Christ Magnified in My Body

We have been studying the book of Philippians on Wednesday evenings for the past couple of months. We are looking at it one chapter at a time and answering the following 5 questions:
1. What do I like/dislike about this chapter?
2. What do I not understand about this chapter?
3. What do I see about the nature of God in this chapter?
4. What lessons do I want to take from this chapter?
5. How is my life going to change because of this chapter?

Last night we reviewed the entire chapter and I was reminded about my conviction when we studied chapter 1. In verses 19 and following Paul states,

"For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain..."

Firstly, we need the prayers of others and it is imperative that we are praying for others. For our prayers to be most effective, we need to be in close relationship with God and with each other. You don't need me to pray that God will "help you" or "be with you." He already will and is. You need me to be praying specifically for your needs; for your faith to be strong; for you to be aware of the spiritual blessings awaiting you when your trial is over; for you to be open to how you can bless my life and others' when you have overcome.

Secondly, the supply that comes from the Spirit is more than adequate. Jesus didn't say in John 15 and 16 that he was sending a Helper incapable of fulfilling His purpose of guidance. Paul says later in Philippians 4:19 that God will supply all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Thirdly, Paul's expectation and hope (expectant desire) was to proclaim Jesus as His Christ and that is the reason the prayers of his friends and the Spirit's supply would be effective in delivering him from prison (he was converting his captors in the palace guard.) His hope resulted in him boldly proclaiming Jesus in word but as he says in verse 20, that he also lived Jesus.

When people heard and watched Paul, they saw Jesus. Paul allowed Jesus to be magnified in his life and if need be in his death. Living, for Paul, was Christ. His purpose and reason for being was to testify to the gospel of God's grace (Acts 20:24.) Christ in Paul's life was evident. There was no question who Paul followed and patterned his life after.

When people see me, I wonder sometimes who they see, or better yet, Who they don't see. When I am faced with a situation when I am called to stand up for my belief, I fail to boldly stand up and confess my belief. The ways I react to various situations that make my life inconvenient are telling of the level of my faith. Sometimes, instead of magnifying Christ in my body, I suppress Him. I need the prayers of my brothers and sisters, I need to be praying for my brothers and sisters. Both invite the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and as I am earnestly expecting and hoping for God to dwell in me, Jesus will be magnified. When I try to magnify myself, I may fool some people. I may even fool myself for a short time, but when my goal is to show Jesus to the world by my lifestyle and life, living is Christ. It is this kind of living that makes dying gain. Any other kind of selfish living offers no gain when death visits.

When I make my goal to magnify Christ in my body, I begin to see things like He sees them. My view of people changes. Instead of the physical person, I see a soul. If I don't know them, I would engage conversation to determine the state of that soul. If I do know them, and know they do not have a relationship with God through Jesus, I would invite them to study. When I magnify Christ in my body, the way I lead my family will change. My goals for life will change. My perspective of money will change. My relationships will change.

I could ramble on further, but I have to work on our zero-based budget for Saturday. Right now it is a "below-zero-based" budget. Jack, our minister has said often. "Studying the Bible is not primarily about me studying the Bible, but about me allowing the Bible to study me." When I let the Bible study my life, I am more able to see where I need to change instead of me trying to change the Bible to fit with how I believe or how I am living.

I am thankful Paul wrote the letter to the church in Philippi. We get to study Colossians next. It just keeps getting better!

Financial Peace #2

Well, we have had one class of Financial Peace University and we have already learned some new words; "It's not in the budget." We already knew those words because we had no budget for them to be in. At least not a written budget where every penny coming in for the month was given a name and told where to go before the month began. We are hoping to indocrinate the kids in this new mindset and I think it is catching on already. The other day I needed to buy a USA Today (Prepaid Legal Services was featured on the front page of the Money section; I will be happy to share it with you if you want, just let me know (John)) and when I got back in the van, Anna Clair said loudly, "Hey, that's not in the budget!"

We ate at a new restaurant in Ashville tonight. It's not too often a new restaurant becomes available in Ashville. Except for the one restaurant that keeps changing names or when one of the pizza shops puts up a new sign, (Stewey's Pizza, then Mike's Pizza). They can sure come up with some fancy names for pizza joints can't they? Anyway, the new place tonight we enjoyed was called "Ehlo's". Now you pronounce that just like you would say it if you put the letter 'L' and the letter 'O' together. The food was tasty and the atmosphere was pleasant. The place was decorated in a familiar Mary Engelbreit pattern of bright colors and lots of cherries. I came to find out that "Ehlo's" was in fact the letter 'L' and the letter 'O' put together and it stands for leftovers. That Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University!!

I think we will be amazed at how much frivilous spending we do every month when we sit down and tell the money where to go. We will implement the envelope system next week and will be forced to spend only the money designated for certain things. There will be a blow envelope but I have a feeling that at the beginning we won't be blowing anything. I will keep you posted on how we are doing. Dave walks us through the Baby Steps (there are 7 of them.) We have just about got the first one done and then will begin on the debt snowball. If anyone is interested in a fine, black, 2002 Honda Accord with a sunroof, let me know.

I am thankful that God has brought this into our lives and I know that He will bless our efforts.

Financial Peace

I remember while living in Tennessee listening to WWTN radio and hearing Dave Ramsey's "The Money Game". It is an entertaining financial advice radio show where people call in asking questions regarding the mess their finances are in and Dave offers suggestions for how they might best deal with the situation. He is entertaining and right on the money (no pun intended) most of the time. He explains otherwise boring information in easy-to-understand terms. Dave offers what he calls "Financial Peace University" where he teaches either in a seminar format or on video over a longer period of time, the principles needed to eliminate debt and to save money. He admits that most of his information has been around for many years and is quite simple, but he delivers it in a new way. Most of the people who graduate from FPU eliminate, on average, about $5,300 in debt and save about $2,700 in just 91 days. He teaches budgeting and uses the envelope system which forces you to stick to a budget and use cash for purchases.

Jack, our minister at Circleville, is a certified trainer and we are going through the classes now. Our first class was on Saturday. It is exciting to dream of being debt free and scary at the same time because it will require a change in our behavior and lifestyle. Dave says that you have to get a little crazy and maybe sell some things, which may make the kids think they will be sold next. He also teaches how to teach children about money and how to handle it so that they will learn to handle it and not be handled by money.

I am thankful that God's word has much to say about money and our stewardship of it. I pray that many will benefit from the information in the class and that Jodi and I will grow because of it.

Another Reunion

Well, time has again flown by and left my blogspot a little stale. It seems that I have good intentions but the clock has other ideas. Is it a commitment problem? I don't think so. I am just so busy and don't have the schedule of a "preacher".

This week in Bible class on Wednesday, we were studying from Philippians chapter 1. I was reminded of an episode from 11 years ago that gave me a new perspective of verse 21-25. For me to live is Christ and die is gain (vs 21). Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith... (vs24-25).

If I am alive and haven't passed from this life, my life is Christ. Colossians 1:27 says, "To them God willed to make known the what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 3:3-4 says, "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."

My mission and purpose is to display the character of Jesus in my life so that others may come to know Him through me. As we stated in class on Wednesday, it would be greater to depart and be with God. Paul knew though that his continuing to live was more needful for those he would teach. You never know who will need you in this life. We should always be preparing ourselves to enrich others' lives and be looking for opportunities to share Christ with them. If I am still alive, it is more needful for someone else that I am here. I must not neglect my service as a child of God.

I recall a 95 year old Christian lady in the nursing home. She very much wanted to depart and see her husband and be with the Lord. She would ask me nearly daily, "Why am I still here?" I would answer her that the other residents needed her. It was her custom to walk around the home, barely able to use a walker, and tell everyone she met, "Jesus loves you and I love you. I hope you are having a great day!" I told her that is why she was there. She would shake her head yes and longlingly look out the window.

Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." What a wonderful picture! When Jesus comes again and we all come into His glorious presence, we will see those whose lives we enriched, and those who enriched our lives with spiritual blessing. It is indeed a sobering thought.

I am thankful for those who have enriched my faith. Maybe some of them longed to depart and be with Jesus, but felt the need to remain and tend to mine and others' faith first. May I do the same.