Daily Bread Philippians 3
Daily Bread Philippians 3
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on Toward the Goal
12Not 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. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Observation:
Even though Paul had plenty of reason to boast about his human achievements and associations, he considered it “rubbish” compared to the new relationship he had found through faith in Jesus. When he came to faith, all of his human striving showed itself to be worthless and in vain.
As he discovered this new righteousness by faith (something Luther discovered as well in the 16th century), he realized that God had taken hold of him for a higher calling. Paul desired to know Christ more and more, even if it meant suffering for His name. Paul knew that following Christ would not be easy, and yet in suffering he would be able to experience the power of Christ and His resurrection from the dead.
Paul had a new goal, not human achievement or fame, but a prize in heaven that was waiting for those whom God has called. Because of Paul’s new position, which was a result of grace and not human striving, Paul was motivated to discover all he could in this life about a life of faith. As he committed solely to this purpose he was a new power through Christ to overcome the obstacles before him. He realized a few verses down (v.20) that his citizenship was in heaven. He realized that this life is but a blink of an eye, a blip on the map of eternity. Therefore he had an urgency to give his life as much as possible to One, who had given His life for him.
Application:
What worldly things are you holding on to that will make no difference when you get to heaven? Have you been able to consider as rubbish the things you formerly put your trust in? Do you wallow in your past, or do you forget it, so you can fully press on for the goal of your heavenly calling in Christ Jesus?
The imagery Paul uses is one of a race, where the runner stretches forth to the tape to win the prize. This runner gives every ounce he has to win the prize. This is the way Paul saw the race to become more like Christ. Though he had many skeletons in his closet, he didn’t let them disqualify him for the ultimate race. He knew that one day there would be celebration at the finish line for those who started and finished with faith.
Prayer: Thank you God for choosing us and giving us faith in Christ, so we may learn from his life and prepare for the great prize we will receive in heaven. Help us to so focus our lives on the heavenly calling and goal of becoming more like Christ, that all things will pale in comparison to the purpose you have put us here for. Thank you Jesus for being faithful to run and finish the race you were called to run. As we are tempted to quit or get discouraged, may your resurrection power bring us to the finish line to the victory you have already accomplished for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on Toward the Goal
12Not 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. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Observation:
Even though Paul had plenty of reason to boast about his human achievements and associations, he considered it “rubbish” compared to the new relationship he had found through faith in Jesus. When he came to faith, all of his human striving showed itself to be worthless and in vain.
As he discovered this new righteousness by faith (something Luther discovered as well in the 16th century), he realized that God had taken hold of him for a higher calling. Paul desired to know Christ more and more, even if it meant suffering for His name. Paul knew that following Christ would not be easy, and yet in suffering he would be able to experience the power of Christ and His resurrection from the dead.
Paul had a new goal, not human achievement or fame, but a prize in heaven that was waiting for those whom God has called. Because of Paul’s new position, which was a result of grace and not human striving, Paul was motivated to discover all he could in this life about a life of faith. As he committed solely to this purpose he was a new power through Christ to overcome the obstacles before him. He realized a few verses down (v.20) that his citizenship was in heaven. He realized that this life is but a blink of an eye, a blip on the map of eternity. Therefore he had an urgency to give his life as much as possible to One, who had given His life for him.
Application:
What worldly things are you holding on to that will make no difference when you get to heaven? Have you been able to consider as rubbish the things you formerly put your trust in? Do you wallow in your past, or do you forget it, so you can fully press on for the goal of your heavenly calling in Christ Jesus?
The imagery Paul uses is one of a race, where the runner stretches forth to the tape to win the prize. This runner gives every ounce he has to win the prize. This is the way Paul saw the race to become more like Christ. Though he had many skeletons in his closet, he didn’t let them disqualify him for the ultimate race. He knew that one day there would be celebration at the finish line for those who started and finished with faith.
Prayer: Thank you God for choosing us and giving us faith in Christ, so we may learn from his life and prepare for the great prize we will receive in heaven. Help us to so focus our lives on the heavenly calling and goal of becoming more like Christ, that all things will pale in comparison to the purpose you have put us here for. Thank you Jesus for being faithful to run and finish the race you were called to run. As we are tempted to quit or get discouraged, may your resurrection power bring us to the finish line to the victory you have already accomplished for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.
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