The Source and the Pattern

-
My son-in-law Justin with his son, Halston. The father is the source and pattern
for the son. Jesus is the Source and pattern for us. 


Scripture

Phil. 2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

Observation

This is a transitional verse that takes us from the introductory material where Paul pleads with the Philippians to be unified and behave in particular ways, to the crux of the matter. For the Philippians to be able to respond in such a way requires them to be “in” Christ, so that he becomes the source and the pattern for their behavior in light of Jesus’ cruciform love. This is not just about believing “about” Jesus, but believing “in” Jesus.

This is one of Paul’s most highly regarded passages, beginning with verse 5. The entire bearing of a disciple is to come from one’s life in Christ. Flemming reminds us that this “mind-set of Christ (Phil 2:5) must take precedence over all other orientations and values, cultural or otherwise.” (Flemming, NBBC) In humility we discover that the “symbols of Christian ministry are the towel and the cross, not the throne and the crown.” (Flemming, NBBC) 

Application

This connection between source and pattern is vital to our Christian walk. One without the other leads to failure, and I think that’s what Paul was seeing in the church in Philippi. Good people who are trying to be like Jesus, but in their own strength, will fail time and again. This is why an understanding of Pentecost is necessary. Without the Holy Spirit, we have no ability to be “in” Christ. It is the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of Christ — that indwells and empowers us for holy living. This is a call to a deeper walk with Jesus. 

Even today our churches are filled with good people, but not all of these good people have pressed onward to participate in Christ. The cry of Phineas Bresee, one of the founders of the Church of the Nazarene was to “Christianize Christianity.” He was concerned that far too many “Christians” only knew about Christ, but didn’t really know Christ. Isn’t that the same thing that Paul is saying here. The call is not to follow a pattern, but to participation in the Source, and that can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The expectation is not for an outward Christianity, but for a Christlikeness that permeates our very being. The motivations of our heart and the thoughts of our mind are to be the same as those of Jesus Christ. This is why we are to continually press on toward the goal of knowing Christ. If Jesus is infinite, then there is no end to knowing him, and we are invited into eternal growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord. When this happens, following the pattern becomes natural, because it comes from the heart and the mind. The result is a lifestyle that is dipping with humility, more concerned with service and servanthood, than power. 

Prayer

Lord, may your Spirit fill me to overflowing so that I may know you more. Amen. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Take Off Your Ornaments

-
Scripture: Ex. 33:4 ¶ When the people heard these harsh words, they mourned, and no one put on ornaments. Ex. 33:5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do to you.’” Ex. 33:6 Therefore the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Observation: The people had sinned before God by making and worshiping the golden calf!  They had taken their golden jewelry — the earrings and other items they had gotten from the Egyptians and used them to create an idol.  Now, in an act of humility and repentance they were to take off all of their jewelry and ornaments.  It was a time of mourning over their sin and it included intentional action on the part of the Israelites.  Application: We don’t do all that well with humility and repentance!  It seems that we live in a ti...
Read more

Does God Value Boys More than Girls?

-
Scripture: Lev. 12:1 ¶ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Lev. 12:2 Speak to the people of Israel, saying: ¶ If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. Lev. 12:3 On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Lev. 12:4 Her time of blood purification shall be thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing, or come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed. Lev. 12:5 If she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; her time of blood purification shall be sixty-six days. Lev. 12:6 ¶ When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Lev. 12:7 He shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement on her ...
Read more

On Grief and A Flute Player

-
Scripture: Matt. 9:23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, Matt. 9:24 he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Matt. 9:25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. Matt. 9:26 And the report of this spread throughout that district. Observation: This is a simple story which we have heard or read numerous times. Jesus heals the little girl and the people rejoice. But at the moment in which he arrives at the home he encounters the professional mourners. These are the flute players, the ones who have come to make a great noise about the child’s death. It is the flute player that testifies to the fact that she is truly dead. Also, flutes were generally employed when it came to the death of a child. The whole community would therefore understand that it is a child who has died in this home. The flute player is doing the job they have ...
Read more