Monday, March 15, 2010

Philippians 3:2 “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”

Paul was very protective of his fellow believers. He had heard, possibly from the church at Galatia, that some ‘false teachers’ (dogs) were infiltrating his churches and teaching doctrines that were contrary to what he had taught. They were telling the Gentiles (non-Jewish believers) that it was necessary for them to be circumcised in order to partake in the promises of God. By spreading this ‘evil’ word, these ‘dogs’ were leading people to believe that this “mutilation of the flesh” would somehow make them worthy. Paul is quick to point out that putting confidence in the flesh (circumcision) is to not put confidence in Christ’s saving work. Paul is trying to keep his brothers and sisters safe (v.1) from these false teachings. Paul wrote to both the churches at Corinth and Galatia (I Cor.7:19 and Gal. 5:6) that neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything, but rather it is our believing. Worldly things fail and are temporary, therefore our confidence must be in Christ alone.

Prayer: “Lord, sometimes it is challenging to remember that placing confidence in myself is foolishness. I can do nothing to make myself righteous or worthy. I cannot be good enough or do enough good things. If I could, your death would have been for nothing. Forgive me of my self-centeredness and pride and help me to place my confidence in you, Jesus – in your holy name I pray…Amen.”

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Phil 3:4b-6 “…If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”

Galatians 3:1-3 “O’ foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Paul compares his former life, when he lived by the flesh, to life lived by the Spirit.  He provides us a resume, not unlike one we might provide today to show our value to a potential boss or company, showing that if anyone had a reason to trust in themselves (the flesh) it was him.  He belonged to the right group (Israel), he had the right family (tribe) name, he was top in his field (Pharisee), the one they sent on the tough jobs (persecuting the church), and by his peer’s (worldly) standards he was perfect (blameless). He was “the man.” His purpose in sharing this was not to impress them, but rather to change the idea that somehow they could have done more than he to be deserving of salvation or acceptance by God.  He calls them foolish, and asks if somehow they have had a spell cast on them! He shows them that to follow Christ is to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. The things the Lord will call on us to do, the things he will call on us to become, cannot be accomplished in the flesh. We need him.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I’ve spent most of my life living in the flesh.  It is what I know. But Lord, I know that you have called me to live by the Spirit, to acknowledge that my becoming all I can be will not be a work done in my own power but in yours. Lord, in the flesh I have failed. I place my trust, today, in you because you will not fail me. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.”

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Philippians 3:7-8 “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…”

Paul had an impressive list of titles and accomplishments. Having come to know Christ, he realizes that all the things that he had been, all the things that he had done, all the praise and notoriety was ‘skubalon’ or excrement, garbage, less-than-worthless. It was, in fact, waste. Paul wasn’t just talking about knowing‘about’ Jesus. When he speaks of ‘knowing’ his Lord he is talking about an intimate knowledge. Think about all that you value in this world (possessions, titles, money, fame). Now, try to imagine something so wonderful, so amazing and priceless that it would make all else look valueless. So much so, that you would gladly walk away from it all just to possess this one thing. Such was the value of knowing Christ to Paul. Our true value is measured in our relationship to Christ, not in our status, power, position or wealth.  Have you hung your identity, your sense of self-worth on skubalon?  Solomon in Ecclesiastes warns us that all we do in this life is vanity.  Jesus taught us (Matt 6:19-20) that treasures on earth can be stolen, lost or destroyed.  Knowing Christ is the real treasure.

Prayer: O’ Lord, don’t allow the love of my possessions or my position to lead me into idolatry. Help me to see my value in knowing you as my Savior, my brother, and my Lord. Let my true sense of worth be what I have in you, not what I have in this world. Help me to shed all false conceptions of myself, and let me hold onto nothing in my life so tightly as I hold onto you…in Jesus’ name I pray - Amen.”

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Philippians 3:10 “…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…”

Ephesians 1: 17-19 “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…”

Why is our knowing Christ so valuable? Why would it make us not only give up our worldly things, but willingly join him in suffering for the sake of the kingdom? As we come to know our Lord, we first come to realize the hope we have for the future - those things that he has called us to and planned for us (Jer. 29:11). We no longer have to worry about tomorrow.  Next, we come to realize true riches as joint-heirs with Christ in the kingdom of God. No earthly riches ever amassed could begin to compare to what God willingly shares with his faithful children (the saints). Lastly, we see the matchless power by which he protects us, guides us, provides for us, and meets our needs. The same power which, as believers, he can use through us to the blessing, healing, protecting and working for the good of others. Knowing what we stand to gain, giving up the things of this world is hardly suffering, now is it?

Prayer: “O’ God, today I pray you will enlighten the eyes of my heart, so I may see you more clearly, know you more intimately, and understand the true value in the things you have in store for me. Everything this world could possibly offer is but a cheap imitation compared to the riches of my inheritance in you. Today I willingly accept that, though following you may cost me something in this life, I recognize the price I pay is small in comparison to what you paid for me, and compared to what lies ahead for me on the road that leads to you. Thank you, my loving Father, in my Savior’s name I pray…Amen.”

Friday, March 19, 2010

Philippians 3:12-13a “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press onto make it my own, because Christ Jesus made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.”

Back when Paul was still known as Saul, he believed differently than he does here. He believed that he had “arrived.” Now, a lifetime away from his Damascus road experience, we find Paul with a totally different outlook - ‘I’m not there yet.’  Paul realized that Christ’s work in him was not yet complete. As we look at our own lives, we can see there is still a lot of work to be done. Unfortunately, many Christians think that after their salvation experience - the journey is over. In fact, it has only begun. Following Christ means carrying our cross (Matt 16:24) and that means there will be hardships.  It is interesting to note that the word ‘press’ literally means to urge, compel or force. It is not Christ who is forcing Paul forward but Paul himself. Likewise we must learn that to go deeper and farther with Christ will require us to voluntarily push through whatever obstacles might come. Although Christ will give us strength to run the race, it must be our decision to enter the race and take the first step.  If you’re in the race already…press on!  If not, let’s go!

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, Thank you that you have begun a mighty work in me. Thank you also that you are not finished with me. Keep me humble Lord, so that I will never mistakenly believe that I have arrived. I want to go deeper and farther in my relationship with you. I step out today in your strength, not my own, and thank you for completing the work you have begun in my life – in your mighty name I pray…Amen.”

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Philippians 3:13b-14 “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Pressing on towards our calling in Christ requires a very important first step. If we are to take up our cross for today, we cannot do it while dragging our baggage from yesterday. Paul doesn’t encourage us to forget what Christ has saved us from or to not recognize how far we have come with him from where we were. Rather, he wants us to not allow ourselves to remember in such a way that the devil comes in and gets us to condemn ourselves for past mistakes and failures. For Paul this would have been easy. He did some serious stuff to God’s people. What things are you still carrying around today? What things has Christ forgiven you that you have not forgiven yourself? Until you learn to put your past in the past, you will find that you carry an unnecessary weight on top of your ‘daily’ cross. No one ever made progress while constantly looking behind. Do not allow your past to burden your future. Keep your eye on Jesus…he is ahead of you. He has placed your sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)…let them go.

Prayer: Gracious Father, as I strive to follow your Son, help me to forget my past failures. I am not that person anymore. I trust in you to give me the strength to finish this race. I reject every attempt by the devil to remind me of who I was. In Jesus’ name I pray -Amen.”