Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you (Philippians 3:17).
To live a life so focused, so devoted to God, so dominated by His grace and His love that you can confidently call others to follow your example…
I want that.
At least, I want to want that.
For now, I’m still more of a “way pointer” than a “trail blazer.”
For now, but not forever.
That’s my prayer this morning.
Care to join me?
Happy Friday, Beloved.
Only let us live up to what we have already attained (Philippians 3:16).
There’s so much I don’t know.
It’s astonishing, really.
I mean, it could paralyze me if I really focus on it.
I know, because sometimes I do.
And yet
There’s so much I do know.
I wonder…if I were to just do the things I know…to live up to what I do understand…
What would that look like?
What would I look like?
What would my world look like?
Nah, it couldn’t be that simple.
Could it?
Happy Thursday, Beloved
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some lesser point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you (Philippians 3:15).
It’s called majoring in the majors, and minoring in the minors.
If you believe that there is one God, who exists eternally in three persons
If you believe that you are made in God’s image, but are poisoned by sin beyond your ability to repair
If you believe that the Father, who made you and knows you and loves you, sent his Son to die in your place so that you might be free from the penalty of sin and restored to relationship with him
If you believe that Jesus, eternally God, became man
and lived
and died
and rose from the dead
so that you could be with him forever
Then you are my brother and my sister (well, one of the two).
Every other disagreement can be argued and debated and ultimately put on the shelf until we know more…until we are more.
Major in the majors today, Beloved.
Happy Wednesday
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 (Philippians 3:14).
He came to be with us.
One day, at the end of all things, he will call us to be with him.
We will be…what we were always meant to be.
Complete
Whole
His
That’s the prize, Beloved.
You’ll get to be the real you.
Finally
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
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… (Philippians 3:14)
I want to win.
I hope that doesn’t offend you.
I know it’s not polite to say these days, but I wanna destroy my opponent, crushing him to powder as I race to the finish line. I want the gold medal, the big trophy, the attaboy certificate.
Over the years, I have won and I have lost, and lemme tell you: winning is eversomuchmorebetterer.
Oh, and here’s the great thing: in order to win, I don’t need to defeat anybody
except
myself.
Happy Monday, Beloved.
But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal… (Philippians 3:14).
Pick your sports analogy…
Football
Baseball
Soccer
Hockey
Lacrosse…I guess.
Imagine the athlete dodging through his opponents, evading the outstretched glove or grasping hands, bobbing and weaving and twisting and diving headlong toward the goal. All distractions burned away, the entire world has condensed into the space separating him from the prize he seeks.
That’s you.
At least, it oughta be.
Eyes on the prize, Beloved.
Happy Friday
But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead… (Philippians 3:13)
It doesn’t say drifting.
It doesn’t say wandering.
Straining
Yes, of course we serve a God of grace, and no, of course you are not saved by your own effort.
That doesn’t mean you don’t make an effort.
You didn’t have to try out for this team. You were picked. And, I’ll let you in on a little secret–we win, whether you’re in the action or on the sidelines pretending to check your shoelaces. But wouldn’t it be better to be in the middle of the fight? Wouldn’t it be better, when the whistle blows, to say that you left everything on the field?
Go get ‘em, Beloved.
Happy Thursday
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind… (Philippians 3:13)
Don’t look back.
That was one of the biggest rules my coach taught me. About 700 years ago I was a cross country runner. I was pretty good, but I had a weakness that often got me into trouble on the race course.
I looked back.
I just couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at who was behind me, wondering if they were catching up or falling back or what. That was a problem, because it took my focus off of the challenges right in front of me, the things in my path that could slow me up or knock me down. With my eyes to the rear, I couldn’t give my all to the race in front of me.
As an adult, sort of, I still struggle with the temptation to look back, to think about how I should have run that last mile, when the next mile awaits. That’s silly, because the next mile has rocks and sand and thorns and I really oughta pay attention.
Of course, we’re not talking about running anymore, are we?
Eyes front, Beloved. Run hard.
Happy Wednesday
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 (Philippians 3:12).
He saved you for a purpose.
Don’t get me wrong. He saved you because he loves you. If you never did a single useful thing after accepting his grace, you would still be Heaven-bound.
But where’s the adventure in that?
The God of the Universe has a job for you. He has taken hold of you for a reason.
What reason?
Life. Abundant, fulfilling, valuable, useful, tremendous life.
Before Christ, you existed. Your heart beat, the breath came and went, your organs squelched and gushed and performed various internal activities.
But you weren’t alive.
Then Jesus took hold of you. You died, and you rose.
And you live. For him.
What will living for him look like today? I have no idea–that’s between you and your Lord. Some of you will live for him today by swinging a hammer, teaching a child, closing a deal, mopping a floor, driving a car, writing a blog, fighting disease from the inside. You will live for him in a supermarket, or a car dealership, or a theater, or a hospital bed.
But you will live for him. And that life will matter. That is why Christ Jesus took hold of you.
Press on, Beloved.
Happy Tuesday
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect…(Philippians 3:12)
Whew!
Thanks, Paul.
I tell you, I am so very far from being the man I want to be that it gets downright depressing. I think that if Paul had said, “I’m so glad I’ve arrived. Perfection is just…perfect!” I would have crawled into the corner to suck my thumb and rock gently back and forth.
But he didn’t say that, did he?
Because Paul–even Paul–knew that the journey wouldn’t be over, that he wouldn’t be complete, until he stepped out of this body and into the arms of his Savior.
The same goes for you, Beloved.
You’re a work in progress.
Cliche? Yes.
True? Also, yes.
Hear the truth, Beloved. Stop your racing and striving and running and tumbling for just a moment and let it sink in. If the Apostle Paul–a fairly intense individual–could admit that God wasn’t finished with him, so can you.
So…do.
Not an excuse…Beloved. Not a loophole. Just truth.
Here’s another truth. One day he will be finished with you. One day you will be made perfect.
And so will I.
Our time will come, we will be complete.
Until then…
Happy Monday, Beloved.