The Lord said to Moses, “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet.
—Exodus 30:17-19
He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
—Exodus 38:8
So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
—Acts 16:40
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
—1 Corinthians 13:12
It would be understandable if Paul had taken his weary and wounded body out of Philippi as quickly as he could.
If Paul had looked into a mirror, he might have seen blood and bruises. That could have motivated him to try for revenge against the magistrates who had ordered the illegal and unjustified beating. Or it could have motivated him to decide that Philippi was a corrupt and evil place not worthy of his presence. Or it could have left him feeling sorry for himself, looking for a place to hide and heal.
But Paul didn't stall out in front of a mirror.
This is the Paul who had learned to stop looking at his own injuries or achievements, who would later write back to the believers in Philippi, urging them not to look out only for themselves, “but also to the interests of others” in humility.
Luke's description of Paul's release from prison and departure from Philippi only mentions one of that town's believers by name—Lydia. But Luke records that they visited and encouraged “the brothers” before leaving. That leaves me curious about one thing.
Did “the brothers” include the jailer and his household? Think of what that would say about Paul's transformation and his example of love not being “irritable or resentful”!
Bronze Mirrors (part 2)
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
—Psalm 51:1-2
The Lord said to Moses, “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet.
—Exodus 30:17-19
He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
—Exodus 38:8
So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
—Acts 16:40
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
—1 Corinthians 13:12
It would be understandable if Paul had taken his weary and wounded body out of Philippi as quickly as he could.
If Paul had looked into a mirror, he might have seen blood and bruises. That could have motivated him to try for revenge against the magistrates who had ordered the illegal and unjustified beating. Or it could have motivated him to decide that Philippi was a corrupt and evil place not worthy of his presence. Or it could have left him feeling sorry for himself, looking for a place to hide and heal.
But Paul didn't stall out in front of a mirror.
This is the Paul who had learned to stop looking at his own injuries or achievements, who would later write back to the believers in Philippi, urging them not to look out only for themselves, “but also to the interests of others” in humility.
Luke's description of Paul's release from prison and departure from Philippi only mentions one of that town's believers by name—Lydia. But Luke records that they visited and encouraged “the brothers” before leaving. That leaves me curious about one thing.
Did “the brothers” include the jailer and his household? Think of what that would say about Paul's transformation and his example of love not being “irritable or resentful”!