Tag: Christ’s example

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1 Peter

Living as servants of God (Part 2)

1 Peter

I suppose one of the groups of people that had the hardest time submitting to authority were the slaves in Peter’s time.

One of the things that had to attract them to the teaching of Christ was the idea that “there is neither…slave nor free…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

And yet, they were still stuck in a situation where that didn’t seem true. They were slaves of another.

Some had masters that were good and kind. But others had masters that were far from either. And sometimes these slaves were beaten for no good reason.

It would be easy in that situation for the slaves to feel like running away or rebelling.

But Peter told them,

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also those who are harsh.

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?

But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:18-20)

In short, continue to treat your masters with respect, even if you feel that they don’t deserve it. In doing this, you prove yourself to be a true servant of God and he will commend you for it.

None of us, I’m sure, have to endure this kind of thing. Even people who have “slave-drivers” for bosses have the option to leave. Slaves in Peter’s day didn’t.

But there are those of us who are ill-treated by others for no reason. Even worse, someone who has authority over you may be treating you this way, and it may not be easy for you to get out of the situation.

It may be a parent. It may be a teacher. Or it may indeed be a boss in a job that you absolutely have to have. But whatever the case, you’re feeling beat down and can see no way out.

And it would be easy in those situations to show disrespect back to those who disrespect you. To abuse those who abuse you.

But to be a servant of Christ means to follow his example in the face of suffering. Or as Peter puts it, to “follow in Christ’s steps.” (21)

Christ, of course, was spat upon, slandered, beaten, and ultimately crucified. But in the midst of it all,

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.

Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (22-23)

Why did he do all this? For us.

And he did this not so that we would continue to walking in sin, living for ourselves. But rather that we might, “die to sin and live for righteousness,” living as his servants and ambassadors. (24)

Once we had been going our own way, far from God, and making a wreck of our lives. But through Christ, he has healed our wounds, and we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. (24-25)

So let us not go back to our old ways, inflicting wounds on those around us, even when they seem intent on inflicting wounds upon us.

Rather let us live as God’s servants, following the example Christ gave us, and being his representatives of light, even to those who abuse us.

Am I saying then that if your health or life is in danger to stay in that situation? Not at all. Get out of there. Protect yourself.

But in all your dealings with those who abuse you, treat them as Christ treated those who abused him.

And God will ultimately reward and bless you for it.

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Philippians

Following the example of Christ (part 2)

PhilippiansHope

I wrote a few days ago about how we are to follow the example of Christ.

In looking at Paul’s words here in this chapter talking of himself, it struck me that a lot of what he said could be seen in a different perspective, particularly in light of chapter 2.

Paul said that whatever he had once considered profitable to him, whether it was his status as a Jew and a Pharisee, or all he had accomplished in following the law, he considered loss for the sake of Christ.

In fact he considered everything a loss compared to having a personal relationship with Christ. He considered them all garbage in order that he might gain Christ and be clothed in His righteousness.

And now his chief desire was to know Christ, to know the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and his death, and ultimately, to rise with Christ someday.

In the same way, whatever had been to Christ’s profit, he considered loss for our sake.

He considered all that he had in heaven a loss compared to having a relationship with us.

He considered it garbage that he may gain us and that he might clothe us with his righteousness as we put our faith in him.

He wants us to know him, to share in the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and to be raised in glory just as he was.

That’s why he went to the cross. That’s why he suffered for us.

And if he did that for us, how can we not do the same for him?

If he gave up everything for us, how can we not give up everything for him?

May we all follow his example each day.

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Philippians

Following the example of Christ

PhilippiansHope

After sharing with the Philippians how they should follow the example of Christ, Paul talks of two men who did just that.

Paul says of a man named Timothy (the same one found in I and II Timothy),

I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests,not those of Jesus Christ. 

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.  (Philippians 2:20-22)

Paul had exhorted the Philippians earlier,

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (4)

And now here, he tells the Philippians, “Timothy is such a man. So many others live only for themselves.

“But Timothy is different. He has followed Christ’s example and he is genuinely concerned for you and is interested in your welfare. More, he has been faithful in serving with me for the sake of the gospel.”

Paul then commended another man named Epaphroditus.  Epaphroditus apparently had been sent by the Philippians to help Paul in his ministry. But while he was with Paul, he got sick and nearly died. And so Paul was sending him back.

Lest the Philippians think that Epaphroditus was somehow a failure, however, Paul told them, “He is my brother, my fellow worker, and fellow soldier.” More, he told them,

Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. (29-30)

Just as Christ had been willing to lay down his life to do the Father’s will, Epaphroditus had done the same. And so Paul said, “Welcome him with honor. You would do well to follow his example.”

And so would we. How are you living? Are you looking toward the interests of others above your own? Or are you still looking out for number one?

Are you still living for yourself? Or are you willing to do anything the Father tells you, even if it costs you your very life?

Oh it may not cost you your literal life. But God may call you to leave your job. He may call you to leave your country. He may call you to leave your comfortable life in order to serve him. Will you do it?

Will you follow these men’s example? More importantly, will you follow Christ’s?

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Philippians

What the gospel is all about

Jesus

We saw last time that Paul tells us to live a life worthy of the gospel. But what is that gospel?  He makes it crystal clear in chapter 2.

The gospel is all about Christ,

who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

Think about that a moment. Jesus was by his very nature God. But he did not say, “I am equal to the Father and the Spirit. Why should I be the one that goes down to save a wretched, rebellious people?”

Instead, he made himself nothing. He let go of the glory that rightfully belonged to him as God and he became a mere man. And not a king among mere men. But a mere carpenter born of a poor family.

More, he didn’t come doing his own will as he had every right to do. Instead, he came as a servant, humbling himself, doing only what his Father in heaven told him to do.

And when the Father told him, “It is time to die for the sins of the world,” Jesus replied, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Why? Because he loved the Father. And because he loved us. And because of that love, he was willing to lay down everything that was rightfully his to die a shameful death on the cross.

But the gospel doesn’t end there. For Paul says,

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (9-11)

God not only raised Jesus from the dead, but has now placed him above all things as head and ruler over all.

And the day will come when all who are saved will fall at his feet in worship, proclaiming him as Lord, unified as one under him, a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, holy and blameless, to the glory of the Father.

It is this gospel that Paul says we are to live lives worthy of. Since Christ did all this for us, how can we not follow his example? As Paul said,

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.  (5)

We are now united with Christ. How can we not live as he did? How can we not show tenderness and compassion as Christ did, even to those who reject us?

Since we will one day all together worship him as Lord, how can we not now love one another, and work with one another for his kingdom?

And how can we not throw aside selfishness, putting our brothers and sisters’ interests above our own, and laying down our lives for them as Christ did for us?

How about you? Do you believe the gospel? And if you do, are you living this gospel every day?

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2 Corinthians

Seeing beyond ourselves

2 Corinthians

As I was rereading 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, it struck me that Paul was truly following the pattern of Christ.

If Christ had merely been concerned about his own comfort, he would never have come to earth.

He would never have been born in a stable. He would never have lived in a poor carpenter’s house. He would never have gone days at a time without a place to lay his head. He most certainly would never have gone to the cross.

But he did. Why?

For our comfort and salvation.

We were miserable because of all the sin and evil in this world. More, we were headed for destruction. And because Christ saw all of that, he gave up the comfort of his life in heaven and allowed himself to become afflicted for us.

Paul saw Christ’s example, and he followed it.

For the sake of the Corinthians and all those he was serving, he was willing to go through shipwrecks, imprisonment, times of hunger and want, and persecution.

Why? Because he saw beyond his own comfort. And he saw the utter hurt and need of these people he was ministering to.

Even when Paul experienced comfort, his focus wasn’t completely on himself.

Rather, he saw it as being an encouragement to the Corinthians. That they would see that Paul’s troubles, hard though they were, were nevertheless temporary. That he found relief and God’s joy.

And so as they went through their own trials, they would have hope that just as Paul had found God’s comfort in his life, they would eventually find comfort as well.

With that hope, it would then give them the courage to endure any troubles that they suffered through.

It can be so easy to be self-centered. To, as I said yesterday, live like a sponge simply soaking up God’s love and to just live a comfortable life.

But God calls us to see beyond ourselves. To follow Christ’s example and be willing to give up our comforts, and even be willing to suffer that others may be saved.

If that’s ever going to happen, though, we need the eyes of Jesus. Eyes that see the utter hurt and need of the people around us. Eyes that drove Jesus to the cross.

Do you have those eyes?