Happy_Philippians

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His future is secure because he’s a citizen of heaven.

 

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20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

 

Our culture is obsessed with transformation: house fixer uppers, biggest weight losers, hair, makeup, wardrobe, body workouts, office work ethics and life coaches. There is a glorious hope in transforming. Anticipated change gives us a motivation to continue – a wonderful end is soon coming. Even though our focus is often on the result of an external or physical change, the most neglected and ignored transformation is the spiritual one made possible by Jesus.

Spiritual transformation permeates everything Paul said and did. His relationship to Christ becomes the most important thing. His earthly successes or credentials are no longer a necessity. Knowing Christ becomes his most important goal – not only for him but for all people. Nothing could take his eyes of his goal – not prison, not knowing how or when he would meet death. And even when he stares death in the face, he knows he will gloriously join Christ in a transformed and resurrected body. The Apostle knows deep down he belonged to Christ and one day he would be free from pain, disease, and suffering. He knows his future is secure, because he’s a citizen of heaven.

Transformation energized Paul. His experience of Christ on this earth and his hope of heavenly citizenship keeps him straining forward. He keeps running the race for the joy set before him and because of the joy of Christ in Him. Christ is with you, too. If you are in him, your citizenship is in heaven. Now you can wait, like Paul, with joy and great anticipation for a day of complete and final victory. Think about an area in your life where you need God’s help to keep pressing on. Today, imagine life on the other side of the struggle. Imagine how you’d view this struggle as a citizen of heaven. Then, take your concern to Jesus in prayer. Ask him to help you keep pressing upward.

 

Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
 When Christ who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory.
– Colossians 3:2-4

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By Donna Burns

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We imitate people around us whether we realize it or not.

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¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

 

If you think about it, copying is a huge proponent of learning. Little children copy every word and behavior much to the embarrassment of their parents. We imitate people around us whether we realize it or not. Every day we copy something and repeat it somewhere else, on Facebook, in conversation, in actions. It can happen so easily and without thinking.

Paul invites the Philippians to imitate him. He just finished explaining that he isn’t perfect and he hasn’t arrived, but that he’s in process every moment of every day pressing on to know Jesus. Now, he invites them to do the same. The Apostle urges the believers in Philippi to stay in the fight and continue the battle of God’s upward call with him. In order to do that, Paul urges them to follow his example because there are no scriptures for the first Christians to read. Paul’s life is their handbook to living and being Christ-like. Because he has experienced God’s grace and now lives by faith, he stands as an example in stark contrast to the enemies of Christ.

Let’s become intentional about who we imitate and why. Paul’s invitation is a testimony to his character. It isn’t to boast or be proud but to point to a life changed by God’s grace. His testimony is real and his character is a priority. Can you identify a mature Christian you have made a conscious choice to imitate? Thank God for their wonderful influence on you. Then, ask yourself this question: What kind of follower would a new believer in Christ become if he or she imitated me?

 

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
– 1 Corinthians 11:1

I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
– 1 Corinthians 4:16

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By Donna Burns

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The ability to see the brutal facts about your own weakness without loosing the drive to change is the true sign of maturity.

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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.

 

I’ve been blessed with a great father. I’ve learned countless lessons from him, but one in particular, spoke grace into my life. I was a teenage boy at the time and struggling with purity. I found myself feeling guilty all the time because I couldn’t seem to get past the struggle. I don’t remember any details about the conversation, but he said something to me that I still remember to this day. He said, “Son, the most important thing is to stay in the fight.” He explained that I didn’t need to fear unless I stopped fighting. I’m sure he said more beyond that, but those the words set me free from carrying the weight of guilt.

Today’s text says something very similar. After Paul re-assures his readers that he isn’t perfect, he says something very curious. He says, “let those of us who are mature think this way.” In other words, if you are mature you know you aren’t finished. Maturity isn’t found in perfection, but a sober understanding of incompleteness MIXED with a commitment to keep striving. The ability to see the brutal facts about your own weakness without loosing the drive to change is the true sign of maturity.

There are two alternatives to this tension. First, we could acknowledge our weaknesses as simply the way we are and fail to keep striving for change. For instance, a type A person could become overly comfortable with bowling people over and think, “This is just how I am.” Meanwhile, a type B person could become too comfortable with mediocre effort and think, “This is just how I am.” Second, if we always strive and never meet perfection, we can live under a world of guilt for all our shortcomings. Neither one of these extremes represent what Paul calls maturity. Take a few minutes to listen to the song “Lead On, Oh King Eternal.” As the song plays think through some areas where you still have room to grow and ask God to lead you on as you stay in the fight.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Aaron Bjorklund

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An exceptional Christian life doesn’t look like a perfect life, it looks like a pursuing life.

[/ultimate_heading][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ 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 ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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.

 

This passage represents one of scriptures loftiest views of Jesus as well as a life passionately committed to him. It’s inspiring, but if I’m honest it’s somewhat convicting. The question rises up in me, “Do I have the same passion Paul has?” Then, I read on. Verse twelve seems to let me off the hook – or does it?

It’s a huge relief to know the Apostle Paul claims to be a work in process too. Paul writes this in the later part of his life. And, if Paul’s still not perfect, it makes me feel better about my imperfections. As reassuring as that is, some might see Paul lowering the bar of perfection here. But, Paul’s aim is NOT to lower the high bar of perfection in Jesus. His aim is to redefine the goal. Even in his old age, Paul retains a youthful drive toward perfection, but he also doesn’t live in the clouds. Paul strains while knowing he’s not perfect.

An exceptional Christian life doesn’t look like a perfect life, it looks like a pursuing life. Paul didn’t become one of Christianity’s most influential people because he was perfect, he was influential because he knew the difference between pursuing Jesus and trying to earn God’s favor. So, are we supposed to strive for perfection or are we supposed to be okay with not being perfect? The answer is both. As Christians, our pursuit of perfection is not mandatory, it’s incidental. Jesus already gave us his perfection. If we try to improve in order to have right standing with God then our pursuit is unnecessary and burdensome. If, instead, we seek to grow because it helps us achieve the true reward of “knowing Christ,” then the pursuit is well placed.

In this passage, Paul retains both a drive to grow in his faith and a clearheaded view of his weakness. Paul resolves to keep growing and we can make a similar resolution. Jonathan Edwards had a similar passion for straining in his imperfection. Read some of his resolutions and write one of your own – not to be perfect, but to continue the journey with Jesus as the reward.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Aaron Bjorklund

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Following Jesus is more about embracing the journey than about arriving at a destination

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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. – Philippians 3:12

Paul’s statement here is quite unexpected following the lofty theological exposition found in Philippians 3:7-11. Paul just made the claim that ‘knowing Jesus’ was better than all of the other things he gained in his life previous. Now, Paul claims he hasn’t arrived at His goal of knowing and loving Jesus with his whole being. He describes the tension theologians call the ‘already, but not yet’ reality of the kingdom. Paul knows the tension of tasting the presence and promises of God, yet living in a world where they’re not fully realized. He knows what it‘s like to struggle and shares in the longing to change and grow. Here, Paul simply wants more of Jesus.

The magnitude of what Paul wrote should send shockwaves through us. This is a man God used to pen over 30% of the New Testament, plant 14 churches (that we know of), and help spread the gospel to multiple new continents. Still, he claims he hasn’t arrived. Paul views his life as a work in progress – as a life still under construction. Paul’s life testifies that following Jesus is more about embracing the journey than about arriving at a destination. It’s about being a work in progress and pressing on toward growth.

If Paul didn’t arrive at his goal this side of heaven, maybe we won’t either. Maybe perfection and completion are the wrong goals altogether. The new goal Paul proposes in Philippians 3:12 is to live a life continually ‘pressing on.’ Thankfully, he doesn’t leave us to ambiguously define this new life purpose. In Philippians 3:13, he teaches us how we might press on – by ‘forgetting what is behind and staining toward to what lies ahead.’ The practicality of this should not be lost on us! It’s so easy to get caught up in either the pain or successes of the past – ironically, both equally remove us from God’s work in the present. That’s why Paul challenges us to actively forget the past and urges us to live with a passionate pursuit of the Messiah in the present. He compares this pursuit to a person competing in the Olympic Games where athletes push their bodies to the limits in order to win the prize. That’s the image Paul wants us to imagine as we follow Jesus! Reflect on this image as you read the quote below by D.A. Carson. Ask the Lord if you are presently ‘pressing on.’ If you aren’t, confess, repent, and start today.

 

People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort,
people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord.
We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance;
we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom;
we drift toward superstition and call it faith.
We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation;
we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism;
we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.
– D.A. Carson

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By Ryan Paulson

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when we decide to become a disciple of Jesus, we receive his name and our identity is found in him

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…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

 

As humans, we desire for our lives to matter. It’s a good desire and a natural one, at that. We bear the image of God and we were created for meaning and purpose. However, that good desire sometimes drives us to destructive places – it has since the beginning. Genesis 11 recounts humanity’s attempt to build a tower reaching to heaven, and it tells us why people were attempting such a feat. Humanity cries, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Let us make a name for ourselves. It’s an ancient story, but modern humanity has the same longing. We desire our days on earth to have lasting meaning and we need our lives to matter. Unfortunately, the way we often chase that yearning is to make a name for ourselves.

The Apostle Paul knew this path well. He made a name for himself in Judaism as the leading Pharisee of his day and next in line to lead the movement. Yet, when he met Jesus, everything changed. The things he thought were for his profit and good, he considered loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:8). Paul goes on to tell the Philippian church how he deals with his desire to ‘make a name,’ by proclaiming he is “found in him.” Paul’s life is now enveloped into the life of Christ. Righteousness, purpose, and power flow from the fact that he participates in the life of the Divine.

“In Him,” is a phrase Paul uses 164 times in his letters to the churches. It appears to have been his favorite way to describe those who follow Jesus. Nowadays, we refer to people who follow Jesus as ‘Christians,’ but the Scriptures only use the term ‘Christians’ three times in the entire Bible. “In Him” is an expression Paul chooses to describe the essence of what being a Jesus follower is all about. The term helps us see that when we decide to become a disciple of Jesus, we receive his name and our identity is found in him!

Ironically, in receiving Christ’s name, we find what it means to become our truest self. C.S. Lewis makes this point beautifully when he writes, “Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him.” Maybe we get lost because we’re looking to be found in the building of Babel or in the making of our own name, rather than bowing at the feet of the Savior. The way of humanity is to “find yourself,” but the invitation from God is to “lose yourself” and find everything you long for in the arms of the Almighty. Listen to the song Find Me by Jonathan and Melissa Hessler and pray along with the lyrics.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Ryan Paulson

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none of these reached actual “success” except that he found Jesus along the way

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But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ 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.

 

If we’re honest, I think most of us would admit we’re incredibly good at comparison. We look around at what other people have or what someone else is doing with their life and compare it with our own possessions or successes. Many of us spend hours perusing social media sites observing others from a distance and wondering what life might be like in someone else’s shoes. We can end up feeling discouraged or even circumstantially happy with the life we get to live. But, what if we compared our life with that of Paul instead?

Let’s remember Paul is sitting in house arrest when he looks around and contemplates his life. I imagine him thinking back over his own story – where he’s spent his time, his energy and his resources. He notices the interest he gained throughout his years and all the many “successes” he’s had in the eyes of others. He sees everything he’s accomplished, every person he’s influenced, and every new initiative he’s sparked. But, he calls them garbage because none of it satisfies. Paul realizes none of these reached actual “success” except that he found Jesus along the way.

Paul looks over his own life’s successes and declares that none of it was actual “success.” He even goes as far to say that much of his life was a “loss,” because, for Paul, nothing would ever be a win without Jesus. His words teach us that any accomplishment or growth or gain is simply a waste without sharing it with Jesus. If you look around at your life today and compare it with others, you’ll always come up unsatisfied. If your goal is success – to get ahead in life or to find happiness in this world – you’ll always come up wanting. But, if you adopt the mission of gaining Christ in whatever you do, and embrace the goal of doing life with Christ, you’ll never come up short because you’ll always find him there. At the end of your day today, evaluate where you spent your time, energy and money and ask yourself if those investments were worth investing in.

 

But seek first of the kingdom of God
and his righteousness
and all these things will be added to you.
-Matthew 6:33

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By Yvonne Biel 

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There is a big difference between knowing about something and knowing through first-hand experience

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But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ 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.

 

If you’ve ever walked through a loss of a child, you “know” the depth of pain someone else is going through when they experience it for the first time. If you’ve experienced the horrors of hand-to-hand combat or the torture of being taking advantage of, you “know” what these situations feel like. On the flip side, if you’ve ever celebrated the joys of a new birth, a safe arrival home, or the rescue of a girl enslaved, you’ve truly experienced joy of deliverance, reunion and new life. There is a big difference between knowing about something and knowing through first-hand experience.

This is exactly what Paul means when he uses the Greek word “ginosko” or “knowing” in his letter. He’s not referring to the ability to know about Jesus, but the deep first-hand experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ his Lord. Paul would never be able to say he counts everything loss if he only knew about Jesus. No. Paul finds value in knowing Jesus because he experiences Jesus. Closely. Deeply. Intimately. He abides in Jesus just as Jesus invites his closest disciples to do in John 15.

You, too, have been invited to abide in Jesus and to experience his love. This doesn’t mean you have to feel Jesus’ love 24/7. Much like other relationships, your relationship with Jesus is not solely based on experience. But, it’s nothing less. If you desire to get to the place where you could say, like Paul, “for Jesus’ sake, I will suffer loss and count everything as garbage compared to being with Jesus,” you must be willing to experience him – to taste of his love and to deeply, genuinely and intimately encounter him. Today, imagine yourself sitting down at a dining table with Jesus. Let him speak the words of John 15:7-11 over you. Notice what happens in your heart and pray in response to your internal reaction.

 

If you abide in me,
and my words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit
and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me,
so have I loved you.
Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments,
you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you,
that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be full.
– John 15:7-11

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By Yvonne Biel 

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You aren’t defined by your successes or your failures

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Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

 

Paul circles around the phrase “confidence in the flesh.” Paul realizes in these few phrases he has everything going for him, and if he wanted to, he could find confidence within himself. Yet, he boldly claims his assurance doesn’t result from this reality. Paul’s confidence doesn’t come from his personal successes or present circumstances – from his Jewish nationality, his strong heritage, his stringent obedience, or his passionate personality.

Ironically, the Old Testament Judge, Gideon, felt just the opposite. When the Lord said to him, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian,” Gideon responded, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:14-15). When Gideon realized his confidence in the flesh came up short, he responded timidly out of major insecurity. Yet, in the end, he stepped onto the battle field. Both Paul and Gideon were simply human. One thought much of himself and one thought very little. Yet, neither Paul nor Gideon could rely on their own confidence. They both came to the place where courage and faith went beyond their circumstance.

Perhaps you feel more like Paul. You have much going for you and if you wanted to, you could find plenty of confidence in yourself. You have the ability to achieve – to make things happen and accomplish the things you set out to accomplish. Or, perhaps you feel more like Gideon. Your situation looks less promising. You feel a lack of confidence and uncertainty in your own abilities. Well, it’s time to cheer up. Thankfully, confidence is available regardless of how you feel about yourself. When you’ve become God’s child and through faith, you now live in a new reality. You can live confidently knowing he’s chosen you. Paul was one of his. Gideon was one of his. You are one of his. You aren’t defined by your successes or your failures. You stand in confidence knowing you are a child, not a slave. Remember this truth today by listening to Not a Slave by Bethel.

 

But when the fullness of time had come,
God sent forth his Son, born of woman,
born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave,
but a son, and if a son,
then an heir through God.
– Galatians 4:4-7

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By Yvonne Biel 

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 there is an approach to life that allows our joy to remain

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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.  Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

 

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi and states, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” Joy has been a main theme of Paul’s letter thus far. He’s already told them to rejoice, but he has no trouble repeating himself. He wants the church to get it! Then, he follows this command with a word of caution, “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.” Three times he tells the church to “look out!” Paul’s emphatic plea suggests that, while joy is possible for all people in any circumstance, it’s elusive.

Last week, I had to repair my son’s bike tire. It had a slow leak – the kind where every time you go to ride the bike you need to pump the tire up with air. Joy feels like that sometimes. It has a tendency to leak. We’ve all felt that phenomenon. We get weighed down with the concerns of life, lulled into the monotonous hum of the everyday, only to suffer loss and disillusionment. We try to build our life on things that constantly let us down, and the joy we long for or have been told is available slips through our fingers. Some things cause our joy to leak. However, there is also an approach to life that allows our joy to remain. Life is full of joy stealers and joy sealers.

If there is one person we should listen to in regards to the pursuit of joy, it’s Paul. Many things happened in Paul’s life that could’ve stolen his joy. He was imprisoned on multiple occasions, beaten, flogged, stoned, shipwrecked three times, and in fear of his life much of the time (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Yet, he claims there is a way of being that yields joy even in trying conditions. Paul’s approach to life determined his joy, because Paul found that Jesus actually sealed his joy. When people, mindsets, and circumstances threatened to steal his joy, Paul was aware and ready to tell his friends, “look out!” Spend some time today to heed Paul’s warning to “look out!” What are the patterns of thought or circumstances stealing your joy? Then, rejoice in the face of your trying circumstances.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
-Romans 15:13

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By Ryan Paulson

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