This is post #19 of a 26-session blog series entitled Two Joyful Pastors – One Great Work of Christ: A Journey with Paul, Timothy, and the Philippian Church. It was Eugene Peterson who said that Philippians is Paul’s happiest letter. Join us as we explore this joyful work of Christ as it manifest itself amongst Paul and Timothy, and the early church of Christ-followers in Philippi. Just maybe, we might learn a few secrets to finding true joy in the midst of our lives as well. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.
Today’s Lectio Divina: But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like His own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which He is putting everything as it should be, under and around Him. Philippians 3: 20-21 (MsgB)
Do you ever find yourself bogged down a bit with life?
Feeling more like Eeyore, the slightly depressed donkey friend of Winnie the Pooh?
Which reminds me of one of my favorite Eeyore scenes from author A.A. Milne’s stories.
Winnie the Pooh, the perennial optimist, greets his friend one morning with a happy question, “Lovely day, isn’t it?” Eeyore stares back at Winnie for a moment, and then responds in true Eeyore fashion.
“If it is a good morning…which I doubt.”
Indeed, even the most optimistic person in our midst, must occasionally admit that living down here on planet earth can evoke our Winnie the Pooh spirit to proclaim…
“Oh, bother!”
As I see it, that’s why we Christ-followers, every once in a while need to sit down, put our feet up, be still for a few moments, and then read, read again, and then re-read one more time Paul’s words of hope found here in his letter to the Philippian church.
Allow me the privilege to offer these words for you, once again. Right here. Right now.
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like His own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which He is putting everything as it should be, under and around Him.
You see, with Lectio Divina, the goal is not to read a lot of scripture at any one sitting, but to take it all in slowly, word by word, and line by line. Actually, the best type of working with Lectio Divina, is when we go slow enough to even listen between the lines as we go.
So, once more, I want to offer these amazing words of hope for you to ponder on. Let’s take it slowly, one line at a time…
But there’s far more to life for us.
We’re citizens of high heaven!
We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ,
Who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like His own.
He’ll make us beautiful and whole,
With the same powerful skill by which He is putting everything as it should be,
Under and around Him.
I’m guessing by now there is a phrase or a word that is shimmering or standing out for you in this text. My suggestion is that you take some additional time after we close and sit quietly with that word or phrase, inviting Jesus to show you what He wants to reveal to you this day.
I’ve found that after years of being an Eeyore, one who can always spot a half-empty glass, the great hope found with God’s Word can actually allow me to see my world more like Winnie the Pooh sees it…
“Lovely day, isn’t it?”
Today’s Prayer: Lord, thank You, that You don’t leave us or forsake us when we have Eeyore days, and our attitude can be defined as much less positive than we’d hoped it to be. Thank You, as well, that there is a great hope waiting for us when we will take the time to stop, look, and listen for it. Thank You, for Your Word, which offers us a hope, a future, a destiny that lies before us. Holy Spirit, fill me today with that hope and promise. For Your Name’s sake and for Your Glory. Amen.
Today’s Questions to Ponder: One of the heart-warming lessons found in A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books is that even when Eeyore is at one of his low points, he is never forsaken or forgotten by his friends. Who around me today might be feeling a bit like Eeyore and how might I be a faithful companion to them in the midst of their struggle?
So, how are you experiencing Jesus as we ponder together on this journey into the Book of Philippians?
Two Joyful Pastors – One Great Work of Christ: A Journey with Paul, Timothy, and the Philippian Church. We hope you’ll enjoy this series of 26 blogs. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.
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