Philippians 3:10-21
In Paul’s letter to the church of
Philippi, he gives and them, and us, much advice about what we need to do
before we get to heaven and be with Jesus. First, we have to admit our journey
is continuing and not over, yet.
Not that I have already obtained
this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ
Jesus has made me his own.
Philippians 3:12 ESV
Some Christians believe that once
we accept Jesus as our savior, we are done. However, we need to remember that
accepting Jesus is just the beginning of our Christian walk. We must repent of
our sins and bear our cross daily.
If we start to think that we are
more righteous than others, we judge. Accepting Jesus as our savior does not
make us more righteous. In fact, the
church is a place where we come together to encourage each other. It does not
help to pick apart one another from their mistakes. Jesus has told us not to
judge others because He has the job to judge. In Matthew, Jesus tells us this.
For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured
to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not
notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother,
‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:2-5 ESV
Second, we must discipline
ourselves to be better Christians.
Philippians 3 does not give precise instructions about what we are to
do, but it does give some clues about what not to do.
Their end is destruction, their
god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly
things.
Philippians 3:19 ESV
Paul did not tell us to stop
eating but alerts us to the problem of self-centeredness. These people whose stomachs are their gods have
little concern or love for others. They only want their own glory. Earthly
things are those things that do not focus on heaven.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 3:20 ESV
Heaven is where God is reigning.
If God is not in you, you are in hell. It depends on who is in you and not
where you are. Wherever you go, you can be in heaven because God is with you. When
God is in us, it is easier to live a God centered life which focuses on
pleasing God and putting God first before my own desire and myself.
In conclusion, we need to be
patient and be practical while we wait. Let us make efforts to discipline
ourselves to please Jesus, so we will be even more ready to meet him when we do.
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