SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:12-21
God is not finished with me yet. Each day I will continue to live for Jesus as He wants me to be. I will continue to run the race set before me. I will keep my eyes on Jesus so that I will not get side tracked or weighted down. When I become weary and weighted down Lord, discouraged in my work, encourage me by the presence of Your Spirit. May I always look forward to what lies ahead.
Thank You Lord for giving Your people such a cloud of witness – brothers and sisters who can encourage us on our way. Even Paul told us to pattern our lives after his and learn for those who follow our example. I must need take every opportunity to serve and become the best I can be in kingdom service. We are headed for the same goal. We are kingdom citizens – living for Jesus today and forever. When we meet Him face to face, all things will be as it should be, beautiful and whole – the new city.
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Jesus, I will never let you go
You’ve taken me from the miry clay
You’ve set my feet upon the Rock, and now I know
I love you, I need you,
Though my world may fall, I’ll never let you go
My Saviour, my closest friend,
I will worship you until the very end.
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Paul is very honest, he knows how far short he is of the goal of being like Jesus. In many ways, the closer we get to Jesus, the more we realize how far we are from Him. But what I hear in Paul is that this is his passion. Everything else is secondary, or even unimportant in comparison. He is not driven by “things below” (earthly pleasures, accomplishments) but by “things above” (ie, what God values). Those who live for worldly pleasures will gorge themselves on them, and will end in misery. Persistent seeking of the God-kind of life (as seen in Jesus) here and now will result in experiencing that kind of life forever.
What drives me? Is Paul fanatical about this? Should I be? Should people accuse me of being a zealot? Am I lacking in zeal, and if so, then what has my heart instead?
PRAYER:
Lord, thanks You for the example of Paul, and how it motivates me to have my heart on fire for You. Forgive my lukewarm faith, and ignite me with a passion for You. Amen.