SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:1-11
After Paul considered all what he had accomplished in his life, he stated that it was worthless when compared to knowing Christ. Paul was careful that his past credentials and achievements did not get in the way of his relationship with Jesus. Paul recognized that only Christ could save him. Saved by faith and not by accomplishments or degrees or position.
My relationship to the Lord is more important than anything else. To know Him must be my ultimate goal. Do I place Christ Jesus first in my life? What are my first thoughts in the morning? Thank You Lord that I have a new day to serve You in all I do and say. Thank You that I can spend time in prayer and fellowship with You each and every day. Help me daily to have room in my heart for You so that I may truly be wise.
Take time to be holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in him always,
and feed on his word.
Make friends of God’s children,
help those who are weak,
forgetting in nothing
his blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy,
the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret
with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
like him thou shalt be;
thy friends in thy conduct
his likeness shall see.
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Paul is not opposed to zeal, but to self-centered zeal. His old way of life was all about himself, his accomplishments, his holiness. Now he is driven by Jesus, to be like Him in His death (ie suffering for others selflessly, for their salvation) and in His resurrection (ie victory over all the trials and difficulties that come with suffering for others). Paul is a driven man, passionate and zealous about imitating the life of Jesus. Knowing Jesus is more than knowing about Him, it is becoming ONE with Him, to imitate Him.
We do not become “right” (or righteous) by following a book of rules, we become righteous by identifying with Jesus (the only truly righteous one) and imitating Him by faith. God counts this commitment (an expression of faith) as righteousness.
PRAYER:
Lord, I want to want to be like You. Right now, imitating You seems scary, because it will lead to suffering. But help me to desire it, and to trust that the victory will follow the cross, and that You will receive my imperfect efforts as “righteousness”. Amen.