Philippians
3:4b-14 – God’s people strive to be
examples worthy of Christ. Confidence in the flesh cannot stand. Forgetting the
past, Paul presses on toward the goal of Christ and lives as an example for
others. Paul defends himself as a Christian of the first order through the
mercies of God. Yet, he does not think he has it “made,” but keeps striving for
complete devotion to Christ by becoming one in the sufferings, death, and
resurrection of Christ. Because he imitates Christ, he is able to ask his
people to imitate him in both faith and life.
Though we are in the world, we belong to the kingdom
of heaven. When Christ returns, He will transform our earthly bodies to
spiritual bodies.
Paul uses this phrase “I press on” twice in this passage. It must have been important to
him in getting across his plan. He is not idly waiting for perfection to come
to him. He is not neutral. He is urgent, pursuing, and energetic in getting to
his goal. To become like Christ is a process over a lifetime — ever striving to
be like Christ in every area of life. At the same time, Paul would say that God
was in him pressing on, working in him. A Christian dare not be content with
his life. He is ever seeking to improve it.
In the readings for this coming week the theme of a
vineyard are apparent. The wild fruit are those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” and serve as an example of the right
kind of fruit Christians produce.
In light of this text, we may reflect on what we value
most as individuals and as church communities. Perhaps we tend to value certain
inherited qualities or achievements as “gains” that give us value before
God. Take time examining your life and your
faith, so that you may count such gains as loss and deepen your reliance upon
Jesus Christ.
Visit, O
Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep all harm and danger from
them. Grant that we may dwell together in peace under the protection of Your
holy angels, sharing eternally in Your blessing; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]
[1]
Collect foro home and family, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
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