And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and give Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth, and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:8-11
Philippi a city of Macedonia as considered by Augustus was a microcosm of the Roman people and the only city called after Philip the father of Alexander the Great. A once great city that resided in a fertile region with gold and silver mines, rivers and a highway between Asia and Europe. a famous battle occurred there between Brutus and Mark Antony (42 B.C.) and time when the Roman republic ceased to be and a new political empire began, a place where existed a Roman military colony. Among the peoples of this city and region where Jews, Greeks. Here Paul, Luke, Timothy, and Silas visited and proselytes such as Lydia a seller of purple, also the Roman jailer who converted to Christianity (Acts 16). The city was governed by Roman magistrates, a city also of many superstitions. In Philippi the Church of Christians grew and became fully organized with bishops and deacons. Unfortunately Philippi does not exist as a city as before and only a small village exists possibly on the cite of the old city. Paul's ministry there did not die with the city as from that city the root of Christianity flourished and spread to other cities as the people of Philippi moved to a more commercial and active place where to do business. It is important to acknowledge the character of the people of Philippi and the opposition the Christians faced and their labor of love for Jesus Christ and how Paul reminded them of the self-denying example of Jesus Christ who while God emptied Himself to come to earth incarnate as a man and to die innocently on the cross. By the humbleness of Jesus Christ and the divesting of Himself and of His divine majesty was rewarded and exalted so that by His name, Jesus Christ that all peoples, alive, dead, now, and in the future should bow at His name and acknowledge Him and this to the glory of God the Father that He is the Lord of Salvation, the Lord, the creator, God Himself, the Second Person of the Trinity.
Obedience is a hallmark of Authentic Christians, not obedience to some object, rather obedience to God the Father, to Jesus Christ the Savior, and by this obedience you are pleasing to God. Not for yourself to feel pious or godly, for you have nothing to feel pious about, or godly, rather, God the Father has willed to work in you His work that is to be done on this earth no matter how you can give nothing to receive His blessing. All is to the glory of God, not of ourselves: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your won salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). You do not work to get salvation, for God calls those He chooses to call and by this call the one called then lives for Him and allows Him to work in his life. Paul adds: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16).
Are you just living to live, or are you living to be the light of the world? Will those who instructed you in the Gospel rejoice on the Day of the Lord, that is His second coming to earth for His bride? Are you being proactive in spreading the Good News to others or are you just taking it in, getting fat on the word, but not exercising the power one receives from God as they study to be that light for Jesus Christ? These are important questions for we are to be obedient even in the face of struggles, persecutions, or whatever may come and leave all the consequences to God.
The LORD has done what He purposed;
He has fulfilled His word which He
commanded of old. He has thrown down
and has not pitied, and He has caused
an enemy to rejoice over you; He has
exalted the horn of your adversaries.
Lamentations 2:17
Rejoice God has chosen you to work for Him
Richard L. Crumb
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