Love: A New Commandment - a Journey in PhilippiansSample

Powerful

“It is love that believes the resurrection.” - Ludwig Wittgenstein.

There’s a whole new world of meaning in that sentence. Paul has already quoted what Daniel said about the resurrection earlier in the letter when he said we shine like stars in this world. (Daniel 12:2&3). Paul continues with the resurrection theme throughout this chapter. Clearly, this was very important to him. But for most of us raised in Western Christianity, the resurrection of the dead is not something we were trained to think about. Let’s think with Paul.

For Jews like Paul, there were two pillars on which the expectation of the resurrection was built. One was that God had made a good creation. Death wasn’t part of it. It came through sin. The second was the covenant God made with Abraham. Through sin, a curse entered creation. Through the covenant, the blessing will come to the whole world. When God then promises a new creation (Isaiah 65:17) and the resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12 and other places), it really fits this narrative. A good and loving God made a good creation. In answer to human sin, he made a covenant to renew his creation. That is resurrection - taking the old and making it new.

Aren’t you glad God is in the renewal business? Aren’t you glad God didn’t replace his original plan for his creation? And aren’t you glad God didn’t replace you? Instead, Jesus made you his own. Paul writes that through your personal relationship with the King, you can know his resurrection power in your life. In his power you can trust - even to take suffering and bring new life from it.

Think about the commitment and sacrifice it took from God to deliver on his promise! In a world where people dispose of and replace so many things, including people, we can learn so much from the faithfulness of God. It’s love that believes the resurrection because resurrection stems from love!

Reflection Question:

What does the promise of resurrection mean to me?

Prayer:

Thank you, Father God, for your faithfulness to your creation and to me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your sacrifice to make all things new and to make me your own. I believe in you. Amen