Thoughts for the Day

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Over the years I have baked many cakes for church sales. My husband, Adrian, always cooked our dinners and I cooked cakes or puddings! Like many home bakers, I have had some real successes and some really bad disasters, usually because I didn't follow the recipe properly.

Today in our reading from St Paul's letter to the Philippians he appears to be saying to the Christians in Philippi "copy the way we live, as a recipe of how to be a Christian", which sounds rather boastful. But his words reflect the gritty reality of life, for Paul writes to them from prison, and he, as well as Timothy and Epaphroditus, have suffered much for Christ's sake. But in this case he is really thinking of another example, that of Jesus who as God's Son laid aside all his privileges to became a man, and who suffered and died for our sake. His is the template that that the Philippians are to follow if they are to be true disciples of Christ.

It's the same for us, though how we do this will be different for each of us. Paul laid aside his comfortable upbringing as a Pharisee and a Roman citizen, to teach the message of Jesus. We are called to serve our Lord, by not slavishly following the materialistic ways of the world, but to serve others out of love for Him who died for us. This way of living is contrary to much in our world. Paul says graphically "their god is the belly..... and their minds are set on earthly things". We are to remember that we are citizens of heaven and even if this life is difficult, we are offered eternal life. So let us examine ourselves this Lent and follow our Lord's recipe - to serve others!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You called Paul, Epaphroditus, and Timothy
to follow Your example and to live for others.
May we learn to sit light to the things of this world,
to follow in their footsteps,
and serve those around us this Lent.
Amen.