NCC Daily

The passage of Scripture we just read today should challenge us to think, “What aspects of yesterday must I forget if I want to fulfill my kingdom purpose?' Are there things in your past that you are allowing to be a controlling factor in your life today? May we have the courage to choose to have a forward focus, to press on and to look at the future and not on our past.

In these Scriptures the apostle Paul is sharing his experience in a way that helps to calibrate the people in Philippi and even us today as it relates to our approach to life, particularly during challenging seasons. These verses can serve as a solid foundation for us. Paul shares that he gained a lot in life but it is all worthless compared to knowing and walking in relationship with Christ.

Paul doesn’t pull any punches here. Philippians is the epistle of joy, but Paul takes a very different tone, a very different tactic right here. When you love someone, there is a protective instinct that you feel towards them. If you mess with my wife or with my kids, I will take you down! Why? I care more about them than I do myself. Paul’s protective instincts take over right here. He loves the Philippians too much to sit idly by and watch false prophets with false motives teach false doctrine.

As Paul pens these words, he’s already acknowledged that he doesn’t know if his current prison sentence will end in death. He’s not sure when or if he’ll be able to send Timothy to visit them. His helper from Philippi got sick and needs to go home early. Paul is dealing with a huge amount of uncertainty and still tells the Philippian church, “Whatever happens, rejoice.”

Let's answer the question we’ve all been wondering. Epaphroditus? Who? It’s hard enough just pronouncing his name right, much less knowing who is this guy? This is the first of two encounters we have with him in this book. Needless to say, he is not one that you would refer to as a main character by any means. But that is what makes him so special to be mentioned at all.

This passage might feel a bit of a left turn, but it gives us a rare glimpse into the interpersonal relationships of the early church. When we read Scripture through our modern context it can feel distant, describing a moment in time that is tough to have a reference for. But passages like these resonate in their humanness. You get a sense of the raw emotion of almost losing a friend, the fear and anxiety, but also the joy of healing and restoration.

Sending or being sent is often a true act of humility. It takes a mass amount of trust on Paul’s part to send Timothy on his behalf. Not only in trusting that Timothy will represent him well, but also because Paul could easily hold on to him. He could keep Timothy right by his side to continue to serve with him, but instead, he sends him forth.

At the time of this writing, Timothy had become the pastor of the church in Ephesus, one of the largest and most influential cities of the Greco-Roman world. He was obviously a strong and respected leader, and Paul claims there is no one else like Timothy. Why? What is the reason for that highest commendation?

What if we were so fixated on joy that we couldn’t help but see it everywhere?

A surefast way to keep catchphrases from becoming white noise is to continue to look at the truth revealed in Scripture. Paul has been encouraging the Philippians to persevere in faith, no matter what the circumstances look like around them. He is giving practical steps on how to live as a beloved community that lives out the kingdom of God in the here and now. To Paul, choosing joy is not always rainbows and butterflies, but can look like turning the other cheek, working hard, and standing firm.