, we would see the big picture in this passage. The aim of the church, what it is, how it works, and what we, the church, have received to do our amazing part. We are to be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. We are to keep unity of the Spirit and to attain unity because it is an ongoing process. We are to be equipped, fixing up the parts that are broken or lacking, and being fitted for God’s service. We are to be gifts that God gives to his people. With all this in store, can we see the big picture now? It is the church body that gives full expression of Christ and God’s plan for eternity.
Responding to the Transmission
We might be thinking about the next minute, the next day, the next week, the next year, but today let’s fast forward and look at God’s blueprint for eternity. Let’s pray that we would grow up and mature into how Christ has called us. Let’s pray for the humility, gentleness, patience, and love towards one another. Let’s pray that we would not be blown by the things of the present moment (struggles and difficulties) but be caught in the expressions of God’s love for each moment and plans for eternity.
]]>Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Reflection
When we are out at our favorite restaurant, we enjoy the aromas that fill the room. Even after we leave, we often still find that aroma clinging to our clothes. When we catch a whiff, we are drawn back to the taste and texture of the things we ate. When we pray genuine prayers for life, we find that prayer fills us and others. Even after our times of prayer as we are doing other things, genuine prayers cling to our bodies, our thoughts, and our actions. The prayer that Paul is sharing with us is a prayer for life, the called life. It is a prayer that is rooted in the Father and reveals to us the extraordinary power available to believers to be able to accomplish far more than we can ordinarily ask or imagine. This comes by the Spirit in the fullness of God. This prayer tells us about God and His salvation and the One who uniquely defines us as we are living out our prayers.
Responding to the Transmission
Let’s declare each sentence in Ephesians 3:14-21 out loud. Unlike the passing of fads, fashion and fame, the prayers declare God’s glory throughout all generations forever and ever. Let’s pray that the truths from Ephesians 3 would endure in our lives.
]]>2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NIV)
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Reflection:
In WWII, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. While in a German prison, he continued to urge the Christian believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of these Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, “Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing.” Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished.”
In this passage, the Apostle Paul also writes from a prison. He is aware that his final days are drawing near and proclaims an incredible vision of grace for Timothy to also pursue – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Timothy is urged to continue the hard work of forwarding the Gospel to the next generation; and once more, Paul encourages him to endure hardship with patience and careful instruction. But over this all, Paul reminds Timothy of the Lord, the righteous judge – the one full of grace and mercy – who will vindicate all who set their hearts to trust Him and live and suffer for His kingdom.
Responding to the message:
The Apostle Paul lived with one sole passion of advancing the Gospel, which then motivated him to work hard. He was absolutely relentless and held onto the Gospel even in the toughest of situations. Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Spirit’s empowerment for the endurance to fight through even the tough times so that the Gospel will be proclaimed with our lives.
]]>2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NIV)
13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Reflection:
“Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc…” permeates every part of today’s society. Everyone has the freedom to choose how he/she wants to live this life and even the way truth is perceived. Values and morality are starting to become irrelevant as we watch or read the news each day. Many professing Christians have even compromised the Word of God by adapting this type of thinking and by allowing societal norms to become their own.
Until the day Christ returns, we shouldn’t expect the world to get any better. In fact, Paul is saying that things will get worse, reminding Timothy that Christians will be persecuted. Paul declares to Timothy and to us, “But as for you…” the Spirit in us is one of power and through God’s Word we are transformed. The Word is not just information, it is actually part of the process of the Spirit making us wise, teaching and correcting us, training us in what is good and just, that we may thoroughly live as servants of the Lord.
Responding to Transmission:
The Word of God is the only real truth today. The Spirit has opened our eyes to this truth and continues to shape our lives through the Scriptures. Let’s pray for the Spirit’s continued guidance in teaching us and empowering us through God’s Word.
]]>2 Timothy 2:20-22 (NIV)
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Reflection:
Crafting a high quality sword is a complex process, which requires much expertise and time. The process requires a combination of many factors including choosing the right steel with the right carbon content, purification of the metal, blade design, and the actual forging process under high heat. When done properly the result is a beautiful and strong instrument, an instrument ready to be tested in battle.
As Christians, we have been given the wonderful opportunity of becoming useful instruments of the Lord as we join Him in the advancement of His Kingdom. In this life, we are faced with choices that will lead us down either an honorable or dishonorable path, but we have been called by the Lord to honor him; being prepared to do His good work. In this passage, Timothy is encouraged to run, to flee from anything that would be dishonorable. Instead, he is to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, together with the community of believers in seeking a pure heart before the Lord.
Responding to the Transmission:
Yes, we have been called for greater things in this life, and as we choose to honor the Lord we will be shaped into useful instruments for the Lord’s service. Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Spirit’s empowering to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace together with the community; seeking a pure heart before the Lord.
]]>2 Timothy 1:9-14 (NIV)
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Reflection:
Today, we may not suffer the same type of persecution as the Apostle Paul, but we will face hardships in various ways as we live for Christ. Even during childhood, a simple prayer before lunch at school can be met with opposition and mockery from other children. As we persevere and choose to live for Christ throughout our various life stages, suffering will likely come in different ways and forms in this world.
Paul reminds Timothy of the Gospel, and of his own loyalty to the Gospel to the point of suffering. But more importantly, Paul reminds Timothy of God’s commitment to guard what he has entrusted to Him until the final day. So through the difficult and challenging times, Paul in turn urges Timothy to keep the Gospel as his pattern of sound teaching with faith and love in Christ, and to stay loyal to the Gospel by the power of the Spirit who lives in him.
Responding to the Transmission:
Even in today’s culture with it’s various types of teaching, the gospel stands as the only pattern of sound teaching. Let’s spend time in prayer today asking for the Spirit’s empowering to stay loyal to the Gospel.
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