Philippians 2 ~ The work of Christ - risking His Life

Philippians 2

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.


19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.



C.E. Christ Eternal. I was thinking about this today. How can we call this a common era? I suppose we could look at this as the New Covenant. Jesus died to extend God's blessings to all of mankind. We would hold this in common - to call upon Jesus Christ and hold Him in our heart would put Christ in all. I'd still prefer to say Christ Eternal!


The Roman Empire did agree time was counting down and then counting up. And the Birth of Jesus Christ was known to the Empire fairly soon upon the completion of Jesus' Victory over death - bringing us - today - a new Heaven and a new earth. We were listening to "History on Fire" podcast explained by history professor Daniele Bolelli. Professor Bolelli makes a valid point. We downgrade the current generation as being cold and self motivated. Cortez and his men had apologies made to them, for surviving a battle, by human sacrifice and blood of these men and boys sprinkled on their food. Millennials rarely do this. Cortez had battle apologies made by being handed young women as sex slaves. Millennials - not so much. One nations refused to speak to the next nation after the Princess Bride was sacrificed and as the wedding guests waited for their Princess to be married, the priest came in wearing her flayed skin. I believe when we say Christ Eternal - we miss some of the sheer magnificence of God's Goodness.

Christ Eternal would be a strong path to point in our lives - Christ Abiding - we say The Pentateuch is boring... This is what God was saving us from. Casual human sacrifice was not to occur for God's people.


We've had a hard weekend in our nation. Violence, murder, Little Rock (according to the newspaper I saw in Little Rock there was a city rally that had violence), Charlottesville, Chicago, Portland. The radio commentator said with the odd Presidential race and splintered 2 Parties of our Nation - we do not feel our voices are heard and we face unrest. This is well said.

God has seen this before. And He tells us about exactly this.

Philippians 2 says when we turn our self interest into the main focus of life - we have lost our way. Successful Psychologists and Churches realize sinking into our own interests fails to raise us up to see the Good of God. If we spend all of our time looking at our problems and never appreciate our blessings - griping about the Millennials and this present suffering seems insurmountable.

Pleasing the Vast God of the Vast Universe - not so difficult. When God tells us His salvation is Very Wide - we know to please God is to believe Him and to try with the small amount of ability our dust in the wind lives have to bless each other. God would take the dust we form, breathe on our efforts and these bones will live again. And at the end of the day as we find what Mercy God renewed in our lives - we can smile knowing Father God has been pleased with me - you - His Child. We tried.



Abba our Father,

You have Proclaimed in Jesus as we believe - we are Your Child. Increase the Holy Spirit in me. Increase the Holy Spirit in the ones I love. And we will anticipate the Joy and Strength of being those who Love You.

Agree to Pray and Do This

Abba, How will we see an end to this present suffering? Realizing times change, for the worse or better there is always change. When we extend our lives to help others - when we pray for the Holy Spirit to come into the ones we love. We will see Prayers answered.

When in Joy we put down our own problems to see what is Good. And celebrate this.

Father God, we recall the baker who remembered to help Joseph from days and days past. "Today I Remember" and will help. We remember Birmingham was called Bombingham. We remember the movie "Woodlawn" and the Billy Graham words that the Light of Jesus has overcome and will overcome. And Believe. Thanking You we are the Generation
who make the moves about "Woodlawn".

We pray for reminders to have patience, to hold our Joy. To hold our Truth. To snip off worry. To cut off the time that is past and Let us Celebrate God and His Will and Word for a Hope and a Future.


Thank You for Jesus, who loves and loves us and we find the Way forward.

Thank You God for My Blessings, Lord Jesus. Because of Your Great Mercy, Jesus Lord God. Amen and Amen in Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †