Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:1-6
The Message
To Know Him Personally
3 And that’s about it, friends. Be glad in God!
I
don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope
you don’t mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry—so here goes.2-6 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.
For Reflection
Paul,
using the example of his own life, shows us that adhering the culture
of a religion satisfies only those who also follow superficially. As
invested as he was in his Jewish tradition, God had shown him that in
paying attention to the trees he missed the meaning of the forest. To know God personally is to follow His path even if it is in conflict with a religion as commonly practiced.
Acts of faith, practiced in love and seeking justice and mercy in
response to God's grace is authentic worship and worthy of a citizen in
the Kingdom of God.
Pray
that
you will follow God's call for your life. Pray that all who have heard
the good news will respond in ways that will please God. Pray that a
focus on a God-centered life will dominate your thoughts and action each
day.
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