Two privileges

Are you privileged?

Philippians 1:28-29 NLT

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Bent u bevoorrecht?

Filippenzen 1:28-29 NBG51

zonder dat gij u in enig opzicht door de tegenstanders laat beangstigen. Hierin is voor hen een aanwijzing van hún verderf, doch van úw behoud, en dat van Godswege. Want aan u is de genade verleend, voor Christus, niet alleen in Hem te geloven, maar ook voor Hem te lijden,

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You thought one present was good but two is even better. Possibly the second is what you need now. Everyone at one time or another wants to be rescued. And when you are desperate you are likely to put your trust in the weakest of things. We sometimes say you are grasping at straws. Imagine you are falling. Now imagine that you are slipping down a steep cliff and you are clawing the stone wall looking for anything to grab. You reach out and you catch a hold of a small twig from a little tiny tree trying to grow in the crumbling rock face. At that moment you are not falling anymore and you are putting your trust in the small tiny tree to hold your weight and keep you from plunging to your death below.
Christ is a safe platform, a sure, stable and comfortable place to stand. You can be confident in him far far more than the tiny little tree we imagined earlier. Still it is a privilege to have a safe place to stand. The safe place needs to be protected because people above are hurling down stones. And others who are falling are grabbing at you to drag you down with them.

It's not easy to discuss the privilege of suffering. It isn't such an applauded position. People aren't fighting for the privilege. Suffering comes and you don't see the sigh of relief. A cheer doesn't go up and celebrations don't break out. Trust can be seen to be the natural response to need. And it isn't difficult to employ when the free fall of our tragic position becomes apparent.

But who considers suffering a privilege?

Jesus did. Paul writes hear that he did.

To be associated with Jesus even in suffering is better than a trouble free life.

We are to quick to pray suffering away. We struggle to see that this is God's way.

How might you suffer for Jesus?
Do you see suffering as a privilege equal to trust in Jesus?

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Philippians 1:1-30 NLT

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Filippenzen 1:1-30 NBG51

Paulus en Timoteüs, dienstknechten van Christus Jezus, aan al de heiligen in Christus Jezus, die te Filippi zijn, tezamen met hun opzieners en diakenen; genade zij u en vrede van God, onze Vader, en van de Here Jezus Christus.  Ik dank mijn God, zo dikwijls ik uwer gedenk; immers, in al mijn gebeden bid ik telkens voor u allen met blijdschap, wegens uw deelhebben aan de prediking van het evangelie, van de eerste dag af tot nu toe. Hiervan toch ben ik ten volle overtuigd, dat Hij, die in u een goed werk is begonnen, dit ten einde toe zal voortzetten, tot de dag van Christus Jezus. Zó van u allen te denken spreekt voor mij dan ook vanzelf, omdat ik u op het hart draag, daar gij allen, zowel bij mijn gevangenschap als bij mijn verdediging en bevestiging van het evangelie, deelgenoten zijt van de mij verleende genade. God toch is mijn getuige, hoezeer ik met de ontferming van Christus Jezus naar u allen verlang.  En dit bid ik, dat uw liefde nog steeds meer overvloedig moge zijn in helder inzicht en alle fijngevoeligheid, om te onderscheiden, waarop het aankomt. Dan zult gij rein en onberispelijk zijn tegen de dag van Christus, vervuld van de vrucht van gerechtigheid, welke door Jezus Christus is, tot eer en prijs van God.  Ik wil, dat gij weet, broeders, dat hetgeen mij wedervaren is veeleer tot bevordering van de evangelieprediking heeft gestrekt. Daardoor toch is aan het gehele hof en aan al de overigen duidelijk geworden, dat ik in gevangenschap ben om Christus’ wil, en het merendeel der broeders in de Here heeft door mijn gevangenschap vertrouwen gekregen om met des te meer moed onbevreesd het woord Gods te spreken. Sommigen prediken de Christus wel uit nijd en twist, maar anderen doen het met goede bedoeling. Dezen verkondigen de Christus uit liefde, daar zij weten, dat ik tot verdediging van het evangelie gesteld ben, maar genen uit eigenbelang, met de onzuivere bedoeling, mij de gevangenschap zwaar te maken.  Wat doet het ertoe? In elk geval, hetzij met een bijoogmerk, hetzij in oprechtheid, wordt Christus verkondigd; en daarin verblijd ik mij, en zal ik mij ook verblijden. Want ik weet, dat dit mij tot behoud zal strekken door uw gebed en de bijstand des Geestes van Jezus Christus, naar mijn vurig verlangen en hopen, dat ik in geen enkel opzicht beschaamd zal staan, maar dat met alle vrijmoedigheid, zoals steeds, ook nú Christus zal worden grootgemaakt in mijn lichaam, hetzij door mijn leven, hetzij door mijn dood. Want het leven is mij Christus en het sterven gewin. Indien ik in het vlees blijf leven, betekent dat voor mij werken met vrucht, en wat ik moet kiezen, weet ik niet. Van beide zijden word ik gedrongen: ik verlang heen te gaan en met Christus te zijn, want dit is verreweg het beste; maar nog in het vlees te blijven is nodiger om uwentwil. En in deze overtuiging weet ik, dat ik zal blijven en voortdurend bij u allen zijn, opdat gij verder moogt komen en u in het geloof verblijden. Dan zult gij ruimschoots reden hebben om over mij te roemen in Christus Jezus, wanneer ik weder bij u kom.  Alleen, gedraagt u waardig het evangelie van Christus, opdat, hetzij ik kom en u zie, hetzij ik afwezig blijf, ik van u moge horen, dat gij vaststaat in één geest, één van ziel medestrijdende voor het geloof aan het evangelie, zonder dat gij u in enig opzicht door de tegenstanders laat beangstigen. Hierin is voor hen een aanwijzing van hún verderf, doch van úw behoud, en dat van Godswege. Want aan u is de genade verleend, voor Christus, niet alleen in Hem te geloven, maar ook voor Hem te lijden, in dezelfde strijd, die gij eens van mij hebt gezien en nu van mij hoort.

Destinations

Love, faith, grace and the gift of life in context. What do you see?

2TH 1:3-12 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Tessalonicenzen 1:3-12 NBG51

Wij behoren God te allen tijde om u te danken, broeders, zoals gepast is, omdat uw geloof zeer toeneemt en uw aller liefde jegens elkander sterker wordt, zodat wij zelf over u roemen bij de gemeenten Gods, vanwege uw volharding en uw geloof onder al uw vervolgingen en de verdrukkingen, die gij doorstaat: een bewijs van het rechtvaardige oordeel Gods, dat gij het Koninkrijk Gods waardig geacht zijt, voor hetwelk gij ook lijdt, indien het inderdaad recht is bij God, aan uw verdrukkers verdrukking te vergelden, en aan u, die verdrukt wordt, verkwikking tezamen met ons, bij de openbaring van de Here Jezus van de hemel met de engelen zijner kracht, in vlammend vuur, als Hij straf oefent over hen, die God niet kennen en het evangelie van onze Here Jezus niet gehoorzamen. Dezen zullen boeten met een eeuwig verderf, ver van het aangezicht des Heren en van de heerlijkheid zijner sterkte, wanneer Hij komt, om op die dag verheerlijkt te worden in zijn heiligen en met verbazing aanschouwd te worden in allen, die tot geloof gekomen zijn; want ons getuigenis heeft geloof gevonden bij u.  Hiertoe bidden wij ook te allen tijde voor u, dat onze God u de roeping waardig achte en met kracht alle welgevallen in het goede en het werk des geloofs volmake, opdat de naam van onze Here Jezus in u verheerlijkt worde, en gij in Hem, naar de genade van onze God en van de Here Jezus Christus.

Choices. God accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected Cain's. God chose Noah and destroyed the world and all others in it. God chose Isaac but did not choose Ishmael. God chose Jacob and the Bible says he rejected Esau. Joseph is chosen to save his family. Moses is chosen to lead his people, but Pharaoh is chosen to have a hard heart. Moses is not allowed to enter the land. Fail is chosen as king but then David is chosen and Saul is rejected. But David is not allowed to build the temple. The people of the land are chosen for destruction; Israel is ordered to kill every man woman and child in most cities.

Will you choose Jesus or will you choose destruction? You are faced with a choice.

Will you choose justice? Or salvation and forgiveness?

Will you choose today to love your creator or will you choose to love yourself?

Choose you this day whom you will serve.

Good news

It was Good plan.

The Thanksgiving of Obedience.

Psalms 119:7 NLT

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!

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You say you are thankful. You've felt the feelings of appreciation and you've mouthed the words. But genuine thankfulness is coupled with obedience.

One of the times I was visiting my parents in America my dad gave me some boots. I really appreciated the gift. The boots were great and I began to wear the boots nearly every day. I wrote dad and told him how grateful I was for the boots.
But some how their daily use was a constant reminder of my dad's generous love.  I'd think how fortunate I was to have the boots, how good they were for the cold, wet, rainy Sheffield hills.

God's word is meant to be used. Like a pair of good boots we need to be reminded of God's justice, his righteousness and goodness. We need to wear it. When the way is slippery or wet we can feel secure and protected. When the way is steep and rough we can feel supported.

Don't take the gift of truth and store it in the closet.

When  you trust and obey the Word of God you demonstrate your genuine thankfulness.

Meditation doesn't have to be taught.

The art of slow thinking is natural. I can remember each of my children at some point in their very early life 'coming out with something unexpected'. These statements or questions could arise in any situation or at any time. These gems of cognitive connection may bear no discernible link to the current circumstances but they always evidence meditation.
It very likely that meditation performed properly, slowly and naturally will produce a crystal clear, concise and relevant question. This question will reveal more about the heart and motive than the casual ,inattentive listener might ever realise.
Suppose your child overhears a conversation about whether or not grandparents will be able to come for the child's birthday party. It seems grandma and grandpa may not make it because their car had to go into the shop to have the transmission replaced and so they would not have a car for a week. The plan couldn't be changed because the garage was very busy and they were doing the job for grandpa for half price. Grandma and grandpa live three hours away so it was unlikely they'd make it to the party in two weeks.
Days later you are in the checkout line at the store buying wiper blades for your car. And your child blurts out, 'Couldn't they borrow aunt Sharon's car?'

Now here is the unknown chain of thought behind the statement: The news of grandpa's absence from the birthday party means your child thinks they won't get the money grandpa always gives at birthdays. This is a real disappointment to the child. A few days later your car's wipers cause a lot of stress on a trip home from school  Now it is raining hard again so you borrow the neighbour's car to quickly get some wiper blades. You need to do this before you drive to get the older kids from camp. It's pretty urgent since the weather forecast is for heavy rain.
While waiting at the checkout, your youngest child sees a snickers and remembered that aunt Sharon bought a snickers for grandma last time we visited. 'Then the light comes on': aunt Sharon lives near grandma and grandpa's house, aunt Sharon has a car, we just borrowed the neighbour's car......

... 'Couldn't they borrow aunt Sharon's car?'

One form of meditation is driven by the recognition of a need and the patient search for a solution to your dilemma. A lot of good meditation happens because of an acute awareness of need or desire.

The child's active but relaxed mind accepts they can't solve the issues that are out of their league. But they are looking for an answer. They are listening to all the new information and sifting through the old information. Snickers, the lack of money, grandpa's gift, aunt Sharon's proximity, wiper blades, and borrowing the neighbour's car all converged to become a solution.

As you consider meditation and the reading of God's word this week, let me encourage you to identify your needs or the needs of the world.

I've often noticed in my children a period of relative quiet during the meditation process. It is easy to miss this because you are busy and the quiet is a welcome break from nonstop requests and questions. But this quiet is the evidence of meditation. It doesn't mean that all of life stops; it does mean at times we need to concentrate. But we can concentrate in chunks while doing the washing up or standing in a queue.

Meditation sees the complexity of life and draws on it all no matter how seemingly unrelated to find formerly unrecognised connections. I say unrecognised but often meditation isn't comparative between people. It is usually a personal journey. It is possible Grandpa would send the money, it's reasonable to think that grandpa had already considered Aunt Sharon's car and probably no one except the child realised the severity of the need. But meditation isn't about what others may have already considered; often it is highly personal and so it takes responsibility to weigh all the data themselves. Somewhere in the arena of family, cars, needs, and the wonderful world of possibilities, there lies a solution and the ever-attentive mind of the child is trying each block in every shaped hole until they find a match.

Will you meditate on God's word? Will you find the solutions you seek for your most pressing needs?