David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for the Bible Gateway site with Philippians 1 in the English Standard Version, New International Version, and New Living Translation.

1. How Paul felt about the Philippians

Philippians 1:1-8

• Wishing them grace and peace (Philippians 1:1-2).
• Thankful for their fellowship (Philippians 1:3-5).
• Confident of their development (Philippians 1:6).
• Lonely for their company (Philippians 1:7-8).

What do you know about the church in Philippi?

Paul is writing this from prison. How does this help you more deeply appreciate his attitude, greeting, and appreciation for the church in Philippi?

What is the difference between thanking someone (“Thank you.”) and thanking God for someone (“I thank God for you.”)? Which do you prefer to hear?

I notice Paul mentions  both the “defense and confirmation of the gospel,” in his cause for appreciation. Why and how must the gospel be defended? Think of the ditch on both sides of the road that we can fall into regarding the gospel. Think also of the substance of the gospel, which includes the resurrection of Jesus.

2. Paul’s prayers for the Philippians

Philippians 1:9-11

• An abounding well-founded love (Philippians 1:9).
• A pure and excellent life (Philippians 1:10).
• Fruitfulness to God’s glory (Philippians 1:11).

How do you pray for the people of your family? The fellow members of your church? Your neighbors? Your coworkers? Your enemies? Which of these facets of Paul’s prayer capture your attention? How might this shape your prayers? (Note: This is an example for us, not a command or a proscribed pattern for prayer.)

3. How Paul felt about imprisonment

Philippians 1:12-20

• An opportunity to preach (Philippians 1:12-13).
• Gave courage to his companions (Philippians 1:14).
• Motivated his opponents to preach (Philippians 1:15-18).
• Helped his own salvation (Philippians 1:19).

When was the last time you thought of a difficulty as an opportunity to advance the gospel? How does that color your understanding of our current situation?

4. How Paul felt about death.

Philippians 1:20-26

• It would glorify Christ (Philippians 1:20).
• It would be to his benefit (Philippians 1:21,23).
• It would be a loss to the Philippians (Philippians 1:22).
• It was not imminent (Philippians 1:24-26).

We are not most fit for heaven when we are least happy on earth. Reflect on this. How happy are you here and now? How fit are you for heaven? How do we become “fit for heaven?”

5. Exhortations.

Philippians 1:27 to 2:5

• Live a life worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
• Suffer with courage (Philippians 1:27-30).
• Be united (Philippians 2:1-2).
• Be unselfish (Philippians 2:3-4).

The two Lutheran Questions (What does this mean? and How is this done?) are answered in these verses. What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel? Your manner of life should reflect the influence of the gospel. The death and resurrection of Jesus and his second coming, the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of salvation should shape our identity. And our identity should shape our lives. The phrase hints at our citizenship of the gospel kingdom, “behave as citizens worthy…”

So…

• Do you believe in the holy Christian Church; the communion of saints?
• Do you believe in the forgiveness of sins?
• Do you look for the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come?

If so, how does that show up in your life?

What impact does our unity in this faith have in our lives as Jesus followers? In gospel witness? In kingdom impact?

How is unselfishness shaping my behaviors and values during these difficult days?

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:1-11

We’re back at the gym…so to speak. Since the shutdown of business – including gyms – we’ve been taking part in a virtual workout from our trainers at the gym. It is rigorous! I’m fully sweatted out by the time we’re finished with the 45 minute session! And whenever I struggle to move about, or get my body going these days, I wonder what it would be like if we weren’t exercising!

Physical exercise is of some value (cf. 1 Timothy 4:8). But there is a need for life that only the Spirit of Christ can provide. That is what Paul points to here: “he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit.” Even the best gym won’t furlough physical decline and death forever. There comes a time when we will draw our last breath. We can thank God for the breath of his Spirit within us to enliven our mortal bodies. 

There is always a tension between life here and life in the World to Come. Just yesterday our pest control person asked me about that. He had brain surgery, and despite the dramatic and extraordinary lengths to which they went, some cancer remains. He asked me, “You know, people have told me that they’re praying for me. And that’s good. But if I die, and I’m there [it was his way of saying in heaven] wouldn’t that be better?”

That gave me the opportunity to share Paul’s comments in his letter to the church in Philippi, “to live is Christ, to die is gain” (cf. Philippians 1:19-25). And so it is today. We’re not here just for our own entertainment and amusement. We’re not here to grab all the gusto we can. We’re not here just to see how much money we can amass. Or how many vacations we can take. Or how many grandchildren we can hug.

We live to serve Christ – empowered by the Holy Spirit – and to enjoy the riches of his grace, by faith – a gift of the Holy Spirit – and to bring honor and glory to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit now and forever. When we experience our grandchildren’s hugs and smiles, a beautiful sunrise, some delicious food, or a good movie, we are experiencing a foretaste of the pure joy and glory that will be ours when the Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies through all eternity.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:1-11

Imagine that you have two children. One is very compliant, kind, obedient, helpful, respectful and loving. The other is a combination of Dennis the Menace and Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame). He’s mischievous, willful, rebellious, and disrespectful. He endears himself to you, but there are scars on your heart because of his rebellious attitude. Who do you love more?

Before you answer, consider what love actually is. Love is a from-the-heart kindness, good will, attitude and posture that works itself out in acts of kindness, mercy, goodness, and grace. It might be that such a child is inwardly bitter, and hiding a far more insidious and unholy heart.

If you think of love as a feeling, and emotional response to someone, you will say you love the former child more than the other. But if you understand love as a from-the-heart desire for the good of another and actions that flow from that heart, you might even say you love the latter one more. It’s as though the more rebellious one needs more love.

When it comes to pleasing God you might think the former child would please God more. And that might well be true. But it might not. For what pleases God is not mere outward obedience. A person who is always doing the right thing may be hiding an unbelieving heart. Such a person may be anything but faith-full. He may think God must be appeased by his good works and disbelieving God’s grace. He may not trust God to love his real self so he portrays an obedient life but a hard heart. Check out Matthew 25:24-25 where the unfaithful servant denies his master’s goodness, and presumes him to be hard and judgmental. 

Such is the mind set on the flesh. A person with such a mind cannot please God. But we have the Spirit, and with the Holy Spirit comes life and peace. That person will live a godly life to be sure. She will love, forgive, be gracious and kind. She will sometimes surely sin. But coming again and again to God in humble repentance and faith, recognizing God as supremely good, gracious, loving, and kind, she will surely please God. 

God is pleased with faithful hearts. Those hearts are humble, compassionate, repentant and merciful. They are formed by the Spirit and are life and peace.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:1-11

“You have to replace it. It’s beyond repair.” Ever heard those words? Ever had that said to you about your transmission? Your refrigerator? Your air conditioner? Not a fun moment. But some things just have to be done. Some things cannot be ignored.

That is our situation before God if we are going to live with him. Something has to be done. Something major has to be repaired. Something has to change. That something is the uneven scales of justice that weigh God’s just requirements against our sin and unrighteousness.

The scales are tipped terribly against us. We don’t honor God as we should. We don’t love God above all. We don’t love our neighbor as ourselves. We don’t believe God is good all the time. We cannot recommend ourselves to God on the bases of our good works, our godliness, or even our pitiful situation. The scales must be balanced.

They are not balanced, however, by piling on a load of good-doing. They are not balanced by means of making up for the bad we’ve done or doing more and more good to take the place of the good we have failed to do.

The scales are balanced by Jesus. God has balanced the scales himself. He sent his Son in the flesh to accomplish what we could not: live a pure and perfect life of love and faith. Then he offered his Own Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Justice has been served.

Is there a sense of guilt hanging over your head for some past failure? Is there some good you failed to do? Is there some way in which you dishonored the name of Jesus? Is there some shortcoming known only to you, hidden away deep in the dark places of your heart. But you know God knows it. And you can never bring it into the light of his love.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Bring that sin, shame, guilt, failure, shame, ugliness out. Lay it at the foot of the cross. See it evaporate before your eyes as soon as the light of God’s love falls on it. God’s justice has been satisfied. It had to be done for God is just. But it has been done for God is also love. It’s gotta be done. And it has.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:1-11

What’s your go-to comeback. “Am not!” How about, “Are too!”

A friend of mine had a knack for taking a made-in-jest put down and turning it into a self-deprecating even-worse criticism. I would say, “You’re really not with it today,” (in jest, mind you). He would reply, “Only today? I don’t think I’ve been with it for years!” I’d say, “Well, some people just don’t know how to behave.” He’d reply, “You should see me when I’m really trying to misbehave.” And so it would go. 

One time, we were together at a conference and we made a comment – snarky, but in good-natured humor – something like, “Well, you just don’t know about those foreigners.” He is an American citizen from Brazil, by the way. A colleague looked at us with wide eyes. He didn’t realize we were poking him with good-natured barbs. He thought we were serious.

Some people are serious about such judgments. Whether it has to do with foreigners, or people with poor social skills, or any way in which people judge or stereotype others, such judgements are not good. In fact that behavior dismisses the profound truth of Romans 8:1. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This applies to you and me and your neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and even your enemies.

One powerful episode in the book, The Shack, conveyed how much hubris is needed, in reality, to judge someone else. It has Mack required to sit in judgment on God and the whole world. Mack is overcome with weakness and is unable to do this. Judging others is more difficult to do if we actually believe we have eternal power over them.

This is a message for each of us. We may judge others’ actions. We may conclude that some things are truly right or wrong. But we may never judge another’s motives. Nor is our judgment final. For those who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation. This is good news for us all. We need to apply that good news to ourselves and even our enemies. Those above and below us. It’s a 360 degree kind of thing. 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:1-11

Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. Romans itself is a key book, and had a major impact in the lives of St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley. Others have been moved by this book for many years. 

I believe the whole Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Even so, most people will agree that the passage from the Old Testament, “Esau is a hairy man,” (Genesis 27:11) is perhaps not as inspiring as “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). Both are part of a larger context. And there is actually much to learn from the passages from with they come. But for now, I will focus on Romans 8. Perhaps Genesis 27 will come sometime later. 

The implied truth of Romans 8:1 is that those who are not in Christ Jesus have no promise or hope of escaping God’s condemnation. That is a sobering idea, one we must first acknowledge and understand. There is a problem we have in our natural and sinful state. We do not honor God as we should. We do not obey his commandments. We do the very things God forbids. Speaking of fallen man’s condition, Paul puts it this way:  

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. – Romans 1:21-23

Before we get to quick to dismiss our culpability in this regard, let’s be honest. Again, Paul speaks, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things” (Romans 2:1).

We typically fall off the road of righteousness in one of two ways. Either we believe we have no need for a Savior – how very sad – or we believe we have no hope, and all we can expect from God is condemnation. In either case we need a Savior. We need some way to escape the condemnation of God. And Jesus offers us that escape. If we are “in Christ” we are not condemned. 

Whether it is as we take our last breath, or in the dark night of the soul, we can experience a terror of conscience that makes these words so precious: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection power is at work in us. Jesus’ resurrection provides proof of God’s faithfulness.

Let’s start this week with a deep appreciation for God’s faithfulness, our standing in God’s favor, and the bold confidence of faith in Jesus. Whatever else may come our way, our eternal salvation has been secured by Jesus. We live from that truth into a future of hope, life, and peace.

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

Good News Translation [GNT]
Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society

Join me online for this ZOOM Bible Study at 9:15 AM on Sunday, April 26, 2020.

For a printable document of this study, click here:
Strengthening the Cords of Hope Bible Study on 1 Peter 1_10-21.

Bring your whole self to a life of hope.

• Head (v. 10-22, 12-13, 18)
• Heart (v. 14, 21)
• Hands (v. 13, 15, 17)

Don’t wait to hope. Today is the day.

• The Old Testament prophets wrote for our benefit today (then and now). (v. 12)
• For the rest of our lives (v. 17)
• Present tense: Our faith and hope are [being, present infinitive] in God.” (v. 21)

Our Christian hope is worthy of thoughtful consideration.

• Prophets searched carefully to discover the mysteries of God’s gift. (v. 10)
• Angels sought to understand these things. (v. 12)
• Knowing the realities of our redemption has great implications. (v. 18)

Tie your anchor to God’s abiding purpose for his people.

• We can learn something from the prophets. (v. 12)
• God has established our purpose in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
• Our purpose in Christ is not tied to our circumstances.

True hope is worth waiting for.

• Valuable (v. 18)
• Secured (v. 21)
• We don’t wait alone. (Romans 8:22-25)

For Your Thoughtful Reflection

• What does it mean for you to bring your whole self to God’s call to live in hope? Can you think of some examples head, heart, and hands practices of hope?
• Is hope easy for you, or are you easily discouraged? What danger is there in hope? What danger is there in refusing to hope? Which is the greater danger?
• What might you do this week to engage your mind (think about) hope? What would that look like?
• What are you hoping for in regard to the end of the COVID-19 epidemic? How does your abiding purpose in Christ shape that hope?
  

Rev. Dr. David Bahn, Senior Pastor

You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God. – 1 Peter 1:17-21

Perhaps you’ve had the same experience as I. Yesterday I was grumpy, easily angered and without any real provocation snapped at Diane. Later that afternoon she brought me a small glass of wine as a peace offering. I gladly accepted it. I suppose I should have brought the peace offering to her. But these days make patience grow thin. These days wear you down. These days can become boring, tedious, and exhausting.

Sometimes the culmination of boredom, exhaustion, impatience, and the grueling slog toward a hoped-for new day conspire to lose hope. Add to all that an absence of the real presence of brothers and sisters in Christ, the loss of in-the-flesh fellowship. Not only does our patience wear thin, so does our hope. So does our faith.

Then we are reminded: you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. That offers two correctives to a thin-worn faith and hope. 

First let’s remember the price that was paid to set us free. We have been redeemed. We have been rescued. We have been ransomed. We have been saved by God. All this was a great cost. God determined the value each of us has, and determined that he would offer himself as our ransom. He who was chosen for this task long before our time has sacrificed himself. We have a great value to God. We are of amazing worth in his eyes. And his eyes are what really matter.

Second, let’s remember, too, the hope and the promise of the resurrection of Jesus: Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God. Our faith is not in a concept. Our faith is not a feeling. Our faith is not tied to circumstance. Our faith is not fixed on this life. Jesus’ resurrection points us to a glorious eternal tomorrow.

By the power and promise of Jesus’ resurrection, we have more joy and glory in store for us than even the best relief scenario we could ever imagine. That thickens the cord of hope to which we can anchor our souls. 

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God. – 1 Peter 1:11-21

Today I attended a seminar on emotional and spiritual health in times of challenge like these days of the Coronavirus epidemic. We learned about a daily check-in that has to do with our heads, hearts, and hands. We should monitor what we are thinking about, what we’re taking into our minds, and cogitating on. Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

That’s what Peter speaks of when he says, “Have your minds ready for action.” But that’s not all. We must also check our hearts. To what have we tied our hearts? What occupies our hearts’ yearnings? What do we yearn for? Check it out: “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also,” says Jesus (Matthew 6:21).

And what about your hands? How are you using them to serve others, to help people in need, to encourage people who are down, to bless those in need? Can you run an errand? Can you offer financial help? We may not be able to hold someone’s hands safely during these days. But we can find many ways to use our hands to bless others.

Spending our days in reverence for God involves our heart, hands, and head. A daily check-in of these three will help us maintain a healthy life spiritually and emotionally.

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God. – 1 Peter 1:11-21

As an aspiring photographer it is difficult not to get excited about new photo equipment. From the latest camera offerings to lenses and software, the opportunities and temptations are nearly endless. Imagine what I could do with a 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom, or better yet, a 200-500mm f/4 lens! What about Luminar or Photomatix? Surely these would provide incredible improvements. 

These words offer a strong corrective:

Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant.” 

Peter was surely not speaking explicitly about photo equipment. Photography was not invented for many centuries after these words were written. But any worldly yearning and hope is a candidate to replace the truer hope in the blessings to come when Jesus Christ is revealed. These words apply to photo equipment, fashion clothing, jewelry, exciting experiences, fame, fortune or even family.

These words warn us against letting our lives be shaped by good things that overshadow the Best Thing: our eternal hope in the life of the world to come. We must not let our love for our children turn us away from God, or lose our faith because we are tied to a certain way of worship (for example in a beautiful church building with many other Christians which is now taken from us because of the current COVID-19 pandemic). We dare not let these expectations – good or otherwise rest our hearts away from God.

I recall the impassioned words of a very young missionary. She was visiting me, and sharing her mission story and dreams. She spoke of an area of the world that was oblivious to the Gospel of Jesus. She said, “He is not getting the honor he deserves.”

The purpose of sharing the Gospel is not solely so that Jesus receives the honor he deserves. That will come one day. It is so that people may experience God’s mercy, love, and kindness. It is so that Jesus may rule our hearts graciously by faith. God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). His glory and honor will be to the praise of his grace (Ephesians 1:6). 

God warns us not only of replacing faith in Jesus with hope for worldly blessings. He warns us not to let the hopes of this world shape our lives. In other words, when we live as though things other than God are more important than loving and serving him, we are shaping our lives in ways that do not honor God. Surely he deserves our honor.

Alas, all those photographic gizmos and software upgrades are a far-away dream. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that 200-500 f/4 constant aperture lens. But Jesus will receive the honor he deserves. I want to live like that…starting now.