“Seeing the Unseen Christ” (Week 13)
by Eric Rajaniemi
We are looking at Philippians 2:3-11 this week. Vainglory is not a term that we use much in today’s speech. It means excessive or ostentatious pride in one’s achievements. Esteem is another term which is not used very frequently anymore. It means to set a high value upon something or someone; the regard in which one is held.
These two words aren’t used much anymore, but trust me, they apply to all of us today. There are plenty of people who have excessive pride in what they do. They also have very little esteem of other people. There are people who have little to no esteem of the church. This low esteem also extends to God. This makes our world a tough place in which to find people who do think that you have value, or who think that God holds anyone in high regard. The world is a cold, heartless entity. It is indifferent to anyone’s needs. The world is controlled by Satan, the author of lies, deception, and confusion. It becomes reassuring to discover that God is the author of order, logic, truth, and clarity of thought.
Christ Jesus wants us to be humble servants of His, not looking to obtain the applause of the crowds. He wishes us to realize that it is perfectly okay to minister to people while remaining in the background. He really wants us to allow Him to shine through us and light up this world. In this way people will get to see the unseen Christ working in each of us.
Question time my friends!
- What is hard about being humble and considering others to be better than yourself?
- What is a current situation in which you could put someone else’s needs ahead of your own?
- How does your attitude of servanthood compare to the way Jesus is described in verses 6-8?
- Christ Jesus modeled servanthood for us. What was God’s response according to this passage?
Live a Lighthouse Lifestyle
Lighthouses are popular tourist attractions these days. It does not matter if it is on the east coast, west coast, or Great Lakes, a towering lighthouse fascinates people. Perhaps it is simply the characteristic charm of the structure. Or the rich history associated with each one of them. Or maybe it’s the rotating beam of light that shines out onto open water 24/7.
The unseen Christ isn’t content to be contained in just our places of worship. He wants to make His presence known wherever His people go. Much like those lighthouses, we are called to signal direction to those who are lost and are in need to come home safe and sound. We are to provide spiritual direction to the those lost in a spiritual fog, not knowing in what direction to move. according to the bible, Christ desires to illuminate His world through each of us.
There are Christians all across our nation who view their homes and offices as lighthouses of prayer. Regularly these followers of Jesus walk around their neighborhoods, silently praying for those who live closest to them. They intentionally look for opportunities to engage these people in conversation. They begin to use their homes as as places of refuge for their neighbors. In this process opportunities arise to share the good news of Christ naturally and understandably. What happens then? Why, lives guided safely into the harbor of God’s love!
What would your community look like if every neighbor and neighborhood were prayed for daily? It just might become a place where the unseen Christ is at work transforming lives by His presence. That is what God desires. His heart’s desire is for all people to be saved and for all of us to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:2).
Perhaps you can pray for just five families or individuals you live next to or work with, for just five minutes per day. Write their names down so that you do not forget them. As you pray for each of them, pray a blessing on them. Ask Christ to help them meet their needs for good health, protection, strength, safety, etc. Ask that they be blessed in their daily work, income, and job security. Request that they receive a blessing of joy, peace, and hope, as well as love, marriage, family and friends. Ask that they might be lead to faith, grace, salvation, and an overall sensitivity to God in their lives.
You can pray alone, but prayer partners make this more enjoyable and productive. These could be spouses, family, fellow employees, or friends.
Making ourselves available to God allows Him to lead us into new ministries of caring and sharing. By praying we release God’s grace into other peoples’ lives. By caring we build bridges of love and compassion. By sharing the Gospel, we help people come to really know Christ Jesus.
Eric
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