In Spirit and Truth

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.” NIV Philippians 4:8 We are bombarded everyday with images of war, terror, death, corruption, natural disasters, famine, disease, and that’s just the six o’clock news! All day long, despair attempts to break in to our thought life. Yet, as Christ’s emissaries we are to be a light of hope in this world. How can we radiate hope when everything around us is oppressed by hopelessness? We start by choosing carefully what thoughts we give place to. Paul has provided a filter that, if we use, will feed the hope within us. This week’s homework, consciously apply the “thought filter” from Philippians 4:8 to each thought that enters your mind, and choose to dwell on those thoughts which fit the list, while dismissing the others. Then sit back and watch how you increasingly become the light of Christ

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Phil 2:5-11 This is perhaps my favorite passage of scripture! It is said that Paul is quoting one of the hymns that the early church sang. What a reminder this is that worship is not about the songs we sing, but about the attitudes of our hearts. Paul reminds the people of Philipi, “Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.” This puts a completely different

“When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood.” NLT Genesis 22:9 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” NIV Romans 12:1-2 In these days of Prozac, Tivo, and Microwave ovens, sacrifice is not a word we like to use. Convenience is the mantra of our culture, and it is one that is easy for us to adopt. But scripture is full of encouragements for us to “take up our cross”, “beat our bodies into submission,” and “to offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices.” It is easy for us in America to forget – Christianity is not easy or