Thoughts for the Day

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Paul is writing to the Christians in Philippi, around the year 61 or 62 CE while in imprisonment in Rome. Waiting for his trial (as a Roman citizen) he was chained to a Roman soldier, but kept in lodgings at his own expense. He was free to see people, though not to leave, so he was unable to attend a synagogue for instance. Paul had established the church at Philippi some ten years before on his Second Missionary Journey, and had a closer relationship with the Christians here than with any other group. Almost all Paul's letters start with an official reminder of who he is: ie 'an apostle of Jesus Christ'. But with Philippians there is no need, this is a friend writing to his friends.

Paul says that he and Timothy are servants of Jesus Christ, but the Greek word used here is dulos which is not a servant, but rather a slave. There is a huge difference, between being a servant who can come and go and who works now and again for someone, and a slave who is the possession of his master. In the Roman world a slave was a thing, an object, not even considered a human being. Paul is indicating that he is the possession of Jesus Christ, who bought him at a price - his death (see 1 Corinthians 6.19-21)! He owes his Lord absolute obedience for the act of love that Christ endured for him.

With this in mind, does this change our relationship to Jesus?

Lord Jesus Christ,
all too often we can forget
the price you paid for us
to become the children of our Heavenly Father.
May our allegiance be one of joyfulness
at all that You have done to rescue us from sin.
May our morning hymns ascend to You
and our evening prayers reflect
our total commitment to You,
as well as our grateful thanks.
Amen.