Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline (cont)

So far we have discovered two major principles regarding our relationship with Christ -

I. It is a New Life - The Life of Christ BY Us - That's a Life of Power - Chapter 1
II. It is a New Mind - The Mind of Christ IN Us - That's a Life of Peace - Chapter 2

Now we shall discover in chapter 3 the third major principle of Christian living:

III. It is a New Goal - The Goal of Christ FOR Us - That's a Life of Purpose - Chapter 3

In the 50s there was a song that asked, "What am I living for, if not for you?" That is precisely the point for the believer. We are not merely following some code of ethics of standard of living - we are expressions of the very life of God in Christ. No other "faith" in the world offers the reality of the presence of God in you expressing Himself through you and continually conforming you to Himself.

In this chapter we shall consider six major points:

A. A Reason to Rejoice 3:1-3
B. A Rebel to Renounce 3:4-8
C. A Righteousness to Reveal 3:9
D. A Resurrection to Reckon 3:10-14
E. A Revelation to Receive 3:15-19
F. A Return to Remember 3:20-21

A. A Reason To Rejoice 3:1-3

1. It is Safe to Rejoice 3:1-2

3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

What is Paul saying here about his writing being "safe" for the Philippians? It will safeguard them from the "dogs, evil workers, and concision." Let me explain. I have never felt it necessary to spend time studying error, but I have spent my Christian life studying truth. Truth always exposes error and it is not the knowledge of error that sets one free, it is truth that does it. Truth is the safeguard. It is the filter through which everything I hear, see, and read is filtered. My heart's desire is to be so filled with truth that the moment I hear error I detect it and recognize it as error. That is what Paul is saying. We must BEWARE, as he says twice here, but we must rejoice because we are safeguarded by truth.

2. It is Satifying to Rejoice 3:3

3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

It is all about the heart! This amazing life and mind and goal is all about the heart being open, receptive, and responsive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I don't have to memorize some little "How to" method or material, nor do you. All we do is read God's love letter and the Holy Spirit sticks it to our spirit because we desire it as our milk and meat. We read and re-read until it begins to ooze out of us because we are so full of it. THAT is why rejoicing is so satisfying - The written Word speaks of the Living Word as the love letter from one's love speaks of that love to the one loved. It is read over and over until one KNOWS it, and finds it SO satisfying.

Dear friend, we have such reason to rejoice, but there is one thing that will stop the flow of rejoicing - SIN - which must be confessed and forsaken, for he who "covers his/her sins shall not prosper (grow in grace, spiritual maturity, etc), but whoso forsakes it shall find mercy."

BLESSINGS!