Coach’s Corner

Quite often, we forget that these are letters written from the Apostle Paul to a church.  It didn’t have chapters and verses as we have today.  Those were inserted to make finding certain passasges of scripture easier than trying to scan through one long unmarked document.  So, although this “chapter” did not exist when it was written, we enter the final chapter of our “You’ve Got Mail” series.  Remember as you read this, or read other passages of scritpture how very personal these are in nature.  Think of how difficult the task of writing was 2000 years ago and the efforts that anyone had to go through to actually “deliver the mail”.  It almost killed Epaphroditus in chapter 2.  Both the writing and the delivery were labors of love.  Read them with a sense of honor at how much effort went in to delivering these letters to the original readers and to you today!

VS 2-3, GET TOGETHER - Have you ever watched a team play that everyone is playing their own game, where there doesn’t seem to be any real cohesiveness between the players of the team at all?  That’s what Paul is addressing here.  Two women had developed a significant disagreement which had led to disharmony and some division.  Paul doesn’t ask the two women to think uniformly, but he does ask them to become unified.  The word Paul uses suggests harmony.  The very word “harmony” means a different part from the lead.  The difference is that the two parts complement each other even though they are different.  Players must play different positions, they are NOT identical, but their play MUST complement each other or the team suffers.  No church can succeed at enlarging the kingdom of God if it’s players spend more time in arguments than in agreement.  This is so critical that Paul asked others to get involved to help settle it for the good of the team.  We are missing this principle when we allow unsettled disagreements to simmer and stew amongst our own team.

VS 4-5, DON’T BE A LEMON-SUCKER - I’m so tired of Christians that look and sound like they are the most miserable people on earth.  Where is the witness in that?  Where is the testimony to the power of God in that?  Are there hard things in life?  Absolutely!  But Jesus didn’t whine all the way to the cross did he?  We are more of a witness to the power of Christ when we allow the joy of our salvation to shine through in those hard places in life.  REJOICE!  REJOICE! (Paul said it twice, so I will too)

VS 6-7, SUBSTITUTION - I’ve heard it over and over again, that when you are giving up one “bad” habit, you need to replace it with a more “positive” habit.  That’s exactly what Paul is saying here.  Every time you find yourself worrying, turn it into a prayer instead.  And then watch God turn that worry into peace as you learn to lean on him instead of creating ulcers.

VS 8-9, CHECK YOUR INPUT, GIGO - When I was a freshman in college, computers were still a pretty new technology.  I took a class in computer programming.  I don’t remember a single thing about what I learned in that class except for GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out.  If the program you write for the computer is garbage, your results will be garbage.  That principle goes far beyond computers.  We are surrounded by all sorts of entertainment options today - Music, TV, Movies, Games, Theatre, etc.  Friends, here me well here, it’s not all worth seeing or listening too.  I’m no prude and I don’t suggest nor do I want to become a sort of “Pollyanna”.  But have some discernment!  Just because you “can” see something, or listen to something, doesn’t mean you should.  Limit yourself!  Use good judgment about what goes into the mind God gave you.  Remember - GIGO.

VS 11-13, POSITIVE ATTITUDE - Paul maintained a positive attitude even on rotten days.  Apparently, he was someone who could take his own counsel (remember vs 4-5).  Check this out:

1. Attitude has little to do with circumstances - Does this one strike too close to home?
2. Attitudes can change, just like circumstances - Paul learned how to deal with it, you can too.
3. Attitudes can be improved
4. Attitudes have a source for their strength - If you’re struggling with a rotten attitude, ask God for help to change it.

VS 1-19, SELF-DISCIPLINE - I’m sure there are people out there who enjoy self-discipline.  I’m not one of them.  But I know the value and I work on this aspect of my character.  I battle with this.  But Paul explains in this passage that the goal of peace and fulfillment runs through the path of self-discipline.

1. Govern Your Actions (vs 1-5) - Paul pleads with his friends to stand firm, live in harmony, and display self-control.
2. Guard your Attitudes (vs 6-9) - He says to replace worry with prayer and to think on the positive things that build up.
3. Give Your Assets (vs 10-19) - Nothing purifies more than sharing resources and trusting God to meet your needs.

I hope you have both learned and enjoyed our time through these amazing letters.  I invite you to share your lessons learned.

YOUR TURN…