Reflections on Philippians

Thoughts on Philippians:

• 1:1 - "to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi." This church started with a wealthy businesswoman, a slave girl, and a jailer. Jesus changed them all! Diversity is not limited to race but also circumstances out of which Jesus saves us. We shouldn't all look the same.
• 1:6 - "What God originates, He orchestrates" - Andy Stanley. If God started it, He will finish it! If God puts a dream inside your heart, He takes care of the details.
• 1:12-18 - The message of Christ advances no matter what!
• 1:19 - Praying for someone in a difficult situation can confirm to them the promises of God.
• 1:21 - If I live, it's Jesus I live for. If I die, it's Jesus I die for. See Romans 14:8.
• 1:23 - Some people would much rather live with a little bit of Jesus than die having all of Him.
• 2:1 - If Jesus has done anything in you, then prove it.
• 2:3 - Humility - I've always chuckled at people who describe themselves as being humble. I remember C.S. Lewis' statement that pride is the one thing no man is without. So, logically we can assume that someone who says they are without pride is in fact both prideful and a liar, right?
• "Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." - C.J. Mahaney
• 3:1-11 Why we should pursue Christ
• v. 5-6 - religious heritage, knowledge, position will not do what Jesus does in your heart.
• v. 8 - Jesus transforms the entire person. Nothing else compares to that.
• v. 11 - an anticipation for us
• 3:12-21 - Ways we pursue Christ
• "press on" - endure the temporary for the eternal
• v. 17 - look at how mature believers live their lives. Learn from them.
• v. 19-20 - What do you think about most? Things we need to get done, matters of business, etc? What would happen if we began to think more about God than ourselves each day?
• 4:7 - the full measure of God's love is beyond our comprehension. This answer's the question of "how could God love me?" That is what divine love is. Unthinkable. Unimaginable.
  
• 4:13 - not a sports or success cliche