Philippians 3:1-16
Oh to know “the power of His resurrection”! How we desire to experience the reality of Philippians 3:10! Then why are we so reluctant to pay the price? What would you count as loss and dung in order that you might know and win Christ (Philippians 3:8)? All things, I hope.
We aim for honor, purity, goodness, and alertness…only to see many of our efforts fall short of the mark. Does this mean God hasn’t blessed and equipped us as well spiritually as He has physically? Quite to the contrary! In 2 Peter 1:3 we find this assurance: “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” God has generously made available to all of His children all that we need for godly living in our generation!
Why, then, do we fail? Since God has not held back any essential resources from us, it would seem we would achieve the “glory and virtue” spoken of in that same verse. Yet our common experience is of many inglorious and virtueless moments. Why?
Part of the answer lies in a segment of 2 Peter 1:3 that I have not yet quoted: “through the knowledge of him.” I believe in an intellectual sort of way that to know Jesus is to experience power and success in living. I know that the more natural and intimate my relationship with Christ, the more common will victorious Christian living become. Yet despite believing and knowing these things, my life experience isn’t one of growing, deepening daily fellowship with the Master.
I imagine that the church at Philippi struggled with their poor aim the way I struggle with mine. So as I consider my own repeated failings both in my target selection and in my target acquisition, I am encouraged by the following words to that church.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
I shall continue in this Way. I shall not quit. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Adapted from Fruitful and Established
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
(Extracted from Be Humble and Kind)
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