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
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).
Today is Independence Day.
Today we celebrate our freedom.
Of course, as Americans we celebrate our national and political freedom.
As men and women of God, we celebrate our spiritual freedom. Christ has set us free from our bondage to sin. He has set us free from our need to try to earn our salvation, to somehow save ourselves. He has set us free from the stress and worry and angst and anxiety which so often attack us.
Hear me, Beloved. I’m not saying that those things are gone.
Because they’re not.
I mean, just look around.
What I am saying is that we are no longer in bondage to them.
So why do we act like we are?
When Paul wrote the above verse to the Galatians he was talking about freedom from the Mosaic Law. Some Jews had chosen to follow Christ, but still felt compelled to meet the demands of the old covenant. Paul was pointing out that a person who has Christ no longer needs the old law, and to try to follow it is like being a slave who, once free, returns to his chains.
Who would do that? Who would choose the chains?
That would be crazy, right?
Right?
So, Beloved–what yoke will you lay down today? What chains will you leave behind as you walk with your Lord?
Today is the day to celebrate your independence.
And your dependence.
Happy Fourth, Beloved.
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 Wednesday
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.
‘Course, we’re not talking about running anymore, are we?
Eyes front, Beloved. Run hard.
Happy Tuesday
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).
You, my friend, have a destiny.
Ooooooohhh! A destiny! So fancy!
You have been selected by the Lord of the Universe for a grand task.
Seriously
You may feel like your life leads nowhere, like you’re not making a difference, like what you do or even who you are doesn’t really matter.
I teach middle school–I feel your pain.
But–and it’s a big but–you do matter.
Jesus says so.
You have the honor of glorifying Christ Jesus, your king. You have the privilege of being conformed to his image. You have the goal of eternal life spent with the one who knows you best and loves you most.
That’s the prize, Beloved.
Press on
Take hold
Live
Happy Monday, Beloved.