SHARING BREAD
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from
me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Phil 4:9
(NIV)
In our verse for today Paul urges the Philippian believers
to follow his consistent lead. He not
only truthfully taught them, shared with them and gave of himself but they were
also privileged to see the Truth fleshed out in him. He sought to walk as Jesus did and could
therefore rightfully say: “Follow me”,
as he faithfully followed in the steps of the Master:
1 Follow
my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Cor 11:1 (NIV)
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 1 Cor 4:16 (NIV)
“A
holy life will produce the deepest impression.
Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.” D. L.
Moody
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of
dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Prov 4:18 (NIV)
“Already
we have within us the life of heaven.” George Eldon Ladd
Sometimes we just need to see the
Word with some skin on it, if you know what I mean. It is abundantly easy to find those who
espouse Truth yet far more difficult to discover one who diligently seeks to
model it with their lives. If you are
fortunate enough to have such an example worthy of following in your spheres,
by all means, follow. The world is
woefully short of role models – men and women who are not perfect but who
consistently desire to fully follow the Lord Jesus. Scripture tells us:
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus
did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
“We may think God wants actions of
a certain kind, but God wants people of a certain kind.” C. S. Lewis
Contrast to those who foolishly
follow the unwise. The influence of good
and bad associations is a common theme in the Book of Proverbs:
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion
of fools suffers harm. Prov 13:20 (NIV)
Paul desired for the Philippian
believer’s faith to be fruitful not useless, empty and ineffective. He modeled this faith commending it to them
for their good and God’s glory never wanting anyone to stumble by his example. Obedience will always lead to peace and Paul
was fully aware of this. It also gives a
great force to our words when what we say matches what the hearers see fleshed
out in our lives. Paul writes in 2
Corinthians his way of life which earned his right to set him forth as a role
model:
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that
our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in
every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work,
sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in
purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere
love; 7 in
truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right
hand and in the left; 8 through
glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as
impostors; 9 known,
yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
10 sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet
possessing everything. 2 Cor 6:3-10
(NIV)
Great peace is the result for those who love God’s law and walk
in His ways. Our mere exposure to God’s
Word is not enough; it must lead to obedience which ultimately leads to
peace. Scripture tells us:
65 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing
can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165
(NIV)
3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is
steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah
26:3 (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)
“Cheered by the presence of God, I will do at each moment, without
anxiety, according to the strength which He shall give me, the work that His
Providence assigns me. I will leave the
rest without concern; it is not my affair.
I ought to consider the duty to which I am called each day, as the work
that God has given me to do, and to apply myself to it in a manner worthy of
His glory, that is to say, in exactness and peace.” Fenelon
“All the commandments of God are commandments
of love tending to our real good and great happiness; far from being grievous
to those who have faith and love, the practice thereof is life and peace. The world may think it a grievous burden;
but this is a great mistake indeed. Sin
is grievous. In hatred, envy, anger,
revenge, pride, there is nothing but torment and slavery; but in love there is
a sweet rest and pleasure. Thus a sinner always punishes himself, and
is robbed of great peace and blessing, by transgressing the commandments of
God.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
What I glean from this:
- · A holy life produces the deepest impression.
- · It is foolish to walk with the unwise.
- · Peace flows from obedience to God’s ways.
