Happy you’re here
once again to share more Daily Bread. We’re in the middle of our study of
Paul’s epistle to the Philippians, and here we get a bit of history
concerning Paul, kind of a testimony of his life and how now Jesus is his
hero. Paul urges the Philippians to follow Jesus as he did, so they can be a
people united for the same cause and work together in service to God.
As you know, Paul
is a very colorful writer, and the phrases he uses certainly add dimension
for those receiving his messages, so lets take a look at it together and
enjoy his teaching as he illustrates how Christ was his model of humility
and service and see if we can put these principles into practice in our own
lives.
Paul writes,
Finally my friends, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you (to
repeat himself), to me in fact is not troublesome, but it is to protect you.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
(Circumcision had by now lost it's spiritual significance and was now
considered a senseless mutilation.)
Let’s look at
these things one at a time.
-
Beware of dogs. Paul isn’t referring to man’s best friend here. He’s
talking about the other kind of dogs. They bite and devour things, they go
astray, they bark, they growl, they howl. Have you ever seen a dogfight?
They’re relentless and they destroy each other. Beware of people who are
like dogs seeking fights.
-
Beware of evil workers. This is pretty much self explanatory. It is
also mentioned in
Psalms 119:115.
-
Beware of the concision (Romans 2:28-29).
Paul goes on, For
we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
GOAL
SETTING BIBLE VERSES LESSON WITH GOAL SETTING BIBLE VERSES EXPLANATION
Though I might also have
confidence in the flesh (though I may think that my life [on earth] means
something). If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in his life,
I have more reason.
I was circumcised the
eighth day, of the stock (a descendant) of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
an Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee (following the law
to the letter), concerning zeal (enthusiasm), persecuting the Church
(thinking that he was doing a God service, see
Acts 22:3,4);
in reference to the righteousness which is in the law (being considered
righteous for following the law), blameless.
But those things that were
gain (profitable) to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yes, doubtless,
and I now count all things loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having
my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
Faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by Faith, that I may
know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship (sharing) of
His sufferings, being made conformable (similar, submissive, following in
unbroken sequence) to His death, if by any means I might attain (obtain,
achieve) unto the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already
achieved, or were already perfect (complete), but I pursue after, if that I
may apprehend (understand) for which also I am apprehended (understood) of
Christ Jesus.
THAT is a long
sentence ... So just to make sure that we all didn’t get confused before the
end of it, we’re gonna break it down. Paul starts out saying, I used to be
against Christ, but now I count everything as loss (nothing has any value)
except for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Let’s read a little
passage from the Book of Jeremiah.
|
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus saith the LORD, Let not
the wise man glory in his
wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the
rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this,
that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which
exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
for in these things I
delight, saith the LORD. |
GOAL SETTING BIBLE VERSES INFORMATION WITH GOAL
SETTING BIBLE VERSES MEANING
Next Paul writes
very candidly, everything else is refuse, so that I may win the favor of
Christ. Now, you get the idea, that Paul doesn’t want to be known for the
things that he did before he was saved (as do none of us). He continues, I
want to be found by Christ NOT that I have my own righteousness for
following the law, but that I am righteous through the Faith of Christ, and
have the righteousness that comes from God. I count everything as loss, that
I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. I count all things as loss
to share in His suffering, being made one with Him, even sharing in His
death. I count all things as loss, so that if there is any chance, I may
have eternal life. I don’t live as though I have already earned it, or am
already perfect, but I strive for this, in hopes of understanding the way
that I am understood by Christ Jesus.
Continuing now,
Paul writes, Brethren, I don’t claim to have understood, but one thing I do
understand, forgetting those things in the past, and reaching toward the
future, I press (reach) for the goal, for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus. Let us, therefore, as many as are mature, be thus
minded (in agreement) and if in any thing you be otherwise minded (if you
have different goals) God will reveal this to you.
Nevertheless, the
things that we’ve already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us
mind the same thing (if you’re successful at something, don’t change your
procedure). Brethren, be followers together of me, and remember them which
walk (the walk of Faith) so you have us for an example. (For many walk, of
whom I have told you often, and now tell you in sadness that they are the
enemies of the Cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their
belly [greed], and their glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
For our conversation (life, citizenship) is in Heaven, where we also look
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile (worthless)
body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body (1
Corinthians 15:52-54), according to the working whereby He is able even
to subdue all things unto Himself.
We sure have some
great things to look forward to, being Christians. You may want to write
your own testimony sometime. Write down where you came from (what your goals
were, how you lived, what your morals were) and how you’ve changed since you
invited Jesus into your life. How do you want Jesus to see you? What are
your goals?
Join us again next
time, as we find out what closing words Paul has to share with the
Philippians, right here at Daily Bread.
