“The Person I Want to Be”   2013

Psalm 90:1-6,12, 16-17 Philippians 2:1-11

 Psalm 90:1-6,12, 16-17

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn us back to dust, and say, “Turn back, you mortals.” For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night. You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!

 

Philippians 2:1-11

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.

 

Have you ever started to paint a room, and then as you proceeded,

            began to wonder if you bought enough paint to finish the job?

So what did you do?

 

            You were probably a little more deliberate and very careful

                        not to spill a drop or waste any of that precious paint …

                             … as you tried to use whatever was left  well,

                                      just hoping there would be enough to finish the room.

   When you have only a limited amount of something,

          you try to use it well so that   you can accomplish your goal.

 

In Psalm 90,

          we are reminded that this life is precious and not to be wasted.

vs. 3, 5-6

            You turn us back to dust, … like grass that is renewed in the morning;

in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

 

We are mortal beings, and our time on this earth is limited…

            … so we are urged to live the life we were given with care,

                        to invest and enjoy our limited lives well and fully,

   as the psalmist writes,  vs. 12        

            So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

 

In Scripture, "a wise heart"  is not something learn we in a classroom

        but rather, has nothing to do with intelligence or scholarship.

A wise heart is living our lives as our Creator intends,

          in a faithful and authentic relationship with the Lord.

 

It is a life that is defined and guided by God’s loving grace,

            and in response to God’s abundance and blessings,

                        seeks to live according to God’s will, call and purpose.

 

In the ancient world, the heart was what makes us who we are

            and what motivated what we do and what we value.

                   A wise heart is one that is focused on God and God’s will.

 

The people I have observed who I thought had a wise heart,

            lived an ever-growing and deepening relationship with God,

                        that spilled over into their treatment of other people…

            … they were able to get along and work with others.

 

A wise heart recognized our call to be a community of faith,

            God’s people bound and united by the faith we share…

… which call us to be more focused on our call to Christian unity

            that on this world’s stuff that so often divides us.

 

The passage we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians

            proclaims that same sense of living a theology of community;

                        of everyone listening, and blending their voices

                             by singing the music of grace together in harmony…

                               … with our focus on Jesus instead of our differences.

 

The city of Philippi was a privileged and favored colony of Rome.

           Its citizens were very conscious of that elevated status,

                        and were opposed and hostile toward Christianity.

 

That put pressure on the church from the outside,

            in addition to disagreements among themselves on the inside…

  … so Paul urges them, vs. 1-2

                        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.

                       

Paul’s point was, that if their faith

            was authentic, growing, and actually meant something,

                        then they must cooperate and be united in their faith.

 

By this,

               Paul isn’t saying that we all have to agree on everything,

                        or that we all must share the same ideas and opinions.

          But as Christians, the most important truth in life

             is that God loves us and through Jesus we are saved to serve.

 

    That single and most critical truth unites all Christians,

       and to follow Jesus as his disciples becomes our life’s priority

              replacing all the other stuff that can distract and divide us.

 

Paul was urging the Christians in Philippi to focus on Jesus--

          - to be of one mind, centered on the life and teaching of Jesus-

 

  -then in the next section, Paul illustrates with an example,

            by pointing to the truth and sacrifice of Jesus.  vs. 5-8

                        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.

 

Paul first urges his friends, “be of the same mind”,

            then specified,

                        “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

 

* So what was the Christ’s example,  or the “mind of Christ”?

 

      It was simple, faithful and humble servanthood, in contrast

            to the status-seeking and self-promotion of their world.

In contrast to the status conscious culture around the Philippians,

   to be a loving community of grace, one that reflects Jesus Christ.

 

As Paul explains, Jesus had the highest status possible,

            “he was in the form of God”,       “but emptied himself,

                        taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.”

 

The lesson is that Jesus surrendered his high status,

            and accepted the slave-status of human flesh;

                        his whole life submitted for God’s will and purpose;

 

- and from that example, Paul is urging the Philippian Christians

            also to surrender their status, their rights and desires,

                        try to cooperate and get along for the benefit of all—

 

            - all for the sake of discipleship  and their mission,

                  and serve together  to build-up the Kingdom of God.

 

  Then Paul pointed out, how God vindicated and glorified

            the obedient self-denying sacrifice of Jesus with victory.

vs. 9-11

            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.

 

The message to the Philippians, as well as to us,

      was to focus on Jesus, by having the mind of Christ, a wise heart,

                              by making their attitude

                                     consistent with the life and teaching of Jesus.

 

“A wise heart” and “the mind of Christ” are really the same thing—

            -- a life well-lived

                        that is focused on God and obedience to God.

 

As Jesus demonstrated and taught, it is placing à

            God’s will and purpose, God’s call and intention for us

                        well about our own wants and desires, so that à

                                    God can accomplish the Kingdom of grace through us…

… which is always an appropriate lesson for the Church.

 

All of us    are each entrusted with blessings for the whole body;

            God bestows wonderful gifts for benefit of the whole church,

     given to us  as grace and blessing beyond our salvation,

            equipping is to do something extraordinary  - to do  ministry.

 

I am always amazed by all that the Lord can accomplish when

            we, the children of God are focused on Jesus, and willing

                  to serve in harmony toward accomplishing our mission.

 

Today we are about to install a group of new elders and deacons; 

            new shepherds called to serve, to help nurture our faith,

                to help us to live out and reflect God's love and glory

                        by our mission and service to our world and community.

 

Church leadership is not about rank, prestige, or privilege,

            but it’s responsibility and loving service that asks,

                        'what needs to be done --- what is best for the Church?---

-- it is “the mind of Christ”  and  “a wise heart”   in action.

 

            It is about shared cooperation rather than,  'what do I want?

                        or what will make me look good or impress other people?

 

Being a church leader is about modeling the Christian life,

            about faithfulness and integrity, a Christ-like character,

                        that listens,

                          and cooperates as a team building up the body of Christ.

 

It’s humble service --- often without recognition or praise

            - remembering that we serve as temporary stewards.

                                         We are servants, 

                                                not the owners  nor little popes of the church.

 

We’re called to care more about   building-up the kingdom of God,

            about doing God's will  and reflecting love for God's people

                than   going forward with our own agenda, program or ideas.

 

And to those ordained, your ultimate task as church leaders

            is to help us keep our focus on Jesus Christ,

                        and to follow as faithful disciples,

                                    with our eyes, hearts and desire on our mission,

                        and reflecting the grace that we ourselves have received.

                                   

And, if we are faithful in our service and in walking with God,

            then our shared leadership can help create an environment

                        where more and more people are welcomed and encouraged

                              to discover and develop their own gifts for ministry

 

            where all are affirmed and all are valued and appreciated

                  and no one's work is  more important  than any other's…

… and we don’t waste but use well the precious

            time and resources entrusted to for the glory of God.

 

Or as the apostle Paul describes it [in Phil. 2:3-5, 1 Cor. 15:58]

            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.  … Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.