The Phil Files

In my Heartlight.org post this week, Welcome One Another, I reflect on Romans 15:5-7. There the focus is on how important it is to welcome one another into our lives and into the life of the church family. I hope you will take a look at the article and reflect on it. But in the blog today, I want us to focus more on things that we allow to be barriers to our welcoming folks into our church families. Let’s get honest and identify these barriers and then find ways to break through them. Here are some questions that might help “prime the pump” on this issue. I’d love to get your response and feedback on this.

What keeps us from having “the same mind” and being of “one heart” and glorifying God together with “one voice” Romans 15:5-7)?

Paul describes how we were welcomed by Christ (Romans 5:5-11). What does that mean for the ways we are to welcome others (Romans 15:5-11)?

Paul speaks strongly to his Christian friends in Philippi about “the same mind” and points us to having the “mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:1-11). What is “the mind of Christ”? How is it displayed in our lives?

What do you need to do to more deeply value and welcome brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from you?

What keeps you from reaching and welcoming others into the body of believers?

What barriers do we often let get in our way that keep us from more openly welcoming those who are different from us?

Welcome! God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory to God!” (Luke 19:38 ERV)

Wow! Jesus’ presence evokes strong reactions from all fronts in Luke 19, our reading for today. Zacchaeus completely changes his life because the Lord enters his house and brings salvation. Deep repentance brings this joyous life-change to this despised man. The masses greet Jesus with excitement because they think that maybe the dawning era of the Messiah – at least as they understand him as a mighty ruler throwing off the oppression of the Romans and the corrupt religious and political powers of their world – is upon them. Jesus’ closest followers, those sometimes called disciples (See Luke 6:40 for a definition of disciple!), are excited for joy and begin to praise God with the words listed above.

Of course the religious critics, those who wanted Jesus dead, try to make Jesus make His followers shut their mouths and stop this praise. Jesus, however, has a powerful response:

//Inspiration: Luke 19:40
But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if my followers didn’t say them [these words of praise], these stones would shout them.”

//Incarnation:
I’m sure these leaders know the not so subtle reference of the creation declaring the praise and glory of God in Psalm 19:1-6. Jesus is directly confronting them with His identity. He is driving them to make a decision on which everything for them, their power, and their city hangs. I must hear this message as well. Will I respond to Jesus as LORD, Yahweh walking the earth and living among people? Will I honor Him with my praise and with my obedience? Will I declare Him as God, King, and Lord as the crowd does? I want to!

//Invitation:
O God, Savior and LORD, Yahweh who came in human flesh and walked among us as Jesus of Nazareth, the Yeshua long awaited. I praise You and honor You as my King and declare your glory and long to see You face to face and offer you my praise with the angels of heaven. Amen.