What are you trying to earn?

Philippians 3:1-3

     Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good.

     Watch out for those dogs, those wicked men and their evil deeds, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship God in Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done in us.

     There is nothing we could ever do to “earn” salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith, plain and simple. Before Jesus Christ came to earth and offered himself as a living sacrifice for all, only Jewish people who strictly followed the Old Covenant law were acceptable to God. One of the Old Covenant laws was that a male baby was to be circumcised eight days after his birth. This law or requirement had been in existence for many, many years in the Jewish community, and now that the Old Covenant had been replaced with the New Covenant (being made acceptable to God through the blood of Jesus Christ), some new Jewish converts to Christianity were preaching/teaching and requiring all male Christians (whether Jew or Gentile) to become circumcised in order to receive salvation.

     Paul was very angry about this teaching. Not that it was necessarily circumcision, but the fact, that there were not to be prerequisites to salvation, other than faith and repentance. Right actions in wanting to please God after salvation were to be a result of faith.

     The practice of circumcision to receive salvation doesn’t necessarily continue today, but there are many other so-called requirements that some say are needed, and they are simply not true. God is not looking at how we dress, what we have pierced or tattooed, or how big our Bible is. He simply looks at our heart. We will never be able to earn salvation through our actions or deeds, regardless of what anyone may try to tell us. Once we receive salvation, we are then motivated to change our lifestyle to line up with the Word of God because of the new love of Christ and the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Human effort never has and never will make us right with God; it is only through the free gift of salvation given freely from God through His son, Jesus Christ.

     Have you ever thought that by “doing” right things would earn you a place in Heaven? Has today’s teaching challenged your way of thinking and believing? Today, I challenge you to stop trying to “earn” your way into right standing with God, and simply receive His salvation by accepting the fact that Jesus Christ loves you and died for you. Build a relationship with Him rather than trying to prove that your “good enough” to be accepted by Him.

Have a great day!

How bright is your light?

Philippians 2:14-15

     In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

     The only thing arguing and complaining accomplishes is the fact that we’re wrapped up in our self. Feeling the need to be right at all costs and complaining about every tiny, little thing only proves to the world that Christianity must not be all that great and doesn’t differ much from the life they are already living. If Christians grumble, complain and argue, why would they want to enter that kind of lifestyle? They can stay at home and receive the same treatment.

     What does it mean to be a light in a dark world? Those who haven’t accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior are living in a state of darkness overshadowed by Satan and his influence. When they come in contact with Christians or Christ’s followers, the light and life of Christ is exposed (or should be) to them. They should immediately notice something different in us.

     When I was a child, my brothers and I used to play a game. We owned a few small rubber balls (we called them super balls) and they glowed in the dark. We would close the door to our bedroom, turn the lights off and duck down all around the room. Then the person with the ball would throw it as hard as they could, which allowed the ball to bounce and ricochet all over the room. The goal of the game was to not get hit by the ball. If you did, you were out of the game. The goal of the game is not the point that I’m trying to make here. What stands out from this story is that when we turned the lights out in the bedroom, we couldn’t even see our hand in front of our face, and the light from that tiny ball was all that was visible. It was the only visible object in our dark, clouded surroundings. We took great notice of the small light, for it helped influence our every movement.

     You and I are that small, rubber, glow-in-dark ball. As we bounce here and there and ricochet through life, we become a light to those who are fumbling around in the dark, trying to gain their footing. We may be the only light they see in their entire lifetime, and if we’re busy arguing and complaining as we ricochet past them, then they will never notice us because our light will not be shining. It is only when we portray Christ and His character that our light shines bright and strong. Paul is encouraging us, in this scripture to stay away from anything that would cause our light to be diminished and ineffective. We only have a short shelf life; we should strive to make every moment count for Him.

     Have you ever thought of yourself as a light in a dark world? If you were an outsider, having an opportunity to watch yourself and your life from afar, what would you see? Do you believe you would stand out from the crowd, exhibiting Christ-like behaviors? Take some time today to reevaluate your behaviors and how you portray yourself to those around you. Ask God to reveal any changes that need to be made in your character so that you will shine more brightly for Him.

Have a great day!

    

Humbleness

Philippians 2:1-4

      Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

     Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

     Paul is laying the cards on the table, in this portion of scripture. The first few questions are Paul’s way of emphasizing the fact that, as Christians, we receive so much from the Lord. He gives us encouragement, comfort and fellowship which should lead us to extend sympathy, love, and caring to others, even if we don’t always agree with the other person. If they are a child of God, then it’s our responsibility and obligation to love them, just as Christ loves us. He sees all of our flaws and imperfections, and yet, still loves and accepts us.

     In order to attain unity in any organization; whether it’s a church, business or household, humbleness must be present in all participants. One dose of selfishness or self-centeredness will throw off the whole equation, with unity being thrown out the window. Humbleness is not a sign of weakness or self-denial, but rather, a desire to put other’s needs ahead of our own. In other words, we are not to think too highly of ourselves, expecting special treatment or accolades because of who we are and what we’ve accomplished. In reality, God sees all of us in the same light; saved by His grace and covered by the blood of Jesus. He doesn’t see any of us as more special than the next one, but in our humanness, we act as if favoritism abounds. And many Christians are falling by the wayside and leaving the church in droves because of this mentality and the treatment they are receiving. If we are good enough for God, why can’t we be good enough for each other?

     This is one of the biggest traps from Satan, and we have fallen for it, hook, line and sinker.  We allow our education, looks and accomplishments overrule our mandate from God to be humble. Last time I checked, Jesus Christ was the Son of God and had every right to exalt himself and demand preferential treatment, but yet He humbled himself, became a lowly man and washed the feet of those who eventually betrayed him.  ­­­What could we possibly do or accomplish to warrant being greater than the Son of God? You and I both know that the answer to that question is, “Nothing.” So we must move forward with seeking forgiveness for our self-indulgent attitude and allow humbleness to dictate our every move. Jesus Christ is our ultimate example, not the person leading a ministry on TV, or the author writing the next, great, self-help book. We need to allow Christ and His Word to set the standard in our life.

     Have you ever thought what true humbleness means? Do you know anyone in your life that you consider to be a humble person? What attributes do you admire in that person? How do you treat others, especially those you don’t necessarily see eye to eye with? Spend the remainder of today being consciously aware of your treatment toward every person you come in contact with. Attempt to treat each one with love, caring and joy, regarding them, “as better than yourself.”

Have a great day!

Privileges!

Philippians 1:28-30

     Don’t be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this fight together.

     Often times, we are not faced with a real, live enemy breathing in our face, looking to do battle with us, but as Christians, we are always faced with an unseen but very real enemy named Satan. He does not want us to be successful as Christians and he definitely doesn’t want us to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, so he will use any means possible to deter us and knock us off course. We have to decide, during those moments, if we’re going to let it keep us off course, or if we’re going to get back up and fight.

    Paul is attempting to relay the message that not only can we survive attacks from the enemy, but we can thrive within the midst of the attacks. If we will simply trust in God, rather than our own abilities, He will save us and destroy our enemies. We have that privilege, but often times, we fail to utilize it. It’s like having a washing machine, but never using it. The privilege of using the washing machine is available, but instead we choose to take the clothes to the Laundromat. How much simpler our life would be if we would just stay home and use the washing machine? It is the same with trusting God. Life would be so much simpler if we would just access the privilege of trusting Him.

     It is a fight, though, and there will be times of exhaustion, discouragement, and suffering. But if we will realize that we aren’t in this fight alone, we have others beside us that we can turn to and band together with, and then it makes the fight more bearable. Encourage one another, offer someone a helping hand, pray for each other and thereby, lighten the load. We need to quit becoming an island unto ourselves and join together to move forward in victory. Let me repeat Paul’s words above, “We are in this fight together.”

     Do you feel like you have been battling all alone? Do you hide your problems and emotions so no one will know what’s going on in your life? Reach out to someone today, not for what they can do for you, but for what you can do for them. Give someone a call that you know is going through a really tough time. Encourage them, pray for them, and physically do something for them, if possible. Watch how the situation in your own life will take a drastic turn for the better when you reach out and fight for someone else.

Have a great day!

Are you ready to die?

2 Corinthians 1:20-24

     For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires. Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.

     Paul was torn between two desires. He wanted to live and fulfill God’s purpose in his life, but he also wanted to die and go on to be with the Lord. He had such an intimate, closeness with the Lord that he wanted to be with him for eternity, but he also knew that God had placed him on the earth to spread the Gospel of Christ and touch many lost souls. So, as a man on a mission, he set aside his earthly trials and trudged forward to fulfill all that he was called to be, living in this world but with eternity on his mind.

     As Christians, we should also be torn between two desires. Deeply longing to be with Christ in eternity, but also driven to touch and transform every lost soul that’s placed in our path while we walk this earth. Even if we don’t completely understand what our ultimate plan and purpose is; we can still share God’s love and salvation each and every day, if we will just be obedient and bold.

     Most of us really don’t ever want to die. Have you ever thought about that? We have become comfortable here on earth, trying to create our own little heaven right here. We have our friends, family and possessions, and even though we have to suffer through some trials, stresses, inconveniences and sickness, we would rather stay here then to go on to our eternal reward. We don’t comprehend that as Christians, dying is more beneficial than living, which means that we’ve placed more emphasis on ourselves and our own little world than we have on our God-given purpose and plan. In reality, if we’re not ready to die, then we’re not really ready to live. I want you to understand what I’m trying to say. If we’re not ready to give up our desires and die to ourselves in order to serve Christ, then we will never truly understand what it means to live. It’s only when we take our focus off of ourselves and place it on others that we will ever understand what the true meaning of life is.

     When was the last time that you thought about eternity and where you will spend it? Do you live your life with heaven as your ultimate goal? Do you see your life on earth as fulfilling a mission? Today, ask God to reveal what His mission and plan is for your life.  Take active steps to listen for His answer. It may come through a still, small voice or through a series of events that may seem like a coincidence. Attempt to be acutely aware of His communication and presence with you.

Have a great day!

    

Divine discomfort!

Philippians 1:12-14

     And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and have become more bold in telling others about Christ.

 

     Paul was in prison for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and yet, he saw a positive side to his situation. He took a tough, negative situation in his life and used it as a launching pad to further the spread of the Gospel. Even the palace guards knew and understood the reason for Paul’s arrest and imprisonment because Paul had told them so. He didn’t allow uncertain circumstances to hold him back from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone he came in contact with, even if it was prison guards or Roman soldiers. He believed everyone should be afforded the right to receive salvation, even at the expense of his own comfort and safety.

     Paul, the eternal optimist, saw the good in every situation and believed that God really did work all things together for good. He understood that life wasn’t all about him and his comfort, but instead it was about spreading the news of Jesus Christ and salvation to a lost and dying world. He trusted that wherever he landed was obviously ordained by God and part of a bigger mission.

     We often find ourselves in negative, tough situations, and our reactions are usually quite opposite from Paul’s. We immediately think about our own comforts and desires and react accordingly. A simple flat tire can cause a major meltdown and upheaval due to our comfort level and time schedule being disrupted. We would rather gripe and complain about our own discomforts instead of believing that God ordained our steps and placed us in the path of someone who needed to know about Jesus Christ and His salvation. When was the last time we shared the gospel with a tow truck driver, or an emergency room nurse, or the person behind us in the long, grocery store check-out line. Our uncomfortable situations situate us in places where we have an opportunity to make a huge difference. And instead of seeing that wealth of opportunity, we see a self-centered, inward view of negativity and discomfort. Often times, our uncomfortable situations is God’s way of accomplishing his intended purpose and if we will learn to submit to His ways and attempt to see things from His perspective, we will accomplish so much more for the Kingdom of God.

     When was the last time you thanked God for a negative situation in your life? Think back on one of those situations. Can you now see a positive thing that resulted from what you thought was once a hopeless case? Thank God for hindsight!

     Be aware today of every step you take and every place you’re situated. Look at those that are situated around you and realize that your steps are ordained by God. Strike up a conversation with that person next to you in line. You don’t have to preach, just share some joy and love with them. Watch where God will take it, I think you’ll be amazed. (I’d love to hear some feedback from those that follow this advice today.)

Have a great day!

Are you producing fruit?

Philippians 1:8-11

     God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

     Paul had such a deep, loving and compassionate relationship with the Philippian church and because of that relationship, he longed for them to continue to grow and mature in their relationship with Jesus Christ. He understood that if they weren’t growing in their walk with the Lord, then they were dying, spiritually speaking. Modeling and emulating Jesus Christ was his number one priority, while teaching that salvation should produce some specific, Godly character traits and values.

     Living in this fallen world, often times, we are heavily influenced by its morals, values and priorities. If we are not grounded and immersed in the Word of God and its teachings, we can be led astray by our own selfish, human desires and longings. And when led by those selfish desires, we fall short of God’s standard in our lives when it comes to modeling the fruit of his Spirit.

     What are the fruits of the Spirit? Let’s look at Galatians 5:22-23:

     But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

     It is only when we are led by the Spirit of God that we are able to produce His fruit. If we are led by our sinful, selfish nature, then we are in direct opposition to the Spirit of God and our actions will show it. We can’t have one without the other. If you want to produce His fruit then you must be led by the Holy Spirit, which means that you must commune with Him each and every day.

     Have you ever witnessed a child imitating their father or mother in exact likeness and actions? Why do you think they are able to accomplish that? It is because that child has spent untold number of hours in relationship with their parent. They have watched every move they’ve made and listened to every word they’ve spoke and because of that they are able to imitate their exact movements and actions.

     It is the same concept when it comes to imitating the Holy Spirit. We are to watch his every move and listen to his every word, and then and only then are we able to produce the fruit that Paul is talking about.

     What kind of fruit are you producing? When you look at the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, can you say that you have modeled any of them this week? When was the last time that you spent any significant time in prayer with the Holy Spirit? If this is a new concept for you, take some time today thinking about and trying to understand the fact that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (or Godhead), given to you to assist you in your walk with the Lord. As a Christian, He lives inside of you and attempts to commune with you on a continual basis. Give Him some needed attention and interaction today and listen quietly for His response. Also, pick one fruit of the Spirit and ask the Lord to help you to be able to model that fruit in some way this week.

Have a great day!