Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 50
Family Discussions for Advent
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DAY 50/THURSDAY
Philippians 2:14-16
Hope for Others
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16as you hold firmly to the word of life.”
Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)
*Click here to read in the ESV, NLT, & CSB.
We’re continuing to follow along with the weekly themes of Christmas Advent — hope, peace, joy, love, & Christ — in light of our Philippians focus verses this month.
May our families shine like stars as we hold firmly to the word of life this Christmas celebration season!
Advent: Hope… for Others
My jr. high small group is studying Luke 15:1-7 this week along with all the 6th-12th grade students who attend our church on Wednesday nights. Reading all three of Jesus’ parables in this chapter of Luke shifted my focus from the hope I have in Christ for myself to the hope I have in Him for others.
A Lost Coin
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10 (NIV)
Yes, I realize I’m starting with the parable in the middle of the chapter, but reading this one is what got me thinking about how we feel when we lose things.
What have you lost, panicked about, then found, and were super relieved? Keys? Wallet? Phone? Remote? Paperwork? Jewelry? Money? The woman in this parable loses only one coin, which most of us probably imagine as a quarter (at least I’ve pictured it that way!), yet her coin was worth about one whole day’s wages.*
*NIV Artisan Collection Bible (2021)
It’s completely understandable that she lights up the house, sweeps the floor, and searches carefully until she finds the valuable coin. I imagine her calling her friends & neighbors together to celebrate the found coin as the equivalent of one of us telling our family to call off the search and maybe texting some family or friends in joy & relief — possible even posting it on social media.
A Lost Wallet
My husband carries a bright orange wallet so it will be easier for us to find when he inevitably misplaces it. This Sunday he and my two sons (along with my dad & eventually a vet) were helping a cow that was having some trouble calving. My daughters and I were at church.
During Sunday school, I received a text from my older son which prompted me to call him. He told me that my husband had lost his wallet in the pasture so they needed me to come pay the vet. I grabbed my stuff & my younger daughter and headed out to the church parking lot. Before I got to the car, I noticed another text, “We found the wallet,” followed by, “It was in the truck.” We were all relieved, and my daughter and I got to stay at church.
What was the value in my husband’s wallet? I would say it’s value is mostly convenience — not having to replace the plastic & paper cards that represent money, identification, certification, & insurance, and not having any delays in obtaining what they represent. The woman in the parable was probably at risk of losing what she needed to live on for a day — that goes a bit beyond “inconvenient.”
One Lost Sheep
The first parable Jesus tells in Luke 15 is about 100 sheep and a shepherd. Pay special attention to verses 1 & 2 as they reveal His main audience for all three parables.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent’.”
Luke 15:1-7 (NIV)
I’m sure most, if not all, parents know about losing track of one of their children in a public place. You may remember being the lost child your parents were looking for!
My youngest has always been the most likely of my kids to wander off. I remember one time she did this when we were at the baseball fields of a city park watching her older brothers play ball. I was watching the game, then looked to check on her, and she was not there. My oldest was there, some other family was there with us, but she was not.
We actually found her not too far away with a group of older kids — kids she did not know — just following along, not a care in the world. My view of her had been obstructed by a little shed or outbuilding of some sort. I also had not thought she would wander off with strangers. Boy, had I been wrong!
Leaving & Looking
When I went to look for my lost child, I left my oldest behind because she was where she was supposed to be. I left my boys behind as well — one playing a game on the ballfield and the other with his big sis. What if I had stayed with the kids who were where they were supposed to be instead of going in search of my youngest? I can’t even fathom that! I’m sure you can’t, either.
I believe that is one of the points Jesus is trying to get across to those who muttered about Him spending time with “sinners.” Much like a parent with a lost child, how could Jesus stay with only the righteous, godly people when He saw lost children all around Him who were far from God and desperately in need of salvation?
Q & A
Some important questions to answer before we move on…
Q: Jesus says, “…there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Can a righteous person be saved?
A: No. A righteous person does not need salvation.
Q: Are there any righteous people besides Christ?
A: Before salvation, no one (Romans 3:23); after salvation, those who have put their faith in Him are righteous in Christ (Romans 3:22)!
Q: Who needs to repent?
A: Sinners! Those who are lost and separated from God; everyone who has not put faith in Jesus as their Lord & Savior.
In the parables of Luke 15, Jesus is talking to us about lost people, sinners who need to repent and trust in Him for their salvation.
Lost but Not Found
Have you lost something you’ve never found? Something you’re still sad or upset about? I lost my high school class ring. I remember going to the jeweler with my Grandmother Kathryn to order it, and returning with my dad and brother to pick it up when it came in, but I do not remember where I last put it. What bothers me the most about losing my class ring is that I have memories of my Grandmother Kathryn attached to it, and she is temporarily lost to me since she passed away a few years ago.
Have you lost someone? Losing a person, whether in death or broken relationship, is obviously a much bigger deal than losing a ring or a wallet or a paycheck or an animal! Jesus’ 3rd parable in Luke 15 is about a lost person, specifically a lost son.
[WARNING: Parental discretion is advised. Read v.30 to yourself before reading it aloud to your children.]
A Lost & Found Son
“Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
13Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” 20So he got up and went to his father.”
Luke 15:11-20 (NIV)
Compassion & Celebration
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
25Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27“Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
28The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
31“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found”‘.”
Luke 15:20-32 (NIV)
Salvation -> Celebration
Read the conclusions of the first two parables of Luke 15 again.
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:7 (NIV)
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 (NIV)
Q: What do these verses have in common?
A: Rejoicing over one sinner who repents
The younger son who is lost then found in the 3rd parable is one sinner who repents.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’.”
Luke 15:21 (NIV)
Q: What is the father’s immediate response to his wayward son’s repentance?
A: Celebration!
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:22-24 (NIV)
Jesus makes it clear: When a sinner repents, let the celebration commence! If we are not rejoicing over each sinner saved by grace, something is majorly wrong with us. We may even be having some “older brother”-type of trouble.
The Older Brother’s “Hope”
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’.”
Luke 15:25-30 (NIV)
Where was the older brother’s hope? His hope was in his own “good” behavior, in his public performance, in “living up” to what was expected of him. This was the false hope of the Pharisees and teachers of the law who had muttered, “This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them” (v.2).
If your hope is in yourself, your hope is not in Jesus. It’s that simple. Check your heart right now with a prayer to God: “Lord, Have I been putting my hope in what I can do, or what I think I can do, or in what You’ve done and all You can do? Please reveal any hidden sins in my heart, and any misplaced hopes in my mind, so I can confess them and repent. I want all my hope to be in You as it should be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Hope for the Lost
The other issue we need to check our hearts for is if we have hope for others — or if we’ve given up on them.
I tend to get downcast & discouraged when I focus on myself and all the imperfections in my life. Sometimes the Christmas season & the fast-approaching new year makes all these imperfections even more pronounced in my mind. It’s not Christmas’ fault! As we noted on DAY 49, the problem is in my heart, with my perspective & expectations. Introspection (looking inside yourself to examine your thoughts & feelings) can be a good, healthy thing when done in light of God’s Word, but sometimes I agree with the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, my favorite character of the Downton Abbey TV & movie series: “No life appears rewarding if you think about it too much.” 😉
*merriam-webster.com
We need regular reminders that there are spiritually lost people all around us and among us, and our biggest problem is nothing compared to their separation from God! Too much introspection can hamper that. This Christmas season let’s get our minds off ourselves and our to-do lists & wish lists and preoccupy our hearts & minds with what matters most: loving God first & best, & loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Pray with Hope for the Lost
Hold out hope for your lost neighbors. No matter how far from God and how far from repentance someone may appear, we can pray for God’s continued work in their hearts. Paul wrote to Timothy:
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5For,
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
I Timothy 2:1-6 (NLT)
Q & A 2
Q: For whom does Paul urge Timothy (& all Christians) to pray?
A: All people
Q: For what are we supposed to pray concerning others?
A: Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf; give thanks for them
Q: Why should we pray for people in authority?
A: “So that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity,” and because “this is good and pleases God our Savior.”
Q: What does Paul say God our Savior wants in v.4?
A: “Everyone to be saved and to understand the truth”
Q: Who is the only One who can reconcile God & humanity?
A: “The man Christ Jesus”
Q: What did Jesus do according to v.6?
A: “He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.”
Q: When did God give this message — what we know as the Gospel — to the world?
A: “At just the right time”
At Christmas, we celebrate the just-right time that God sent Jesus into the world. Because of Christ, we have hope. His parables in Luke 15 tell us there is hope for the lost and rejoicing in heaven greater than any Christmas celebration over one sinner who repents.
Let’s celebrate the hope of all who are in Christ & pray with hope for those who are not.
DAY 50/THURSDAY Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for Your Word and for the hope we have in Christ!
We come before You now asking You to help all the lost people we know. Draw them closer to You by Your Holy Spirit. Soften their hearts toward You and Your Word.
May those who are lost hear or read Your Word with hearts ready to receive the truth about their sin and how Christ can save them from it. We pray they will confess their sins and repent of them, accepting what Jesus has done on their behalf.
Thank You for all people, for You have created everyone in Your image. We are ready & more than willing to celebrate each and every sinner who repents and gives their life to You!
Lord, let us not get so distracted by “holiday stuff” that we neglect loving You, loving others, & praying for the lost.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
DAY 50: Paul prays the Philippian Christians will hold firmly to the word of life. Let's hold firmly to our hope in God's Word this Christmas season.