Okay! So I had to cheat for today...this was just too good.3 For we who worship by the Spirit of Godt are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort...
This really spoke to me today! Sometimes we get distracted by our "doings" or what we want to do for the Lord that we lose sight of what really matters. We must rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us and put our confidence in Him rather than what we do. I think that when we focus on what we do so much, it just brings worry to our lives rather than peace. It's the opposite of what Jesus provides.
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Okay guys! Wake up with this one! Enemies of the cross?! That's really strong...but what are we living for in this world? Are we living to brag about worthless things and have our minds, hearts, and souls focused on earthly things that are here today and gone tomorrow? This can be applied to many things in our lives. If Paul is in tears about this situation...how do you think our Lord and Savior feels about it?
--God let us be focused on you. Give us an eternal mindset...that we may pursue you above everything else in this life!
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
ReplyDeleteJesus said something quite similar...something like..."Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." The things of this earth will pass away, and so will my body. It makes since when we think about how short our life is, that we should be more interested in doing everything we can to ready ourselves for the next life. I've heard the phrase prayed before, "God I've counted the cost, let me know the surpassing worth of knowing your son and the power of his resurection." We obtain our deepest joy when we forsake things that are not from God and pursue after his will for our life, our sanctification. That process indeed might include suffering and hardship in this world, but these are not even worth comparing to the glory which is to be revealed to us.
"God let my heart's true affection be for your glory and the advancement your kingdom and only for things that will last."
7-8 "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."
ReplyDeletePaul was honestly able to say that when he looked at Christ and then looked at all of the things in his life that he could boast in, that he would choose Christ 10 out of 10 times. Everything else is worthless when compared to our worthy savior Jesus Christ. It is the desire of my heart to be able to stand beside Paul and to utter this same statement. Nothing else matters other than Christ and only Christ has any bearing on eternity.
verse 21:
ReplyDeletewho, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
So I chose this verse because my youth minister in high school made an interesting point with this verse. One of the possible implications of this verse is that we will have resurrection bodies. We will be able to fly, our scars from life will still be there, and we will be complete. Looking at the previous and following verses does not completely place this into a clear understanding. I think however, this verse also means that we will attain a higher existence than just a mere human. I'm not saying that we will become angels, I'm saying that we will have the opportunity to draw near to God as our bodies will be made perfect. Our desires will be like Jesus's. Our hearts will be like his. We will become more and more like Jesus.
The more I really think about this verse, the more it seems to imply that we will have a resurrection body lol. Which would be incredible.
12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI choose this verse because it is a verse of encouragement. Here Paul is saying that he is not perfect, however, through striving to be on with Christ he can leave the shortcomings and failures behind, and move forward toward his walk with God. Reminds me of a favorite song,
"I'm not going back. I'm moving ahead. I'm here to declare. In You old things are made new. Surrender my life to Christ I'm moving moving forward"
20-21 "But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
ReplyDeleteThis sentence fills me with hope. With this sentence, Paul speaks towards eternity, hearkening back to his words in previous chapters about living with an eternity mindset. And with that mindset, he reminds us in this sentence that God is the Great Renewer and keeper of our souls. Nothing our fellow men or the Devil do can affect our citizenship in Heaven. That is something solely between us and God, a god who loves us so much that He gave His only Son for us. I've had a couple of rough days this week, but this verse helps me see it in a different light. One day, I will be up there with the Big Guy, pestering Him with questions and worshiping at His feet.
Philippians 3:3
ReplyDeleteFor we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
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What does it look like to have no confidence in the flesh? Does it look like thinking ahead to your future, and instead of relying on your accomplishments to get you where you want to go, knowing that God will take you wherever you need to be, whether you are "under-qualified" or even "over-qualified"? Does it mean knowing that God's sovereignty means that you do not have to fear, because your fears and worries will bring you nowhere? Or does it mean, acknowledging that you can do nothing to justify yourself in God's eyes? For if there were anything that we could do, it would be to our own glory that we are saved, rather than unto the glory of God, who sent his Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. Either way, God is supreme, and he has blessed us greatly.
19 - Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mid is on early things.
ReplyDeleteIs this a life that Christ has called to live? It says that if we follow worldly things such as food or boast of our own achievements our "destiny is destruction". That sounds like a terrible thing if you ask me, but Paul tells us exactly how it is. If we live for ourselves and not for Christ we are not living, but dead. If we are living for the sole purpose of ourselves, then how can we live a Christ centered life? When we put ourselves first we cannot share first place with God. I think that many of us at some point think it is possible to do what is good for ourselves AND what it means to put Christ first. Paul states clearly that this thinking, the mind set of living for worldly things, leads to our ultimate destruction. We cannot live for the world and for God. We have to put what we value more first and for Christians, it is Christ.
1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters,t rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
ReplyDeleteSo, past 2 days have been rough. Very little sleep, lots of studying and exams. I read this chapter earlier today, but I have read the first pert of this a few times today. It's been reminding me all day that no matter what, God has a plan. No matter what drama may have come up, what was said, what shouldn't have been said, God has a plan. No matter how little sleep I've gotten and what has happened today. God has a plan. Things might suck, but give glory to God that he has a plan for what is currently happening, for the future and that everything will workout if I follow his will.
13-14: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
ReplyDeleteOur goal should be to know Christ. It should consume us, strip us of all our energy. We should also strain to be like Christ. Forgetting what is behind is essential because we have all made mistakes but because of Christ we are forgiven and we can let any past guilt go. Rather than dwelling on the past, we need to focus on our active relationship with God. We need to focus all we can muster towards the goal set forth by Christ Jesus- the goal of eternity with Him. This is the ultimate goal we must seek to achieve.
In Christ.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing that I can do to impress God. All of us realize that our salvation is not based upon works, but through faith that leads to works, and that legalism is not Christianity at all. But there is another point to be taken from this. His love for me is unending, whether I am admired or despised. When I remember that, it seems easier to let go of pride and the need to be recognized or admired for certain things. From taking this passage to heart, there comes true humility.