It's All In the Introduction

by Brenda Lazzaro Yoder
(Indiana)

So, I've taken on a personal commitment/challenge to memorize the book of Philippians (my first job is to learn how to spell it). Being ready to jump in and "go to town," the Lord humbled be because I can't seem to get past verses 1 and 2.

Paul and Timothy, servants of the Christ Jesus. (stop)
I am struck as I read this introduction of Paul to his audience, he identifies himself as "servant of Christ Jesus."
Whoa - what would that sound like if, as Christians, we introduced and considered ourselves "servants of Christ Jesus."
I have to admit, sometimes I shy away from the term "Christian" because of bad perceptions, stereotypes, and misrepresentation the word has been given. But what if we simply considered ourselves, like Paul, as servants of the living God?


This is a revolutionary thought. Identifying myself as servant would make me think more about speech, actions, and representation of the one I was identifying as Master.
"Hello, my name is Brenda, servant of the Living God."
Solid accountability in that statement, hands down. Ouch.


As I worked at memorizing these verses, I kept stumbling over simple word placement: Christ Jesus, not Jesus Christ.


Paul uses the word choice twice to declare Jesus as Christ Jesus, not Jesus Christ. This also impressed me, because when audibly saying "Jesus Christ" in my head, connotations of disrespect, swearing, and misuse heard in mainstream culture creep in. I don't often hear it said with reverence and honor.


But here Paul used "Christ" first in identifying his Savior - Messiah, King of Kings - two times in these verses.
"Paul, servant of the King of Kings."
What a sobering conviction of the esteem and devotion Paul had for his Lord and Savior. In reflecting over these verses, some application principles came to mind, and I was challenged not to "hurry over" seemingly "unimportant verses."

1. How much more seriously would I take my walk if, daily, I considered myself "Brenda, servant of...?" Do I consider my daily actions in service to the Lord, or for myself?

2. How Christianity could be transformed if we all represented ourselves as "servants of the living God." Business cards could be printed - tangible reality checks to see if our lives lined up with whom we are representing.

3. How different would our thinking about Jesus be transformed if we regularly called him Christ Jesus - Messiah Jesus - King of Kings - Jesus? Would we be less apathetic about the derogatory way His name is dishonored? Would we revere Him more in our personal life, in worship, in prayer, realizing it is the King of King who calls us His children? That we represent the King of King when identifying ourselves as His followers?

4. There is nothing called an "unimportant verse" in scripture. I was confronted by the lessons in these first two verses and humbled that I wanted to "move on." I wasn't even going to bother memorizing them - It's only the introduction.

But I'm reminded, first impressions and introductions are important in this world, and Paul reminds me it also is in God's economy. It matters to God how we represent Him.

"Hello, I'm Paul, this is my friend Timothy, we are the servants of the King of Kings." (Impression: this man loves and highly esteems the one he serves)

This challenges me to take a second look at how I present the Lord, and whether I can truly call myself his servant.

Gee, my toes are hurting, and I haven't got past verse two. I better pull up the Lazy Boy, it's going to be a long haul through the book of Philippians.

But at this rate, taking only a few words at a time, the memorizing thing might work.

Servant. Christ Jesus.
Important words to remember.