Finding Joy in Philippians
Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world.
Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Today's Reading: Philippians 1-4 Focus Passage - Philippians 3:10-14
My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah 31-32, Philippians 1:19–30, Psalm 117, Proverbs 25:5–6
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Pursuing the Goal
Nobody's perfect, right?
That is an example of truths that can become lies. Of course, none of us is perfect. That is a fundamental truth of Christianity, that we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Perfection awaits each of us at the end of this life when we are glorified and every trace of sin is removed from our lives.
However, this truth becomes a lie when it is used as an excuse for sloppy Christian living, and that is the way it is used most often. "Sure, my life is a mess, but nobody's perfect." "I know I am living in sin, but nobody's perfect." We use our universal imperfection as an excuse for careless living.
Paul would have never countenanced such an attitude. He had a goal in his life. It wasn't to be religious or successful or any of the human things we often value. He stated it simply in three points. First, he wanted to know Christ - a personal relationship with a living Lord. Even more, he wanted to know the power of the resurrection of Christ. The awesome power of the Father that raised Jesus from the dead - he wanted that power to be at work in him. The third statement was the strangest - he also wanted to share in the sufferings of Christ, even to the point of death. He wasn't asking for a life of ease, but a Christlike life of sacrifice and suffering. This was Paul's goal in life.
Was Paul satisfied with the fact that "nobody's perfect?" No way! He set a high goal - to know Christ and his resurrection power, even to suffer with Christ, and then he determined to press on toward thtat goal until he reached it. He would forget those things that were behind, both his successes and failures, and strain toward the goal to win the prize.
Father, may I never wallow in my sin and accept it as the norm. May I set the goal as Paul did to know you and walk in your power and may I pursue that goal every day of my life.
Think and Pray:
What is the goal of your life?
Are you pursuing Christ or are you content with spiritual mediocrity?
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