The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States - “With humility think of others”
Daily Scripture: Philippians 2:1 Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, 2 then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — 4 look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own.
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Reflection Questions:
Words like these, calling us to live in mutual love that begins in God’s eternal love, can sound so lyrical and idealistic—and so divorced from real life. But Paul wasn’t writing poetry. Philippians 4:2-3 showed that this church faced a real conflict, with two influential women strongly at odds. Paul invited them (and their supporters) to actually live out God’s love.
- How does the kind of humility to which Paul called us in verse 3 differ from yielding outwardly while being irate inside about someone else “winning”? How can that kind of humility open your heart to God’s love, and clear away inner barriers that limit your ability to love others? How can you adopt the attitude Paul described when you find your own position, prestige or comfort challenged?
- Paul said we need Christ’s love and the Spirit’s presence to grow the kind of love he called the Philippians to live out (verse 1). How can this God-given love turn “win/lose” conflicts toward the promise of “win/win” outcomes? What has to happen in us so that we see stronger relationships as a bigger “win” than always getting our way?
Holy Spirit, I want to love as you love. Help me to make choices that make me receptive to your presence. Thank you that I can trust you to bear your fruit in my life. Amen.-------
Insights from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.I had jury duty last week. There are few statements in life that consistently elicits sympathy & pity. Even at work, where they always seem to try to squeeze in one more conference call (“Exactly what time is your colonoscopy?”), there was the attitude of “just let us know when you are back in the office.”
Aside: I like the old comic of a group of gangsters standing around a map of a bank, staring at one thug as he says, “Wait a minute. Monday won’t work for me. I have jury duty.”
While it is doubtful that my experience will become an “In Cold Blood”-esque thriller, perhaps my notes can further illuminate Paul’s admonition to the Philippians.
…My name is the 2nd name drawn & I get to sit in the jury box. Before I can even recalculate my odds, I am impaneled on the jury. As I look out to the gallery as the other potential jurors stroll out to breathe the fresh air of sweet freedom (I swear that guy looks like he is skipping.), I am having a very hard time with Paul’s charge to not be selfish & to look out for others’ interests first. Maybe its time to face it: life is not always fair. Our culture does a phenomenal job of whipping up resentment & bitterness for every little gripe, grumble, & grievance. Perhaps we’d be happier if we didn’t try to keep score & instead focused on enjoying whatever successes we may have and try to celebrate the successes of those around us.
…While I hated being the last one chosen for the kickball team back in grade school (“We’ll take the girl, you get Darren.”), this is one of those times I wouldn’t have minded being left out. However, I am humbled by my fellow jurors: One young gal with a young baby at home asks the bailiff if there is a room where she can pump. Another lady has severe back pain & has to constantly shift herself to try to get comfortable. A gentleman will leave Kansas City as soon as the trial wraps up to join his wife at the lake. Perhaps we are always so focused on what we are forfeiting, we never even stop to consider what others might be sacrificing.
…So the civil case is presented. The plaintiff has been in 2 auto accidents. The 1st one was serious & the 2nd accident was a fender-bender. We are adjudicating the claim that the 2ndaccident caused significant medical harm. The plaintiff’s attorney closes the case with this plea: The 1st accident’s lawsuit didn’t provide adequate compensation, so the 2nd accident needs to balance the scales of justice for the client.
…Time for deliberation. Man, Santa would be awesome on a jury – he’d know who was naughty & nice in a flash. Our deliberation is extremely quick. Many jurors were offended by the plaintiff’s attorney’s one-sided view of justice. We all have had things not go our way &, with a little prompting, we can probably rattle them off in a heartbeat. But going through life just waiting to pounce on every little offense & seeking out ways to take umbrage at every irritation is going to lead to a life full of annoyance & anger. Perhaps Paul is right. Maybe a Christ-centered life would help us avoid being self-obsessed & begin to actually care about others.
…Ah, sweet liberty. As the sun hits my face as I walk out of the courthouse a man, once again free, I’m actually getting excited to celebrate the next Jury Rights Day* party & play Bobbing for Appeals & Pin the Tail on the Docket.
*Jury Rights Day is celebrated September 5th to commemorate the acquittal of William Penn in 1670 on the charge of publicly preaching about the Quaker faith. The jury conscientiously refused to convict Penn. (This was in spite of the judge ordering them to re-deliberate 5 separate times & the judge even having the jury imprisoned without food & water for disobeying him.) Um. In hindsight, my jury experience was pretty awesome!
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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