Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians 3:17-21

English Standard Version 

  There are so many opportunities to choose where we'll set our minds.  Paul speaks of people who set their minds on their bellies, focusing on what they take in, focusing on earthly things.  They miss out on the glories of heaven.

  We're told that if we set our hearts on heaven, we get earth thrown in, because we experience the peace that is possible through knowing God.  When we walk according to this path, we walk with confidence -- even if the world around us seems to be falling away, we are at peace, because we know the treasures of the Kingdom of God are with us.  

  We are being transformed, every day.  We can choose to let our minds be led by Christ's, to join with the work Christ is doing, or to set our minds on earthly things and miss out on the glories God is doing around us.

Philippians 3:12-16

Philippians 3:12-16 

English Standard Version 

  I've run a decent number of 5k events, and the hardest part is always from mile 2 to mile 3.  The easiest part is the last 0.1, as you hear people at the finish and it comes into sight, it's easy to forget the aches and pains and find some energy left in the tank to push to the finish.  Adrenaline kicks in!

  Paul is telling us that should be the feeling of the life of faith.  There's always a lot of aches and pains behind us, and we're often carrying those with us, but when we come to Christ and remind ourselves of Christ's promises and the glories of God's Kingdom, it should give us a foretaste, a sample, of the wondrous Kingdom riches that await us, and the overwhelming sense of God's glory should help motivate us to push on, leaving behind the aches and pains and being caught up in the adrenaline of sensing the nearness of God's glory.

  It's a beautiful image, and one I pray we can all find and maintain, that we might be caught up in the goodness of God and pressing on towards the Kingdom.  May the proximity of it fill our senses and help us strain forward in our prayers and service and fellowship and study, that we may be renewed and energized the Holy Spirit in all we do.

Philippians 3:8-11

Philippians 3:8-11 

English Standard Version 

  If I have a prayer for each of us, it's captured here in this passage -- that we value Christ so highly that everything else in this world pales in comparison.  It's not looking at ourselves for anything, but looking to Christ for everything, for in this, we stop worrying about ourselves and if we're good enough, and we simply accept the peace and power that comes through faith in Christ.  

  May we know this power, for in knowing this, we no longer fear death, for we have confidence in the resurrection.

  That's my prayer for you and for myself.  May we know this better, and love Christ more.  I heard once in a sermon that we should all repent for not loving Christ enough, and I think that's right... we don't love Christ as we ought.  So may the knowledge of God bring surpassing peace into your life, today and every day.

Philippians 3:1-7

Philippians 3:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  They say that if you want to be rich and successful in the world, you should choose your parents well -- the circumstances into which you are born shape much of the opportunity you have in this world.  If you're born into a tribe in the plains of Africa or deep in the Amazon rainforest, your life will look very different than if your parents are two Wall Street stockbrokers.  One of those lineages will open doors of power and give you opportunities for a very comfortable life by material standards.

  Paul is reminding the church in Philippi that he was remarkably qualified to be a religious expert.  When it comes to measuring up by religious standards, Paul was as qualified as anyone.  He could go toe-to-toe if they were trying to compare who was the most righteous person.  

  But Paul came to realize that all his religious qualifications still left him far short of God's righteousness, and that salvation was a gift from God.  Because it is a free gift, none of those qualifications mean anything in the new church -- because there is no hierarchy or need to prove yourself.  It's simply about accepting grace, and if you are tempted to use your worldly qualifications, then that's pushing you farther from the ecosystem of grace. 

  It's a hard thing for us to accept, especially if we're rich in terms of worldly qualifications.  But Paul came to see the truth of the free gift of grace, and may our hearts come to the same realization.