Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in dogs.
Welcome to this final episode of our journey through Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Over the past days,
We've walked slowly through this beautiful letter,
Listening to Paul's words from a prison cell.
We've watched him discover joy in unexpected places and we've stood before the humility of Christ.
We've reflected on what it means to become more like Jesus,
Discovered peace in the midst of anxieties,
Learned the freedom of contentment,
And we've been reminded again and again.
That walking the spiritual life is about becoming like Christ.
We're not going to just summarise Philippians.
I want to invite you to join me as we look back.
At the journey,
Not just the letter.
Remembering that scripture isn't just something that we read,
But something that we allow to read us.
It reveals where we are.
It reveals where God's inviting us to grow.
So today,
We take some time to reflect.
What has Philippians awakened within you?
What invitation.
Has God placed before you?
What part of this journey?
Has stayed with you.
So before we begin,
As always,
Let's bring ourselves fully into this moment.
Take a deep breath and allow yourself to become still in your mind,
In your heart and in your body.
Which will allow all those three to be present here in this moment.
Not just to what's happening around you,
But present to God.
Simply praying,
Lord God,
Show me what you have been forming in me.
So you'll remember that our journey began.
With one of those beautiful promises of Paul.
The one who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
Before we did anything for God,
God was already at work within us.
Before we searched for God,
God was already searching for us.
Before we attempt a transformation,
Grace had already begun the process.
And this is where Philippians begins with grace.
And that's probably the first thing you need to remember.
The spiritual life isn't about trying to become someone God's gonna love.
It's about learning to live as someone who's already.
Love.
So just take a moment to think where.
.
.
Have you seen God's grace at work in your life?
Where has God been quietly beginning something?
Within you.
Then we learned that circumstances don't define our joy early in the letter.
Paul surprised us a little bit.
He was imprisoned,
His future was uncertain,
His freedom was taken away,
And yet he rejoiced.
And it was because he held firmly to the truth that Christ had remained present to him despite his circumstances.
And in doing so,
Paul discovered that joy is deeper than happiness.
Happiness depends on what's happening around us.
Joy is rooted in who is with us.
So maybe Philippians has invited you to ask what has been shaping my joy.
Have I been waiting for circumstances to change before receiving God's presence?
Or am I learning to discover that Christ is here even now?
Here in this circumstance with me.
Just sit with that for a moment.
Then we learned about adopting the mind of Christ.
At the heart of the letter,
In that great hymn of Philippians 2,
Paul wrote,
Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
And this is where Paul revealed the mystery of Christ,
The one who had everything,
But chose to give everything away.
The one who is exalted.
But chose humility,
The one who was Lord.
But became a servant.
And then Paul gave us the invitation.
This is not only who Jesus is,
This is who we are.
Are becoming.
A spiritual journey is that gradual formation of the heart of Christ.
Within us.
So just take a moment to reflect,
Where is Christ inviting you?
Into greater humility.
Where might Christ be inviting you to move from self-protection towards self-giving love?
And then we learnt to shine through faithful living.
Paul told the Philippians,
Shine among them like stars in the world.
Again,
This is one about fame or seeking attention,
But by faithfully reflecting Christ.
Remembering that a star doesn't create its own light,
It receives and reflects.
And this is the spiritual call,
To become people through whom others glimpse the goodness of God.
So maybe Philippians has invited you to consider what atmosphere do you carry?
Into the world.
Do people encounter more peace because you're present?
More hope?
More compassion,
More grace?
What atmosphere do you carry?
Then Paul talked about honoring ordinary saints.
He introduced us to Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Just ordinary disciples.
Maybe I shouldn't say just.
These were people whose names could easily have been forgotten,
But Paul honours them because they embodied the life of Christ.
They cared,
They served,
They remained faithful.
This letter of Philippians reminds us that holiness is often hidden.
The Kingdom of God is built through countless acts of ordinary love every day.
So take a moment to remember,
Who were the ordinary saints who have helped to shape your life.
Who has quietly revealed Christ to you?
And then ask,
Who might God be inviting you to encourage through your own faithfulness?
Then Paul taught us to know Christ above all else.
Paul shared his own story,
That he'd accumulated everything the world valued,
Status,
Credentials,
Achievement,
Recognition,
Even religious accomplishment,
And yet,
He discovered something greater,
The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
" Paul wasn't rejecting his past,
But he discovered something greater than his past.
Christ became the center around which everything else found its proper place.
And maybe this is one of the key questions that Philippians asks us.
What is the treasure of your life?
What do you ultimately rely upon for your identity?
And what would remain if everything else.
Was stripped away.
Just sit with those for a moment.
Then Paul encouraged us to keep pressing on.
He said,
Not that I have already obtained all this.
Even Paul knew that he was still becoming.
The spiritual life.
Is about continuing,
Continuing to listen,
Continuing to grow.
Continuing to allow God to form us.
There's a freedom in remembering that God isn't finished with us.
And we're not failures because we're unfinished.
We're disciples.
We're still learning,
Still growing,
Still becoming.
So maybe ask yourself.
Where is God still inviting me forward?
And what new work might Christ be beginning in you?
Then Paul invited us to receive God's peace.
In chapter 4,
Paul gave us one of Scripture's great promises.
He wrote,
The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Friend,
This is not a promise of life without difficulty.
It's a promise of presence within difficulty.
The peace of God doesn't always remove the storm,
But it holds us within the storm.
Maybe Philippians has invited you to bring your worries into prayer,
To stop carrying alone what God invites you to surrender.
So maybe ask yourself,
What burdens?
Might you place into God's hands today?
And then Paul taught us about contentment.
He said,
I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.
So notice that again,
Learned,
Contentment is formed,
It grows slowly,
It develops through trust.
Paul discovered that Christ was enough.
Nothing else was required.
And so maybe today you can ask.
What am I waiting for before I allow myself to be at peace?
What have I convinced myself I need in order to be whole,
And where is Christ inviting me into freedom?
And then finally.
Philippians ends where it began.
With grace,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Be with your spirit.
The whole journey is held within grace.
We began with grace,
We grow through grace,
We're sustained by grace,
We're completed by grace.
The spiritual life again is something we receive and we do receive it every day,
Day after day,
Again and again,
Moment after moment.
So as we finish this journey through Philippians.
The question that we go with is what kind of person is Philippians inviting me to become?
A person who's rooted in grace.
A person whose joy is deeper than circumstances.
A person who carries the mind of Christ,
Who shines quietly.
A person who honours faithfulness,
Who knows Christ as treasure.
The person who keeps becoming,
Who receives peace,
Who lives content,
And who rests in grace.
This is the invitation of Philippians.
To be transformed.
By Christ inside.
And out.
So as we close.
Please pray with me.
God,
Thank you for meeting us in the words of Philippians.
Thank you for the grace that began the journey.
Thank you for the love that sustains it.
Continue your work within us.
Form your mind within us.
Teach us your joy,
Your humility and your peace.
Teach us your contentment and may our lives become a living expression of your grace.
May we continue becoming more like you until the good work that you have begun is brought to fruition.
To completion.
Amen.
Thanks so much for being with me as we walk through Philippians.
And may you carry these words with you as you go,
The God who began a good work in you is still working.
May Christ be your joy.
May His peace guard your heart.
May His grace sustain your spirit.
May you continue becoming like Him.
And may grace,
Peace and love go with you every step of the journey today and always.
Amen.
Thanks so much,
Friends.
Peace.
Be with you.
.
.
