One Word 365 – 2016 Edition

Forget The New Year’s Resolutions; Just Choose One Word

I have developed a habit over the past few years of selecting one single word to focus my life on for the duration of the coming twelve months. This is the word I will strive to live by for the next year.  Identifying a word to live by for the year helps me to keep my focus on a specific area of growth, and helps me become more of the person God has created me to be.

One Word 365

I’ve settled my focus on several different words over the last few years. For example, in 2011, I chose to focus on the word passion. This word underlined all I did throughout the year. It defined the year. Everything I did, I did with enthusiasm, and passion was pretty visible in most areas of my life.

In 2012, I chose the word commit. One of my biggest struggles in life has been to stick to many of the things I decide to do. Focusing on this word helped me to address that deficiency.

In 2013, I chose the word intentional. We have a large family, and as a result, we have a lot going on. I realized that I needed to be intentional, especially in my relationships with family and friends, and in my ministry.

In both 2014 and 2015, I chose the word wait. I tend to be very impatient at times, and focusing on waiting helped me see the bigger picture. And, rather than take matters into my own hands, it allowed my faith to grow by waiting on the Lord.

Each year, I choose to identify and implement a single word as a part of my Life Plan. I add this word to the beginning of my plan, and try to use it as a piece of the foundation for every portion of my plan. Some areas are more successful than others.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 3:20-21

Paul finalizes his thoughts in chapter three with a description of the person who has their focus set upon Christ.

Take a look for yourself in Philippians 3:20-21:

Philippians 3:20-21

Paul gives a description of the one who is an enemy of the cross in the previous verses. In this passage, he gives a series of contrasting statements, showing how one who is heaven focused differs from such an enemy as he described.

This passage brings a lot of encouragement to the reader. Looking at the previous sections of this letter, one could easily get discouraged. Paul stated that everything he had achieved was rubbish, and so it is with our accomplishments. Paul described the enemy of the cross, and gave a pretty dismal picture. What hope is there for us? What can we look to?

Paul gives us that hope in these two verses. In spite of all that he has described that is negative, the final word on the matter is very positive. In giving us this hope, he shows in three distinct ways how the believer is different from the world.

First, the worldly person has their mind set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. We have a home above, but for a time, we are colonists here on earth. In the Roman Empire of Paul’s day, to be a Roman meant that you spread the culture of Rome everywhere you went, and the Philippian believers would have understood this well. That is exactly the purpose we have as believers. We are to spread the culture of heaven, spread the Good News, everywhere we go.

2016 Bible Reading Plans

Spending time in God’s Word is one of the most important aspects of daily spiritual growth. Allowing God’s Word to impact your life will not happen unless you are exposing yourself to it consistently. Bible reading is perhaps the most critical of the spiritual disciplines.

Bible Reading Plans

I’ve written several times in the past about this discipline:

I firmly believe that this is a critical element of our spiritual lives. And it seems to be lacking in a lot of people’s lives. I think, when you experience the many benefits of consistent, daily time spent in God’s Word, you’ll develop a craving for more.

God’s Word truly does change us.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 3:19

As Paul winds up the third chapter of Philippians, he finishes his description of those enemies of the cross of Christ, and a beautiful depiction of those who believe in him.

You can see this passage for yourself in Philippians 3:19:

Philippians 3:19

Verse 19 is a very discouraging verse, and is negative in almost all respects. The final two verses of this chapter, which we will look at next week, are much more encouraging.

These very enemies of the cross probably thought that they were good people, educated and wise, perhaps even godly. This is a common occurrence. Those who oppose often do so not even knowing that they are in opposition. The wolves in sheep’s clothing often do not realize that they are wolves to begin with.

The old maxim still rings true: You can be sincere, and still be sincerely wrong.

Paul’s description of such people is disheartening and encouraging at the same time. Disheartening because many are lost in such a fashion and may not even know it. But it is encouraging in the fact that we have our work cut out for us, living the gospel in everyday life, and watching its power work in the lives of those around us. All hope is not lost for these people.

In light of that, Paul gives four descriptors of such a person. Let’s look at each in turn.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 3:17-18

As Paul continues to encourage the Philippians, he gives a stark contrast between disciples and those who reject Christ.

You can see this week’s passage in Philippians 3:17-18:

Philippians 3:17-18

First off, Paul encourages the Philippian believers to follow the example set for them by himself and his coworkers when they were in Philippi. Paul gave the believers there an example and a pattern. Both of these terms express the same idea. Paul lived what he taught, and he expected the churches he started to do the same. Take for example, his admonition to the Corinthians in chapter 11, where he states: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

For Paul, the ultimate example was that of Christ. And his urging to the Philippian believers was set to follow those who followed that perfect example. He is not setting himself as the final example. He has already deferred that authority, and shown himself to be worthless on his own. His ego is not emerging here, nor is his pride. He is merely setting an example to be followed, and encouraging the believers in Philippi to do so carefully.

In contrast, he shows those on the opposite side of this example. In the following verses, he gives a bleak description of those who oppose Christ, which will be looked at in more depth next week. Here however, here in verse 18, he shows just how heartbreaking it is to see some turn their backs on Jesus.

Reading The Bible Daily

One Of The Foundational Keys To Discipleship

As a minister, one of the questions I hear most frequently concerns spending time in God’s Word. How often should I read? How much? Questions like these surround developing the discipline of Bible reading.

Bible

Simply put, a disciple is one who follows someone. In more exact terms, a disciple is one who desires to become as much like Jesus Christ as possible.

The best way to do this is by spending time with him. But how do you spend time with someone who walked the earth physically a couple of millennia ago? He isn’t here physically to have a conversation with, so what do you do?

The next best way is to spend time with those who knew him best, or in his own thoughts and writings. This is the primary reason we have God’s Word in our lives. He isn’t physically here to speak to us face to face, but he did leave a very detailed set of books that describe his nature and character to us so that we can be as much like him as possible.

Reading the Bible daily is one of the most important aspects of being a disciple. In fact, it is not a stretch to state that unless you are not spending time in God’s Word on a daily basis, or at the very least, a consistently frequent basis, you cannot be growing spiritually. It’s as simple as that.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 3:15-16

This week’s passage concluded the previous section, urging those who are spiritually mature to continue to press on.

Take a look at this week’s passage in Philippians 3:15-16:

Philippians 3:15-16

This is perhaps one of the strongest exhortation in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul is encouraging all those who are spiritually mature to share his dedication. But not all who will read this are necessarily mature. He encourages those individuals to seek such a maturity.

Paul views spiritual maturity as a lifestyle. This is not just intellectually knowing the tenets of the faith. This means living them out in everyday circumstances and situations.

The second half of this statement provides some confusion in interpretation. This is probably not just a matter of doctrinal differences, but lifestyle. The spiritually immature are simply not prepared to live the same level of lifestyle and faith that Paul demonstrates, or that the more spiritually mature display.

Paul’s firm belief is that God will continue to reveal truth to those who are growing, and will bring them up into greater maturity. Believers are all at different stages in their maturity, and God leads each of us as we need, and as we are ready.