Daily Encouragement

June 7, 2009 - Christ, My Mind

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (v. 5a), God's words says. What kind of mind is the emphasis here? It is a mind of humility, lowliness and preference for others which leads to unity in the church. (v. 1-4 NKJV)

The Apostle Paul describes Christ's mind like this: "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (v. 6-8 ESV) It takes a mind that is confident and assured of oneself to be able to manifest this kind of humility. People can see that. This is the kind of mind that will eventually shine as star in this dark world. This can be the blessed mind that would minister to the needs of the church. This is the mind that would inspire trust.

Like Jesus who has been highly exalted by God, (v. 9-11) we too will be granted a crown to rule with Him when He comes. (Revelation 3:21, 22:5)

June 8, 2009 - Christ, My Goal

Meditation on Philippians 3

Paul says, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (v. 8 ESV) Knowing Jesus Christ was his goal in life. He was very proud of his ancestry. He was very devoted to his religion. He studied under the best scholar in his time. He counted himself righteous under the law. But all these cannot match building up a personal relationship with Jesus.

For Paul, knowing Jesus involves experiencing the power of Christ's resurrection as well as sharing the fellowship of the suffering of Jesus. (v. 10) Furthermore, Paul did not consider himself as perfect in that knowledge. He said that one thing he does: "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (v. 13b-14)

Paul wants us to join in imitating him. May we all make knowing Christ as our biggest goal in life. For we shall all be resurrected and see Him face to face.

June 9, 2009 - Christ, My Strength

Meditation on Philippians 4

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (v. 13 NKJV) is the verse that most Christians love very much. As we live for Christ everyday, sometimes we may find ourselves tired and weak. But we can pray and trust in Him to give us strength for our tasks and be renewed in our body, mind and spirit as the apostle Paul had testified in his letter here and elsewhere. Each of us can experience the reality of such blessing time and time again.

In the context of this chapter, we can learn to be content in every circumstance and not be anxious in any situation as a result of Christ's strengthening and guarding us with His peace. Furthermore, God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory to us who serve Him.

For these reasons, all Christians should rejoice always. And we should bear more fruits for Him.

June 10, 2009 - Christ, Preeminent

Meditation on Colossians 1

The letter of Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to refute the false teaching of putting Christ lower than God Himself. Today, we still hear this kind of cult. They would use the phrase in verse fifteen referring Christ as "the first-born of all creation" to prove that Christ existed later than God.

But they have totally misinterpreted the meaning of "first-born". This expression was used to define privilege and right rather than the order of birth in the Bible. For example, firstborn was appointed in Psalm 89:27, "I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth." (NIV) When Jacob gave his last blessings to Joseph's two sons, he purposely gave the blessings of the first born to the young one, Ephraim rather than Manasseh, the first son. Therefore the Scriptures says in Jeremiah 31:9, "...and Ephraim is my firstborn son." Also, Israel was called God's firstborn in Exodus 4:22 though they were not the first people born. For they held first place in God's heart.

So Colossians 1:15 just emphasizes the fact that Jesus owns the right of all creation because all things were created by Him. (v.16a) And in Him all things are held together. (v. 17) Jesus was before all things and will rule over all things in heavens and earth.

Let us praise Him and dedicated our lives to "Christ first."

June 11, 2009 - You Are Complete In Christ

Meditation on Colossians 2

The apostle Paul continued to deal with the false teachings and cults at Colosse. They mixed Christian beliefs with human philosophy which claimed that Christ was a being lower than God. But Paul pointed out that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (v. 9) We need to pay attention to the phrase, "fullness of Godhead". Christ is God Himself. And in the beginning He was God. (John 1:1)

In verse ten, "and you are complete in Him," (NKJV) Paul dealt with the other kind of false teachings such as legalism, mysticism and asceticism.

Since Christ has died on the cross for all of us, He has nailed all the handwriting of requirements that was against us to the cross. He was even circumcised for us spiritually by taking away the sins of the flesh. Therefore we are no longer required to follow the legalistic traditions of keeping seasons and festivals which are a shadow of the things to come. But the substance is Christ. (v. 11-17)

Neither should we worship angels or imaging other mystical things. We should only hold on to Christ who will nourish us to grow. (v. 18-19)

Also we should not subject ourselves to regulations that say do not touch, do not taste, do not handle according to the commandments of men. These things only made ourselves proud in self-imposed disciplines and false humility which are of no value against the flesh. (v. 20-23)

How comforting we are to know that we are complete in Him. We do not need to add to Christ's teaching with our own ideas or so called wisdom. Hold on to Him and His word and we will grow in the experiential knowledge of God.

June 12, 2009 - Your Old Life Have Died

Meditation on Colossians 3

In order to live a victorious Christian life, you must consider in your mind that your old life is dead and that you are living a new life. The Scriptures says, "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (v. 3 NASB) Once you realize that you are dead already, the temptation, the sinful nature, all the worries and anxiety cannot bother you any more. Then you are looking to set your mind on the heavenly things in Christ. You will follow after the new things in Him. Trust and rely on the Holy Spirit to put to death also all the deeds of the flesh that are contrary to God's will. (v. 5-9)

But put on the new self who is relying on the Holy Spirit to produce in you the characters of Christ. That is to let the Word of God richly dwell in your heart. Then you can follow the pattern of the new man which is clearly laid out for you from verses ten to seventeen of this chapter.

In another word, you need to admit that you cannot live this Christian life by your own strength and talent at all. But you must trust in Christ and His written Word to live the new life that is hidden in Him, knowing that you are secure in Him.

June 13, 2009 - Gracious Words

Meditation on Colossians 4

God's word teaches us how to relate to non believers in Colossians 4:5-6, "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (NKJV)

In order to conduct our lives with wisdom, we need to know how to talk with others with gracious words. That means that our conversation should be complimentary, godly, gentle, kind and loving. Furthermore, it should be seasoned and tasteful. Salt has the function of preventing corruption. How we need wisdom to turn a bitter and nasty outburst into charitable and sunny conversation.

I believe the implication in the verses above is that the Holy Spirit also wants us to make use of any opportunity we have to lead others to know the Lord. Our chat with a non believing friend may have an impact to lead this person to seek God's help in his life.

May God grant us the gracious words to witness for Him this day!