Readings for today: Philippians 1-4
If you are like me, prayer isn’t always easy. It’s hard to know what to say to the Lord of the universe. What do you tell someone who already knows everything? How do you talk to someone who doesn’t always talk back? At least in an audible way? What do you do when it feels like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling or you can’t seem to find the right words or you feel like you’re just going through the motions? For me, that’s when it’s time to go back to the Scriptures and read over the kinds of prayers God’s people have been praying for centuries.
The first one that comes to mind is the Lord’s Prayer, of course. The Psalms are next as they express the full range of human emotions and can help us find our “voice” again. But then you run across prayers like the one we read out of Philippians today. I love it. Listen to it from the Message version, “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 MSG) Isn’t that awesome? Paul is literally in prison, potentially awaiting his death, and how does he spend his time? He’s praying for his brothers and sisters in Philippi to increase in love. I can think of no better prayer to pray!
Paul is an amazing man. As you read Philippians today, listen to how little Paul thinks of himself. From a human perspective, he has every right to complain. Every right to demand justice from God like Job. Every right to be angry with where his life has ended up. After all, has he not given up everything to follow Christ? And this is his reward? Thankfully, Paul left the “human perspective” behind a long time ago. He now sees the world as Christ sees it. It’s why he calls the Philippians to have the mind of Christ. It’s why he can say to them that to “live is Christ and to die is gain.” It’s why he points them to the love of Christ even as he languishes in a prison cell awaiting execution. Paul lives a “lover’s life” to the very end. He never stops preaching. Never stops making Jesus Christ attractive to everyone he meets. He wants everyone to get involved “in the glory and praise of God.” And for that great end, he is willing to give his life.
I still remember going to Africa for the very first time. Meeting church planters in some of the most remote areas on earth who also lived “a lover’s life.” Like Paul, they too were willing to sacrifice everything for the privilege of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. I was changed by that encounter. My life has never been the same. I came back with a renewed desire to lay down my life for my wife, my children, my family, and my church. Most importantly, I came back with a passion to give my life to God and His great mission in our world. The mission of love. And God has answered my prayers. He gives me opportunities every day to share Christ with those around me. I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way.
Readings for tomorrow: Philemon, Colossians 1-4