16 April 2011

Philippians 3:12-16

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

  What has Paul not obtained?  Refer back to v.11 as he talks about “attaining the resurrection from the dead.”  This is the goal of the Christian, to be resurrected as Christ was resurrected.  We should desire, and it should be our life’s goal, to strive to share in the sufferings of Christ.  The reason we do this is to be like Him in death and newness of life.  Christ has made us His own, so let us strive to make His desires our own.  This does not mean we suffer needlessly or for no reason, if by doing the work of Christ we suffer then we should rejoice in that. 

  Brothers, our lives as Christians is not meant to be an easy one, it is meant to glorify God.  If that means suffering are you okay with that?  If you are not, then you need to reflect on your faith.  Paul explains that our desire as Christians is to obtain the “prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Are we focused on the future and what the Lord wants for us or are we focused on what has already taken place?  Are we focused on our personal failures or the Love that God showed for us by striking His Son down for us?  Press forward in what God has deemed we should have in this life and rejoice!

  Understanding these things is one thing, reconciling your life to them is another.  It is not an easy thing to be reconciled to not living a life for our own cares and worries.  Especially in the U.S. that is a very tough thing.  We are always told that we can have anything we want as long as we work hard.  “Live the American dream they tell us.”  What does that mean exactly?  And, is it truly Biblical?  Paul says to live a life for God, striving to be resurrected with Christ.  This means our lives are defined not by our supposed “success” in this life, but rather by our desire and drive to serve Christ!  To the world this does not make sense.  That is why Paul says “let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” 

  These things are not easy to reconcile in our lives.  Through Christ we can have clarity.  Through Christ we will know truth.  If we are saved and yet do not understand certain situations and what is going on that is okay.  Turn to the Word and as v.16 says, “hold true to what we have attained.”  Christ has revealed things to us.  He has chosen us as His Children.  He will reveal to us what we need to know.  Trust in what He has already revealed to us, if nothing else His saving grace through the Cross of Jesus, and hold true to that.  Put all future knowledge and understanding through what we KNOW is true.  Pray about these things, and let the Lord reveal to you His truth through His Word and the interpretation of the Holy Spirit. 

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