By David Phillips

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13.

Oh, if only we could master that matter of being content with whatever situation we are in.  But just what is that contentment that Paul speaks of, and how can we get it?  Our modern dictionary defines content or contentment as “being in a state of peaceful happiness”.   I don’t think God necessarily wants us to be peacefully happy with every situation we find ourselves in.  Perhaps this misunderstanding is part of the reason some people accuse Christianity of being unrealistic.  Again, what is this matter of being content that Paul exemplifies?

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By David Phillips

“We certainly deserve it.”

That was the way one local weatherman called attention to the run of mild, low-humidity days that we are enjoying this week here in Central Alabama.  His obvious point was that after such a wild and stormy Easter Sunday, with more than 30 storm-related deaths across the South, we could well use a few days of nice weather. I understand his point, and the use of that figure of speech is fairly common, but maybe there’s an indicator in it of a little problem we have.

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By David Phillips

More Essentials

Last Monday, we started out the week by noting some Essentials for Christ.  Though I didn’t do so on purpose, I started with the letter “F” and proceeded in alphabetical fashion to “J”, discussing 5 essential elements to serving the Lord.  Today, we’ll follow that pattern again, except we’ll back up to the beginning and fill in the gap we left last week.  Then each Monday, as long as this ordeal continues, we’ll follow the alphabetical pattern to the end.

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By David Phillips

In the sermon this morning, we’ll be looking at Jesus’ example and our obligation to follow in His steps, from 1 Peter 2.  One of the things that Peter calls attention to in that chapter, in addition to the fact that Jesus suffered for us, is that we will sometimes have to suffer in this life.

There are many different aspects to suffering, and Peter’s point seems to be centered on persecution.  However, we sometimes suffer because of circumstances or conditions of life.  Many would say we have been brought to suffer from the present distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  We certainly have been disrupted, and severely inconvenienced.  Many are suffering financially from its effects, and those whose health has been attacked by the virus, along with their loved ones and caretakers, have certainly suffered.  My point is that suffering is a broad term, covering many aspects of a lot of different things.  Peter’s points in this chapter reinforce what the Hebrew writer said in Hebrews 4:14-15:  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

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By David Phillips

“Who was that masked man?”

I know many of you reading this are too young to remember those early commercials for The Lone Ranger on radio and TV.  Anyway, just going to Walmart now has taken the appeal right out of that line.  At least we are still allowed to go to Walmart, mask or no mask, that’s something to be thankful for.  I really feel for those businesses that are NOT Walmart, who are close to being sidelined right out of business.

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By David Phillips

I think this is Wednesday.  At least I told myself that when I woke up this morning.  That’s a habit of mine, to think about what day it is when I first wake up, probably because as I get older, I need more reminders about some of the most basic of things.  And quite frankly, the past three weeks of interrupted routine have made it a little harder for me to keep up with some of the most basic parts of my schedule without more reminders.

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By David Phillips

Essential
This has become an important word.  Only those who provide “essential services” can go to work outside the home.  “Essential retailers” are now limited to no more than 50% of normal occupancy.  Every person in our state is ordered to stay at home except to perform “essential activities.”  Though the Governor issued a partial list defining “essential businesses”, the rules are far from clear.  What, or who is really essential?

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By David Phillips

Rarely is it profitable or even advisable to sit around in a difficult situation, and wonder and brood about what may come next.  But at the risk of sounding repetitious, we’ve never seen anything like this.  Our culture has become drunk on freedom and liberty, so when the authorities tell us that we’ve got to stay home except to forage for the barest of necessities, its pretty hard to take.  I mean, we’re accustomed to standing in long lines to get OUT of Walmart, but waiting in line to get IN is frustratingly new and different.

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By David Phillips

Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  2 Corinthians 4:7 

From examining the context surrounding that verse, it becomes clear that Paul is speaking in reference to the work and ministry of the apostles in the first century.  He and those who helped him had been called into God’s service from a variety of trades, careers and experiences, fallible men who were entrusted with the great treasure of the Gospel of Christ.  Their mission was to share it.  In speaking to Ananias, God described Paul in that exact way: …for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15)

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By David Phillips

I suppose by now we should be getting pretty good at this.  After all, it’s been a couple of weeks since we began getting the orders for social isolation and distancing.  I hate to admit it, but it has started to become routine for me – actually so routine that I’m beginning to feel like I need a break from it. Hopefully, we are all letting this change in routine bring a few good things into our daily behavioral patterns.  A little more time spent in Bible study and prayer; a little bit of an increase in productivity toward those projects around the house we’ve put off for so long; an increase in positive time with the family.

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