Like Paul, we too can be bound in chains, even though they may not be physical. Paul reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus, because this brings the deepest quality and meaning to our lives. No matter what happens around us, Paul calls us to stand firm in Christ. It is when we can not do any more that Jesus comes in His mighty power and does what we can not. Our attitude is to be like Christ’s, who emptied Himself for us and did everything for God’s glory. As we seek Him and live in intimacy with Him, He will work amazing things in us and bring His plan to completion.

Philippians is a letter full of joy and doctrinal truths. It gives insight into Paul’s mind, Christ’s mind and what the Christian mind should be. Paul reminds us that as God began the good work in us, so He carries it on and will complete it. It is not up to us, but Paul tells us that we are to be ready when Christ appears. It is God’s grace that enables us to obey what we read in His Word and do what He has planned for us. We need to live in partnership with Him.

The Father is the gardener, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus is the true vine that Israel was not. The purpose of the vine is to bear fruit. Branches that do not bear fruit get cut off and even those that do are pruned. The key to bearing fruit is our connectedness to Jesus. Hearing and doing God’s Word is how we remain in Jesus.

All of us are given the same amount of time each day. How do we spend it? Sitting at the feet of Jesus is the source of life for all Christians. To achieve anything in this world we need to practice. The Bible is the Christian’s core fitness regime. If you skip practice it will show. If we are not in God’s Word, we are playing church. We are not being shaped and we will not have the fullness Jesus promises. We need to get back to the source.

God wants two things for us: that we know the heart of God in Christ and to know our heart in the light of Christ. We are to minister out of God’s love for people, therefore we need to know Him deeper.