Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 29
Tuesday


THE SIGN

READ:
Philippians 1:9-18
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Some indeed preach
Christ even from envy
and strife, and some
also from goodwill.
__Philippians 1:15
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A pastor friend told me about a sign he had seen in front of a neighborhood church. Instead of just advertising the congregation's own time of worship, the sign also listed the schedule for two other churches that met at different times in the same small town. Interestingly, my friend didn't think this was impractical or foolish. Instead, he imagined what it must do for a church to put such unselfishness at the heart of everything it did!

Whether it is a good idea to advertise the worship times of other churches is a matter of opinion. But one thing is certain__the Spirit of Christ is not found in a spirit of envy and self-serving competition. The generosity and goodwill that paul expressed toward self-serving church leaders is a mark of the authentic Christian spirit (Phil. 1:14-18). This Christlike attitude lines up with the absence of spiritual competition James called for in his epistle (James 3:14-17).

Churches ought to be concerned about building their congregations. But beware of setting the bar too low by worrying about numbers. The wisdom and grace of Christ are not necessarily found in conventional wisdom. Good judgment often requires that we perform conter-intuitive acts of unselfishness that reflect Jesus life in us.
__Mart De Haan
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More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be. __Gabriel
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Nothing is more pleasing to God than self-sacrifice
that grows out of obedience.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 1:9-18**********

9 And this I pray, that your
love may abound still more
and more in knowledge and
all discernment, 10 that you
may approve the things that
are excellent, that you may
be sincere and without
offense till the day of
Christ, 11 being filled with
the fruits of righteousness
which are by Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of
God.

12 But I want you to know,
brethren, that the things
which happened to me have
actually turned out for the
furtherance of the gospel,

13 so that it has become
evident to the whole palace
guard, and to all the rest,
that my chains are in
christ; 14 and most of the
brethren in the Lord, having
become confident by my
chains, are much more bold
to speak the word without
fear.

15 Some indeed preach
Christ even from envy and
strife, and some also from
goodwill: 16 The former
preach Christ from selfish
ambition, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction
to my chains; 17 but the
latter out of love, knowing
that I am appointed for the
defense of the gospel.

18 what then? Only that in
every way, whether in
pretense or in truth, Christ
is preached; and in this I
rejoice, yes, and will
rejoice.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Here, Paul said that his imprisonment had advanced the gospel work
(v.12). People in Caesar's palace and in the Roman hierarchy were
being evangelized (v.13). Christians in Rome and elsewhere became
emboldened to evangelize without fear (v.14), albeit some were
doing so out of jealousy, to rival or negate Paul's success (vv.15-17).
__Sim Kay Tee