Monthly Archives: January 2025

A PARTNER’S REWARD

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Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9] “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

God does not call us to sacrifice without sacrifice’s reward. Sacrifice itself is not giving up but exchanging one state for another and reaping the reward of the sacrifice. Jesus exchanged heaven for earth and life for death for our salvation. He reaped the reward of an eternal family just like Himself and a crown to rule the universe because He was worthy.

Hebrews 2:10-11 NIV
[10] “In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. [11] Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

Even Isaiah, many centuries before Jesus came, saw Messiah’s reward in his prophetic vision.

Isaiah 53:10-12 NLT
[10]”But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. [11] When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. [12] I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”

Only through His harmony of purpose with the Father, even to an ignominious death on a Roman execution stake, could Jesus accomplish the greatest event in human history. However much people ignore, deny, or repudiate Jesus’s death on the cross, He died and…resurrection happened.. and cannot be disproved. He lives today in glory, exalted to the Father’s right hand, the place of honour and power even greater that He enjoyed before His coming to earth, to rule the nations as Lord, Supreme Authority.

Psalms 2:6-8 NLT
[6] “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” [7] The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. [8] Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”

Hebrews 1:3 NLT
[3] “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”

No sacrifice is without its reward. When we, even as frail humans, partner with the Father in His call to ministry, whatever suffering or deprivation is included, we can be sure that there is a reward to follow.

1 Peter 5:10 NLT
[10]”In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

This is the hope that takes the sting out of our suffering. Paul knew and testified to this hope that kept him steadfast through all his trials. He pinned his hope on God’s promise of a reward far greater than the sum of all he had suffered. He even gloried in his pain, not as some kind of fatalist but because it was the guarantee of an inheritance he would share with Jesus.

Romans 8:17 NLT
[17] “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

Our attitude to the temporary suffering we endure now will determine its effect in us. Paul said, “Keep going. It won’t last forever. There’s an unimaginable reward ahead.” Our moaning and complaining will dull the anticipation of glory ahead. Instead, if we glory in our suffering now because suffering with joy heralds God’s pleasure, it will produce the rewards of character now, and guarantee a great reception at the end of our journey.

It’s not the actual suffering with Jesus that is the issue. It’s the attitude we have towards our suffering that God is testing. If we suffer in any way with unshakeable confidence in God’s love, no matter what happens, then we share the heart of Jesus towards the Father.

Peter and James learned the same lesson.

1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT
[6] “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. [7] These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

James 1:2-4 NLT
[2] “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. [3] For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

A PARTNER’S PATTERN

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Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
[6] “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

How humbling to read the story of Jesus in Paul’s summary! How insightful of Paul to present the life of Jesus from heaven to earth as a ladder down which He stepped through the process of humbling Himself to the greatest humiliation at the hands of his tormentors… down from His glorious position… down from heaven’s privileges…down from His place of honour and power, down, down, down, far lower than any other human had ever stepped. The lower He stepped, the greater His humiliation…down to becoming human…a slave…nothing! A criminal, a prisoner, a corpse!

This, said Paul, is the template we must use as the measure that shapes our attitudes in this life. No matter how much we humble ourselves, no matter how much we are humiliated for His sake, we will never reach the depths to which Jesus sank for us.

What was it that led Jesus to choose this descent from heaven’s glory to death on a Roman torture stake? What motivated Him to accept this path above His place in glory?

How often we hear, read, that it was Jesus’ love for us, lost humans, that caused Him to leave heaven and come down to die for us! Perhaps it was but, far greater, if we dare compare, was His love for the Father that kept Him steadfast and on track, from the throne to the cross.

This love for the Father, and His determined purpose to preserve the unity between them, dominates His story in John’s gospel. John, above any other gospel writer, records in Scripture something of the intensity of Jesus’ love for God. Partnership, unity, submission, obedience, delight and pleasure, nurtured, fostered, and bolstered by hours in prayer when others slept, are all entwined in His love for the Father. Not one shred of His own will or personal desires interfered with His absolute commitment to the Father’s will, down to the shedding of His last drop of blood. Even the agony He anticipated as He faced the horror of the cross could not deter Him from His obedience to God.

How can anyone match this template of love and oneness with the Father, yet Paul calls Jesus’ followers to imitate Him. Although it may never be possible for anyone to come close to such a commitment, Paul holds this example before us as the ideal. The writer to the Hebrews urges us to do the same.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
[1] “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

If Jesus did this for us for love of the Father, we too are called to serve one another for love of Jesus. Peter had to face this test…

John 21:15 NLT
[15]”After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.”

We may never be called to suffer as Jesus did but, even in the routine of our lives, He calls us to do everything for love of Him. He has sheep to feed and lambs to tend and we are His hands and hearts that do it for Him.

If we hold His template before us and carry out our duties for His sake, we will also hear His commendation at the end of time…

Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
[34]“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. [36] I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ [37] “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? [39] When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40] “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “

The secret is simple…we must fasten our inner eyes in Him and trust in the promise of God’s grace to do what, in our own strength, we cannot do. This is the partnership that drives all partnerships, being so joined to Him that we live and move as one.

We must not dread or avoid suffering of whatever kind we are called to endure and treat it as our enemy. We must embrace it as a friend and partner with it as our ally because it’s through suffering that we are refined, purified, and made holy for our eternity with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their eternal realm. Together with the Holy Spirit’s ministry in us through the Word, we learn to win the war against the flesh, our greatest, most powerful enemy, through our tests and trials, and…our love for Jesus provides our passion to overcome.

PARTNERS WITH ATTITUDE

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Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
[3] “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. [4] Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Three ways in which our attitudes matter… to avoid selfish attitudes which alienate us from one another and to cultivate the godly attitudes that foster the love and unity that keep us on track towards maturity in the church.

Paul fleshes out the attitude of the believer compared with the attitude of people in the world. How important that we take notice of these contrasts lest we allow the world’s attitudes to creep into the church.

Selfishness underpins worldly attitudes. Whatever ungodly people think, say, or do, their first consideration is to promote or protect themselves. Self-defence, for example, is one way of hiding the truth. Pride hates to be exposed. People blame, excuse, or lie to defend their reputation, alienating themselves from others instead of coming clean.

Selfish ambition causes people to climb on others to achieve their goals. The desire to Impress others often makes people dishonest, pretending to be more than they are. The more these attitudes creep into the church, the more artificial we become and the farther we drift from each other and from unity.

We can try to impress others through dishonesty or covering up our faults and failures but, eventually, the truth will come out. How much better to be transparent even when we are in the wrong. If holiness is so important to God, we must allow no taint of self to mar the fellowship of God’s people.

Paul encouraged humility, the attitude that is willing to be who we are because, first, we are all guilty of failure, so ptetandingvto be faultless is lying and, second, because honesty and confession keep us open to one another.

Our objective in the fellowship of the church family is to preserve unity and promote love. Selfish ambition, dishonesty, pride of one form or another, will muddy the love and unity we must promote as children of God.

Another way in which selfishness rears its ugly head is in the subtle attitude that we are better than others. It’s called “comparison.” When we compare ourselves with others in the fellowship, pride creeps in. If we consider ourselves better or worse , pride is at work. The underlying attitude is “Look at me!”

How often I catch myself thinking…,”Im not like that” …or, “I wouldn’t do that!” That’s pride. What about, “I’m not as good as…” or “I can’t do that.” Pride in reverse! Both attitudes alienate us from others.

It seems so easy for Paul to say, “Don’t do this…” or “Don’t be like that…” but what can I do to alter my disposition? My old nature, with its deeply entrenched selfishness, is still at work in me. All my efforts to think or act differently don’t work. There is only one solution… GRACE.

We can even change our attitudes through God’s grace. Hope is kindled in my heart, even if I don’t want to change, when I remember that outside of my union with Jesus, I can do nothing. If He wants me to change my attitude towards others, He will do the changing as I yield to Him because of our partnership. This is grace.

All the fruits that grow from our union with Jesus can only happen by God’s grace, His attitude of mercy and goodness to us.

Grace is available in abundant measure but we can only experience God’s grace when we reach the end of ourselves. God will never help us until we stop trying to do it ourselves and start trusting Him.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT
[8] “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Did you notice Paul’s words, “Three times…”? This is the way God works. He often tests our determination before He acts for us. So, patience is another attitude we can add to our list of attitudes towards each other that we must cultivate. As difficult as applying these attitudes may seem, we trust the Lord that He is working to reproduce the image of His Son in us. And He will because He always partners with us to fulfill His purpose.

PARTNERS WITH GRACE

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Philippians 2:1-2 NLT
[1] “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

Look at these qualities that foster
unity!

Encouragement…comfort…
fellowship…tenderness and compassion…all so real in God’s people but so foreign to people who don’t know Jesus. These are “kingdom” characteristics that are formed in people who have been joined to Jesus by faith and are growing in maturity…the love and unity the Holy Spirit produces.

Not only did Paul desire and call for all the aspects of partnership we have already explored, but he also pointed them to partnership which grew from within. The inward qualities of a believer, the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s transformation, made unity possible.

It’s all about attitude. This is what Meta says about attitude.

“Attitude refers to a person’s perspective, outlook, or disposition towards something, often influenced by their emotions, experiences, and values. It encompasses their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, shaping how they interact with and respond to various situations, people, and environments.”

That’s comprehensive, isn’t it! Paul points to the importance of the attitude that shapes the way God’s children navigate the world and relationships with people, with all their trials, temptations and challenges.

God’s grace has made this transformation possible. Without Him, people are doomed to live selfish, aggressive, and hostile lives, always pleasing and protecting themselves at the expense of others. Grace has freed us from the “me first” attitude that is self-destructive. “Ingrown eyeballs” give way to the attitude Jesus displayed…the self-giving love that made salvation possible.

The attitude of God’s children focuses on being and doing whatever builds others up. When believers foster this all-encompassing attitude, and partner with the character of Jesus in their hearts, they will find no place for selfish ambition and self-gratification in their relationships with others.

How important, then, that we apply this truth to ourselves. God has given us the priceless gift of His Spirit to align us with all the fruits of His grace. Not only has He provided the Spirit’s presence and power to transform our attitudes but He has also given us the supreme of all examples to follow…Jesus Himself, the epitome of perfect obedience and unselfish giving!

There is a particular challenge for preachers, teachers, and writers of the Word. How easy to become hypocrites by reading and expanding on God’s Word for the benefit of others without taking heed to what the Word is saying. We can eagerly press others into obedience without obeying ourselves!

There are no trials and tests in life beyond us if we heed God’s promise of enough grace for every situation. With the strength of His grace, we can be overcomers in our struggle against the pull of the flesh.

Let me illustrate. I have an elderly friend who struggles with memory loss. As her condition worsened, I became increasingly impatient and irritated with her. Try as I did to overcome my attitude, , I left her after each encounter feeling guilty and ashamed of falling repeatedly into the same trap. I cried out for God’s grace but it seemed that God was deaf.

After weeks of struggling with myself, something changed in me. The struggle was over. Grace began to free me from myself. What was difficult became easy. I began to interact with her with compassion and patience. God’s love in me which had evaded me for so long, began to change my attitude towards her.

You see, I realised that partnering with God’s grace is real. It cannot happen through self-effort. I think the Lord allowed me to struggle for a while to show me that it was He, through His Spirit in me, that made the change not me by the power of my self-will.

So, in all the issues of our lives, this partnership with the Holy Spirit is our only hope of obeying the Lord and producing the fruit that is evidence of God’s Spirit at work in us.

PARTNERS IN UNITY

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Philippians 1:27-28 NIV
[27] “Whatever 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 [28] without 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.”

“Striving as one…” It must have been comforting for Paul to know that he was not alone in his efforts to spread the gospel. As much as he was preaching and teaching wherever he went, he was also fighting the good fight of faith…the daily struggle to subdue his old nature by faith in Christ, his hope of glory.

How vital it was for Paul and all his fellow believers, not only in Philippi but also wherever a fellowship of believers was established in cities and towns across the empire, to be living witnesses to the power of the gospel in a spiritually dark and pagan world. It was not enough to believe in Jesus. Their faith must be lived every day and in every way for them to testify to His saving power.

Jesus gave His disciples a commission…to BE His witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit in them.

Acts 1:8 NIV
[8] “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Being His witnesses meant believing in His work of salvation through His death…and living lives that reflect His nature in them by identifying with Him in His death.

2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV
[15] “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Romans 6:3-4 NIV
[3] “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

The greatest work of the believer, even above serving Jesus, is the work of overcoming the flesh to live lives of submission and obedience to the Master. Why do I say this? Living righteous lives in obedience to Jesus is the hallmark of every believer, the evidence that God’s grace has changed a person from rebel to son, gladly submitting to and obeying Jesus as Lord. Holy lives, so days the Father, are imperative is we ever to see Him.

Hebrews 12:14 NLT
[14] “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”

John 14:21 NIV
[21] “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

On the strength of this truth, Paul made a startling statement. It’s this evidence, increasing likeness to Jesus, that both confirms our salvation AND unbelievers’ judgment.

Philippians 1:28 NLT
[28] “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”

Unity, then, goes beyond being one in faith and fellowship. Unity is the oneness of heart and experience that embraces two important functions of every believer, and strives together to accomplish two important purposes…

Philippians 1:27 NLT
[27]”Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.”

First, they must overcome their old nature to live righteous lives as is worthy of the gospel,…

Philippians 1:27 NLT
[27] Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ…

…and they must protect and preserve the body of truth, called “the faith” which is the whole gospel of Jesus, intact and unchanged.

“…Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.”

“Together” means the unity which leaves no room for dissention. They must stand as one against all opposition, from outsiders who hate them and from insiders who try to distort the gospel.

This unity is not only essential in every fellowship but a powerful barrier against the enemy’s intrusion.

The deep, inward, unifying power, which the Holy Spirit accomplishes in them, can only happen as each believer is committed to Jesus first and then to loving submission to one another under Jesus’ authority, but, said Paul, every person plays a part in preserving this unity.

Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT
[3] “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

Unity can be disrupted by just one dissenter, either practising sin or distorting the truth of the gospel. Therefore, “strive together” are the operative words. Each person must constantly take stock of his/her life first and tenacious cling to what is good in life and doctrine.