Today I have been reading over Philippians. And let me tell you that is such a great book of the bible! It is not only encouraging but it's also convicting. We tend to say woe is me when God is testing us but instead we should see the testing as an opportunity to share the love of our awesome Lord. What a stud Paul was to see the opportunity the Lord had given him through the chains of jail.
I've been encouraged reading it. Especially Phil. 3:12-21:
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
I love the picture Paul paints here. Letting go of the past; our regrets, our failures, our shortcomings, and looking to the future. Recognizing what God has done in us and living up to that! Wow. How often do I forget what God has done in me? How often do I turn my eyes to earthly matters? Look what Paul says of those people... that their destiny is destruction.
Let us all remember where are citizenship is. In heaven... with the God of creation, the Lord who loves us more than anyone on this earth, who provides for us more than any person ever could or any material thing could do! How great is that?? The God who created the universe cares for us individually and intensely! How cool! Let me run on to the heavenly prize, let me forget my regrets and see where God is moving me each day!
So now that I shared. What is God teaching you all? How did you see Him today?
Press on my friends!
I am finding that not a lot of posting happens on these blogs;) But since I know how it feels to not receive a lot of comments, I will respond...plus it is cool to share what I am learning as well!
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading through Hosea and I am at Hosea 9. I am reading a chapter a week, studying it, pondering it, delving in to try and fully understand the words God has allowed to be printed on the pages of His Word...
I'll just give you a little taste of my more fruitful "lessons:"
Hosea ch. 2:
vs5- "For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, "I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and drink." We as humans act shamefully. We go after things that give us
momentary satisfaction only to leave us feeling empty in the end. Who are my "lovers?" Who are yours? My "lovers" or distractions (things that bring me momentary satisfaction)actually include some things that others would say are totally worthwhile...like caring so much about my family or trying really hard to please my boss at work, etc. For me these things became an obsession. I realize that I was trying to do these things on my own without God. Sure, I would feel good about it for a time, but they would quickly fade. And I would be left feeling empty again.
vs 6- "Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths." As I read this I just kept thinking about my life right now...and I feel so loved to think that God has "hedged me in." I feel like God has removed me from a lot of distractions (work, taking care of the family and worrying about everyone and everything, TV
(Haha!), etc). And he has set me down here in South Africa, blocking me in to where I am basically forced to focus on Him. I haven't been presented with much else to do with my time here thus far and I know why...HE wants ME to HIMSELF.
vs.7-9 God is pointing out that we still search for our lovers, thinking that those things are what bring us fulfillment. But when we are removed or blocked from those lovers, we realize that it was and always has been GOD who actually provided us with any little joy we ever felt along the way. For me...I felt joy when "I helped" a family through a difficult time at work. But truly, it was GOD working in their lives and my own. Not me. Only when I realize that do I fully comprehend and experience the true, FULL joy He has to offer me.
vs. 10-13- BUT, we still always want what is familiar...those things that give us momentary satisfaction. Even when we know the truth, we so easily fall back to this because it is easy. And then we wonder why we feel sad or empty...well it is because He who gives joy can also take it away just as easily.
vs. 14- Back to Gods taking us away to have us all to Himself. I feel blessed God has decided to "steal me away" and keep me all
to Himself. He loves me- He loves US. I love how He speaks in this verse, it's romantic, probably why it speaks to me so much! "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her." Lovely.
vs. 15-16- He will then give us the joys of our heart, after we have slowed to focus on Him. After we have given Him our attention and
acknowledged Him completely as God. When we are taking the time to KNOW Him, that is when we start to experience that true joy, meaning in life, fulfillment.
vs. 19-20- "I will betroth you to Me forever; yes I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion. And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord." WE ARE Christ's bride. He LOVES us. He wants us all to Himself and He wants our love and praise. In spite of our sin and shame, He simply LOVES US.
So that's that. I could go on and on, but that would be soooo long!
Love ya dear!
Oh dear. He is teaching me to WAIT. The my timing is not HIS timing. It is so hard to wait, and to press on.
ReplyDelete