DAY 671 - United with Christ, United in Everything (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Want to know why I have been writing and recording my blogs and podcast daily since August 10, 2009? Click these three links:

Confirmation from John Stott in 2009: 
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

                               Today's Reading: Philippians 2:1-4

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read Philippians 2:1-4

English(ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians 2&version=ESV

Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=腓 立 比 書 2&version=CUV

Bible Study

     Paul talks about an impossible unity here in this passage. Are you in the midst of some argument with your spouse, division in your church, difficult relationship in your office? You need to hear this good news! 

Bishop N.T. Wright says ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright ) :
     If you read these verses in any other way, they sound almost laughably impossible…Not only are there big theological differences, smouldering resentments from historical events long ago, and radical variations in styles of worship. There are personality cults, clashes over leadership style, arguments on issues of moral behaviour, cultural politics, and so on.  How can we even begin to think that it might be possible to live the way Paul indicates here - thinking the same, loving each other completely, regarding everyone else as superior to you and your own?
     The answer must be that everyone must be focused on something other than themselves; and that something is Jesus Christ himself, the king, the Lord, and the good news which has come to take the world over in his name…
     The motivation for unity is set out in verse 1.  You should want to live this way, he says, because you know - all Christians should know - the comfort that comes from belonging to the king's family, from being 'in Christ'. 

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone:Te Prison Letters. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.97-98.

     So, you want unity, right? How much are you united with Christ and in Christ each day? 
     

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: United with Christ, united in everything

    The message I got from Jesus today is the only way to attain unity. I don't think there is another way. Most Christians know this way but lots of them do not want to be with Christ and in Christ each day that they miss the opportunity to taste the sweetness of unity in their marriage, family, working place, church and elsewhere. It is such a waste!

     Many Christians like to finish an email or a letter with 'In Christ' and then sign their names. But, most of them miss the chance to think about how important that 'in Christ' really means and lose the opportunity to cherish the daily time to be with Christ and in Christ.

     Remember, united with Christ, united in everything!
    
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to taste the sweetness of unity because we cherish our time being with you and in you each day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/