In early May, I recorded a one week series of devotional reflections reading through the entire book of Philippians. Here’s the text of each day’s devotion and the video to go with it.
Sunday – Philippians 1:1-14
The first 14 verses of Philippians were the text for worship on Sunday, May 6, so you can read, watch, or listen to the sermon from that day here.
Monday – Philippians 1:15-30
Hey, this is Pastor Daniel Flucke from St. Peter Lutheran Church, and this week over the course of the next 6 days, we’re going to read through the entire book of Philippians.
During yesterday’s worship service, we read the first 14 verses, so if you missed that, you can go to the St. Peter Lutheran Church Facebook page or stpetergreene.com and watch that service.
As I said yesterday, Paul is in prison, probably in Rome, and he’s writing this letter to the church in Philippi. He started yesterday by greeting them, letting them know he’s praying for them, and then he reassured them that his confinement in prison is actually helping to spread the gospel. His fellow believers are made confident by seeing him in prison, and it’s giving them courage to boldly speak God’s word themselves.
Here’s Philippians 1:15-30
Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.
What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Paul is in a tricky spot here. Although he’s in this terrible situation in prison, in imminent danger of being executed, he sees himself as being caught between two good options. In verse 21, he says, “To me, living is Christ and dying is gain.”
We know he is hoping to be released from prison. He wants to continue his journey, to visit his friends, as he said a few verses earlier. But that doesn’t seem very likely, and the more he thinks about it, he realizes the alternative isn’t so bad, because if he is killed, he’ll be with Jesus. It’s a profound attitude of faith.
It can also be a dangerous attitude for us to imitate. As Christians today, I think we’re sometimes tempted to look at the promise of eternal life with Jesus as the trump card for all of life’s problems. Because we know this life is temporary and something better is coming, we can risk checking out of the world. There’s some truth to the old cliche, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good.”
Some of my seminary classmates talk about it as a “Jesus Band-Aid.” Yes, there are problems in the world, yes, you might be facing some struggles in your life, but it’s ok, because Jesus! But Jesus calls us to love our neighbors in this world. The way we love God is by loving the people around us.
Living in the light of eternity is good if it means the promise of eternal life is giving us the strength to get through the struggles of today. But don’t twist that beautiful promise of eternity into a reason to ignore the world around you.
As he keeps writing, Paul acknowledges the temptation to give up and simply wait to die, wait to be with Jesus, but then he says he is convinced “to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” God’s not done with him yet. He still has a mission to accomplish, a calling to answer in this world, and so do you.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of eternal life that begins now and continues forever. Help us as your children to serve our neighbors in your name. Be with us in our struggles, that you may always be glorified. Amen
See you tomorrow to look at the first 13 verses of chapter 2.
Tuesday – Philippians 2:1-13
Hi, I’m Pastor Daniel Flucke from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, Iowa, and thanks for coming back for another devotion as we read through the book of Philippians.
In the first chapter, we saw Paul greet the church in Philippi, letting them know that even though he’s in prison, he’s still confident God is at work, and they should keep the faith.
Here’s the first half of chapter 2.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
One of the interesting things about reading Paul’s letters is trying to figure out what problems his original readers were dealing with from the solutions he offers. In Philippi, it seems like there must have been some people with some ego problems.
So, Paul instructs them to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, regard others as better than yourselves. Look to the interests of others, not to your own interests. That’s interesting to think about with what’s going on in the world around us during the pandemic, isn’t it? We’re all putting the health and well-being of others ahead of ourselves by staying inside and shutting down so much of the economy.
Our congregation and indeed, our whole world, would be much healthier if we could all follow that command! We could all use some humility, couldn’t we.
Then, as an example of what humility looks like, Paul turns to Jesus.
If you were following along with today’s reading in your Bible, you probably noticed the layout is different for this middle section. Verses 6 through 11 are often called the “Christ-hymn” and scholars think it’s probably one of the first hymns or creeds used by Christians in the early church.
Most likely, his readers knew these words, but obviously, they needed to hear them again. As these few lines give a wonderful picture of what humility looks like, they also lay out the entire Gospel story. Jesus was in the form of God. As John says in his gospel, he was of one being with the Father. But out of love, he humbled himself, becoming a human. He left his throne in heaven to be born as a helpless human baby, to unwed parents, in a little village, laid in a manger.
During his life, he remained faithful to God, living life the way we are all called to live, a pure life of love. And that love led him to death, a humiliating death on a cross, the worst the world could throw at him. But God raised him from the dead, giving life to the world.
So, Paul tells us, follow Jesus’ example. Be humble. Work out your salvation, and do your best to follow God’s calling, but don’t take credit for it. Remain humble, for it is God who is at work in you.
Let’s pray. Dear Jesus, you set the perfect example of humility for us. Thank you for giving yourself up for us, so that we may live. Help us to follow you in all we do this day. Amen
See you tomorrow as we finish chapter 2.
Wednesday – Philippians 2:14-30
Hi, I’m Pastor Daniel Flucke from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, Iowa, and we’re in the middle of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
Yesterday, in the first half of the chapter, we heard Paul instruct the Philippians to live with humility. He called them to put others before themselves, and as an example of perfect humility, he pointed to Jesus Christ, who gave up everything to die on a cross, out of love for the world, for sinful people like you and me. That’s our example.
With that perfect example of divine humility in mind, Paul continues with some instructions for those who claim to follow Jesus. Here’s Philippians 2, beginning with verse 14.
Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you— and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.
Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
Imagine the witness to the world if Christians would actually do all things without murmuring or arguing. Paul says we Christians are to shine like stars in the world. He’s picking up, of course, on the language Jesus used. In John 8, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus came to shine God’s light into the darkness of this broken, sinful world.
But he didn’t only say he himself was the light of the world, in Matthew 5, he said “You are the light of the world.” His disciples. His followers. His church. You. Me. Our calling is to reflect God, to be points of light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, as Paul puts it. It’s a high calling, but remember, in the verse right before this, Paul has just said it is God who is at work in us.
Next, Paul mentions two of the people around him, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Remember, he’s writing this as a letter, an actual sheet of paper (actually parchment, I suppose), and it’ll need to be delivered. You’ve probably heard of Timothy. He was a companion of Paul on some of his journeys, and the Biblical letters of First and Second Timothy are framed as instructions to him from Paul.
But Epaphroditus is a little more obscure. He’s only mentioned in Philippians. Apparently, he was sent from the church in Philippi to Paul, to take care of him and to bring him some gifts, a sort of care package. But while he’s visiting Paul, he became sick. Now that he’s recovered, Paul is sending him back with this letter – it also serves as a sort of doctor’s note explaining why he took so long to get back!
That’s it for chapter two. Tomorrow, we’ll continue with all of chapter 3 in one day.
Let’s pray. Good and gracious God, you call us to shine your light into the world. Help us to follow the guidings and nudges of your Holy Spirit. Point us in the right direction, that we may reflect your love and grace to those who most need to hear it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
See you tomorrow!
Thursday – Philippians 3:1-21
I’m Pastor Daniel Flucke from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, Iowa, and this week we’re reading through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Today, we’re reading chapter 3. Paul writes:
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh—even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
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 Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation 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. Here ends the reading.
The beginning of this chapter is my favorite section of Philippians. What seems to be going on is that there are some people going around teaching that in order to be Christian, you need to be circumcised. Circumcision is a marker of Jewish identity, and Christianity started out as a Jewish movement, so you can see their logic. Jesus was Jewish, he was circumcised.
But Paul’s teaching is that in Jesus, God’s salvation extends beyond the Jewish people. God is doing a new thing, choosing all of us, not just one group of chosen people. God so loved the world! So, Paul says, be wary of those who insist you have to do some physical thing in order to be saved. Our confidence for salvation needs to be in Jesus, not in the flesh.
Paul wants to make it clear that he understands his opponents’ position. He understands those who think they’re the insiders and others need to become like them to receive God’s salvation. So, and here’s the part I like, he lists all his own credentials. He has all the right bloodlines, he’s a Hebrew born of Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin. He’s done the right rituals, circumcised on the 8th day, following all the rules of the law. And he’s even gone the extra mile, persecuting those who believe differently!
But now, because of Jesus, none of that, none of his credentials are worth anything. He knows now that they’re all rubbish – I love that word, because it’s a really mild way of translating the Greek word there, which is more about stuff that goes into the sewer.
Paul’s single goal in life now is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. He understands that it’s all about Jesus, not himself. Everything he does—and he is still trying to do the right things, and he invites everyone else to join in imitating him—everything he does is because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Jesus has claimed you, not because of what you’ve done, but out of love. Your citizenship is in heaven. Thanks be to God!
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank you for claiming us as your children, choosing us to be your people. Bless us this day and always, that we may have the strength and will to press on to the prize given to us by your grace. Amen
Friday – Philippians 4:1-9
Hey, happy Friday! I’m Pastor Daniel Flucke at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, Iowa, and we’ve made it to the final chapter of Philippians. Here’s chapter 4.
Paul writes:
“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.”
I’m actually going to pause there after verse 1, because my pastor growing up used to say when you see a verse in the Bible that starts with “therefore” you need to go see what it’s there for. In this case, Philippians 4:1 is really the end of the previous section in chapter three. Remember, the verse and chapter numbers are not part of the original text of the Bible – they were added much later to make it easier to read. In my Bible, verse 1 is even the end of the previous paragraph.
Paul’s been saying that our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from heaven that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, because we know we belong to a reality that extends beyond just this world, we can stand firm in the Lord, stand strong in faith. As we talked about on Monday in chapter 1, we are free to live and serve in this world because we know the truth of heaven, the truth that God’s kingdom is more than this world.
Continuing with verses two through nine.
Paul writes:
“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” Here ends the reading.
If you remember back a few chapters, it sounds like part of why Paul is writing this letter is to deal with some arguing and fighting going on in the church in Philippi. We don’t know much of anything about Euodia and Syntyche, but it sounds like these women were leaders in the church on different sides of some issue. We’re not sure what the issue is, but whatever it is, Paul urges them to be of the same mind in the Lord, to work it out and remember their purpose as followers of Jesus.
He gives some wonderful instructions for us today to follow. Rather than fighting and arguing, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And he says it twice. “Again I will say, ‘Rejoice.’” “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” Why? Because the Lord is near.
By itself, verse 6 can be one of the most frustrating verses in the Bible. Paul tells us, “Do not worry about anything.” I can’t do that. There’s too much going on around me to not worry. Maybe you find that command hard too.
But that’s not the whole verse. First, Paul says, “The Lord is near.” That’s why we don’t have to worry. And, he gives us something to do with our worries. “The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” As that great hymn we sang on Sunday puts it, “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” You don’t have to carry the burden of your worries and concerns with you. Take it to God. Let God know what’s on your mind. God can handle it. Lay it down at the foot of the cross. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Let us pray.
God of love and mercy, there are so many things in this world that we are worried about, so many cares burdening us, for ourselves, for our families, for our world. Help us to bring all our concerns and worries to you. We give you thanks that you hear all our prayers, and that you have claimed us as citizens of heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Have a great day, and come back tomorrow to finish the last few verses of Philippians. God bless you!
Saturday – Philippians 4:10-23
Hi, I’m Pastor Daniel Flucke from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, Iowa, and if you’ve been following along with daily devotions this week, in a few moments, you’ll have heard the entirety of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Here’s the last 13 verses, Philippians 4:10-23. Paul writes:
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Here ends the reading, and the book of Philippians.
In this final section of Paul’s letter, there are two threads I want to look at. The first thread is gratitude. Going back to the first chapter, this whole letter is a thank you note from Paul. He’s given the Christians in Philippi a lot of instructions on how to live and how to solve conflict, but his main reason—or maybe his excuse—for writing them is to thank them for the support they’ve sent him. More than once, he says, they’ve given him support so he can keep fulfilling his vocation of spreading the gospel and planting churches. I see two applications for us here.
First, we’re not all called to the same vocations. The Holy Spirit calls each of us to different tasks and gives us different gifts to use for ministry. Some people are called to work as missionaries and evangelists. There are people who are given the right character traits to knock on doors and plant churches.
I was reading yesterday about Emily Norris, a student at Wartburg Seminary graduating this month.
She’s in the process of launching a new faith community in North Carolina for people experiencing homelessness. Professional ministry for her right now has looked like purchasing a shower trailer and securing hotel rooms for people so they’re not spending the pandemic on the streets.
I don’t think I could do the kind of work she’s doing. I don’t have the gifts for knocking on doors or going up to people on the street to invite them to worship. Most of the people in Philippi don’t have the gifts to do what Paul is doing. That’s ok. All of us can participate in the work God is doing by finding ways to use the gifts we do have, and we can use what we have to support those doing that kind of on the ground work. It’s the giving provided by the church in Philippi that makes Paul’s more visible work possible.
Second, Paul is visibly grateful. His sense of gratitude permeates everything he does, and he goes to the effort of letting the Philippians know how grateful he is for their help. He lets them know that the gifts Epaphroditus has delivered are appreciated. His whole letter is framed around gratitude – what a wonderful example for us. We can always find things to be grateful for. Imagine what a difference it’d make for us to frame everything we do and say around gratitude.
The other thread I want to leave you with is in the final greetings section. Paul writes, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.” A saint—by Paul’s definition—is anyone who is in Christ, anyone in the church. You are a saint if you believe in God, not because you’re a super-Christian or because you do better acts than everyone else, but because in Jesus Christ, God has claimed you. You are a saint because Jesus has taken hold of you and made you a citizen of heaven. That’s the most important reason to be grateful!
I hope this time of reading through Philippians has been a blessing for you. I’ve tried to highlight some parts of the book that stick out to me, but there’s much more we could explore. I’d love to hear where the Holy Spirit has drawn your attention, so if there’s a part that stuck out to you, let me know! If this format works well for you and you’d be interested in reading through another book together, that’d be helpful to know as well, or even if it didn’t work, that’d be good to know too!
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the witness of Paul and the church in Philippi. Help us also to live in gratitude, to be thankful for all you have done for us. Thank you most of all for claiming us as your children through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen
Well, thanks for watching, and have a wonderful weekend! Hope you can join me tomorrow morning for church at 9:30 right here. God bless you.