Love: A New Commandment - a Journey in PhilippiansSample

Time to say Goodbye…

People don’t part easily with money or possessions. There are exceptions, for example, when someone gets very ill. That person or sometimes family members will easily give anything just to save his or her life. They’ll deal with the financial consequences later. So, what made these first Christians in “Europe” give so much? And they were not the only ones.

Let's look at “the end.” These first Christians believed in God’s promise of new creation. He will make all things new (Revelation 21:5). They also believed Jesus rose from the dead. For them, that meant that the new creation had already started! So, we live in the overlapping of two eras: the way the world was before Jesus, and the future God promises that has already started. A new creation is already working in you through the Spirit. Remember the promise at the beginning of the letter? The One who started the good work in you…

We know in our gut that money and possessions won’t amount to much in the New Creation. What about love? Now that will remain (1 Corinthians 13). Love is God’s future already working in us. A love that gives generously. God first gave himself in Christ. The Gift that keeps on giving. In Christ, you are given glorious new creation life. It will never pass away. Your life has been saved from the corruption and death that came through sin. Glory to God!

And that’s why they gave.

It must have caused quite the celebration in Philippi when they heard, right at the end of the letter, that people from Caesar’s household sent them greetings. People employed by the lord of the Roman Empire now believed Jesus is Lord. That’s the power of this Gospel and the joy of this partnership. Lives are saved! That’s why we give. Every person and sphere in our society must hear and be impacted by the good news of King Jesus. We are a family on a mission. For this cause, the grace of Jesus strengthens your spirit.

Love is God’s new creation bringing new meaning to this old world. Time to say goodbye to the old way of living. Time to love.

Take time to reflect on your journey.

Talk to Jesus.

God bless you!