Scripture:
Philippians 3:12-21 NKJV
[12] Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. [13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, [14] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. [16] Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. [17] Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. [18] For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [19] whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. [20] For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Observation:
I know that GOD guides our steps. It says so in HIS living word. I’m writing a little late this morning, and I apologize. There has been a shift in my schedule for the next two weeks that will have me working later in the evening, so I had to make adjustments. As I was praying about what to write about this scripture came to me. It’s one that I have written on my heart that’s been there for some time now. In fact, if you look back on the website, I’m sure you can find a few SOAPs that have been written over these verses. Paul has such a way of explaining how all this works. Constantly calling us to stay tucked right next to Jesus Christ and the grace that came from what HE did on the cross. Paying a price for us to open up a line of communication with the Father no matter our sinful condition. But as he writes this particular set of scriptures, he paints us a picture, and I believe it’s one that we should pay attention to. In fact, if we are truly looking, we can see the picture painted in all of Paul’s writing. Here he admits that he is not perfect, as we all honestly should. Having a proper understanding of the sin nature should be something we all strive to obtain. But becoming a slave to that sin is not what Paul teaches at all as we can see in several of his letters. After admitting his imperfection. He says something that should grab our hearts, “But I press on towards make it my own, because Christ Jesus made “ME” HIS own.” Jesus Christ HIMSELF called Paul to serve HIM as an apostle after HIS resurrection. A moment Paul would never forget. A moment when Paul was confronted with the fact that even though he thought he was doing the right thing for The LORD, he was a sinner just like those whom he was going to arrest and drag off for execution. After that encounter, Paul knew that even though as a pharisee he had not offended in any way… he was no better than anyone that he was going to arrest. In fact, because of what he was doing, he was actually worse. The words press on continue to run through my mind as I break all this down in my thoughts and through the word of GOD. It draws my mind to the letter to the Roman where when Paul is explaining grace as the means of salvation, and how sin lives inside us, but he says, “shall I sin all the more so that grace shall abound, by no means how can we who are dead to sin, continue to live in it?” What Paul is teaching here is sanctification. He is says yes mistakes will be made, but pick yourself up dust yourself off and get back at it. That’s what press on says to me. As he continues to teach he confronts a group of people that he used to be a part of. A group of people who were his friends at one point until he had his encounter with Christ. A group of people who thought they could be good enough on their own. But I find it interesting that before that he makes a bold statement. But it’s one I can get behind. Paul wrote half the New Testament. When he says, ” Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to you have in us.” I believe that he is saying keep pressing on for the better. Don’t allow sin to be your master. Running recklessly after its desire. Its desire for you is death. The Pharisee mindset thinks they can do it they think that they can be good enough. But verse 19 is really an eye-opener. “Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Paul saw all this from the inside. He knew exactly who these enemies of the cross were. He saw the greed and self-serving people who called themselves religious leaders yet held their noses up at those who needed Jesus, thinking, “Well we are just better than them, we are elite, look at us all the people we help, we are good enough, we prophesy in HIS name, we are HIS chosen. As we read in verse 19 this is a dangerous place to be standing. Verses 20 and 21 are where I am going to stand. Paul says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a SAVIOR, the LORD Jesus Christ, who “WILL” transform our lowly body to be like HIS glorious body, by the power that will enable HIM even to subject all things to HIMSELF.” Perfection is coming.
Application:
When Christ found me I was at my lowest point. I didn’t want the life I had, and remember shaking my fist at the sky, telling HIM, “If this is what its about, just go ahead and take me now.” Little did i know that was HIS plan all along. HE took me, but not in the fashion that I thought HE would. As I sat there and awaited the lighting bolt to strike. Something was happening on the inside of me that I was totally unaware of. I was being drawn to the Father. I just didn’t want the life I had…. I wanted it to end…. well it did…. it wasn’t that night. But over time Jesus called me out from where I was. I didn’t become perfect, but I got better. My life is still not what I want it to be but I know this. I will never be what I used to be. I have been made new. That old man his in a tomb. Now that being said I’m still in this flesh. That won’t go away until the day Jesus comes back. That doesn’t mean it needs to be my master. Yes mistakes are still made, yes I still do things on occasion that do not bring GOD glory. But I do my best to keep my flesh in subjection. I don’t want the life I had. It sucked. Living out of a backpack. Not knowing when I was going to eat again or if I was going to have a place to sleep for a few hours, or if I was going to sleep at all that night. No my life is not perfect, but It’s a far cry from where it used to be, and I’m going to press on for better every day. This is what I want you to know today. What Jesus did on the cross built a bridge. HIS life opened up the ability for us to run to GOD with our sin, not run from GOD because of our sin. HE wants us to crawl up in HIS lap and say Abba, this word means Daddy. I remember sitting in a park one day watching my little girl play. When she fell and got hurt she jumped up and ran to me. Now if I spanked her when she did that. Next time she got hurt she would run from me. So I embraced her. She did not get her intentionally, but it happened and she learned from it what not to do. That’s what is being said in these scriptures. GOD’S grace changes us, it molds us. If we are still the same as we were the day HE found us. We really need to check and see if we are really following HIM. Our lives should be changing. Not becoming perfect but making each day better than the last, and if we fall we run to the Father… not from HIM.
Prayer:
Father, thank you, you knew who we were before you ever placed us in the womb, you knew ever hair we would have, and every sin we would commit. You saw past all that to the day we would have an encounter that would change our lives. Your consent drawing us closer and closer is the reason we can say that our home is in heaven next to you. We are today that you fill us with your holy spirit. Help us to do better today than we did yesterday. Sanctify us. We are so grateful to you that you did not leave us in the pit that you found us in. Let our life be a testimony of what you have done. As we sit in your lap looking at the hand that you have our name engraved in knowing that your grace got us there. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray.