Making The Father's Life Our Own

May 20, 2016

Making The Father's Life Our Own

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4 (NRSV)

Paul begins Chapter Two with a call for unity within the church. At first glance his call for unity may seem over the top, way too unrealistic for the diversity of people who come together as the church: “agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:2). In the next passage Paul will elaborate on how he believes his call is totally realistic, but in verse one he has laid the foundation for unity within the Body of Christ: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? (Philippians 2:1). By reminding us of the benefits in our relationship with Christ, Paul’s appeal for unity is based on the same principle as the lesson in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

As we are heirs of God the Father, we are to become our Heavenly Father’s successor. We are destined to step into our Father's place and offer to others the same compassion that he has offered us. As the beloved child of God we are called to make the Father's life our own and become transformed in his image. (Henri Nouwen)

One of the issues facing Christianity in 21^st Century America is the notion that the Christian faith is something we can add on to our existing life, fitting it in where we can without too much inconvenience. Paul completely dispels that notion in verse four. Compare these two translations of Philippians 2:4. The first is from the NLT and consistent with most English translations. The second is from the NRSV, which I think is one of the most accurate translations we have today.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. (NRSV)

Paul makes clear that the claim Jesus has on his followers is total. This claim, this idea that we don’t even look to our own interests until we first look to the interests of others, can be overwhelming to us. I know it seems truly like a Mission Impossible. Later in Chapter 2, Paul will help us with our trepidation with embracing this call of Jesus on our lives by reminding us that we are not left on our own to work this out: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 Emphasis mine). If that is not enough to comfort you, then look to Jesus’ own words:

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20b

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.