Author: Rick Henderson

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 3:17-21 (day seven)

“[Christ] will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” vs 21

God knows every hair on our head. He created us and knows us better than we can ever know ourselves. We are perfect the way he made us: in His image. Why then are there so many in this world that seek changes to the way God made them? Either in personality or image, it seems like people are not comfortable in their own skin. They think if they look different and act different, then maybe they will feel different.

Sin has distorted our perception of goodness. Pain, shame, guilt, envy: these are the things that creep in and tell us we are not good enough. The only way we rectify this problem and feel different, is to begin to conform into Christ’s image now. As we begin the process of conformity, we will find we get tastes of what heaven will feel like as we await our final transformation.

^“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Cor 3:18

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 3:12-16 (day seven)

“however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” vs 16

First off, what is this standard? I believe Paul is finishing his defense of the statement he made in verse 10, “becoming like [Jesus].” This is our standard as Christians. Our goal first and foremost is to be conformed more and more into the image of Christ every day.

Here is the catch: Not only are we attaining a standard, but we as Christians are the standard. As the gold standard is to currency, we are the value by which the world measures morality. If Christians are not keeping the standard constant by speaking truth and shining a light in the darkness, then the morality of the world inflates and deflates based off societal norms. If Christians are not there to point to a moral law giver then there is no need for morality, or if our standard becomes corrupted, then people will look for morality in other places. We are to be the standard by attaining the standard, which is becoming like Christ.

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 3:1-11 (day seven)

Wouldn’t it be nice if becoming a Christian meant that we were perfected in that moment? No more sin, no more trials, and no more pain. In salvation, our past has been forgiven, but a life in the flesh leaves remnants of itself hiding in the unwanted places of our mind. What we see is that though salvation is instantaneous, sanctification is continual.

The problem is that in a fast food, high speed internet society, we expect everything to be instantaneous. We want it here, and we want it now. We want instant righteousness. Like those to whom Paul was referring to in Philippians, we attempt to prove our own righteousness through legalistic measures, and look for ways to show how great we are. Paul tells us that righteousness doesn’t come this way. It “comes from God on the basis of faith” (vs 9).  Sanctification is a lifelong process of spending time in a relationship with God.  The longer you spend, the more He will carve out those remnants of the flesh that bubble back up post-salvation, and He replaces them with His righteousness.

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 2:12-18 (day seven)

“in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” vs 15b

Darkness is the absence of light which results in the inability to see properly. Sight is only possible because of light. Without light we would be blindly trying to navigate using senses that were not intended for the sole purpose of navigation. Help me connect the dots: this crooked and perverse world is living in darkness. They are trying to navigate this world without light. They are looking for direction from things that are not intended to be used for sight.

How then do we shine in the darkness to help them see? This passage gave us clear instruction: work hard and don’t complain, hear and do what Scripture says, and look for joy in all circumstances. Be consistent in these things, and you will appear much different than the world around you! You will be a light!

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 2:5-11 (day seven)

^” but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” vs 7a

We are nearing the time of year when Hallmark Christmas movies will be on repeat as we prepare for a holiday season. I have learned the plot lines to these love stories well. A young successful woman is forced to move to the country side, falls in love with a local man, and finds herself enjoying this new way of life. They kiss, it snows, and we assume they live happily ever after!

These are the types of love stories that we expect in modern culture. When was the last time one of these movies was about a King who willing set aside His royal privileges to become a slave so that He could die? This is not the love story we expect. It is a story of sacrifice. It is a story of submission. It is a story of surrender. It is a counter cultural love. This is a true love story!

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 2:1-4 (day seven)

“regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

The word “merely” changes the way this verse is understood. Without it we would say, “Don’t look out for your own interests. Others are way more important than you.” Why is it important that we establish that we are important too?  If we do not love our self, we will not be able to love others.

There is tension here. One cannot have too high of a self-esteem but also cannot have too low of a self-esteem. Both extremes lead to the neglect of someone’s soul; other’s are neglected with high self-esteem and our own is neglected with low self-esteem. To bridge this tension, we must remember that we are children of the almighty God, created perfectly, and loved by Him. Therefore, we are worthy of being loved and are called to help others know this same type of love.

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 1:27-30 (day seven)

“in no way alarmed by your opponents…”

Have you spent much time around horses? This word here for “alarmed,” is the word also used to describe a spooked horse. Horses get spooked when something happens that they don’t understand. When really spooked they tend to jump sideways and change course from where they were going. A good rider refocuses the nervous energy of the horse onto keeping him moving around the object. In doing so, the horse has to pay more attention to the rider than what spooked him.

Spooks are going to happen, just like opponents to the gospel. When opposition arises, our job is not to worry about the opponent. This would cause us to jump off our course. When opposition arises, we are to refocus our energy and lean into the Master. He will take the reigns and guide us safely through.

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 1:20-26 (day seven)

Do you see the cause and effect in this statement? “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If living is for Christ, then death is gain. Francis Chan and Tony Merida in their commentary on Philippians showed this cause and effect in through fill in the blanks.  To live is ______ and to die is _______.  Christ is the only thing that could fill that blank for death to result in gain. If living is for fame, then death is disgrace. If living is for wealth, then death is poor. If living is for power, then death is weak. We could keep going down the list, and anything we fill in that first blank that is not Christ, can never get us to gain.

Christ gives us meaning. Christ gives us purpose. Christ makes life joyful. Christ is gain!

How do you fill in the blank?

Re:Verse passage – Philippians 1:12-19 (day seven)

“Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice” vs 18

The thing that was most important to Paul is that the Christ is being proclaimed. Paul doesn’t care that he is imprisoned. He doesn’t care that others are trying to compete with him. He doesn’t care about the things that could hold him back, because nothing is holding God back. Christ is being proclaimed. That is worth rejoicing.

What does this teach us?

1. Trust God. Even when the plans we made don’t work out, God has a plan. Lean into this plan and watch God work.
2. Proclaim Christ. When our plans don’t work out, lean into God’s plan by making the Gospel known.
3. Rejoice in the Lord. God’s plan is at work no matter what. Find joy in watching the Gospel progress.