Our Citizenship Is in Heaven

Reading:  Philippians 3:17-21
    
    Having described his burning passion to know Christ, Paul urges the Philippians to “join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us”(Phil 3:17).  Our role models matter because (at best) we end up duplicating their actions and attitudes.  Yet some people are unworthy to be our examples:  “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things”(Phil 3:18-19).  These are sharp words because they imply that professed Christians can live as enemies of Jesus when they are self-serving and worldly.  This also means that choosing our companions involves observing their lives and not merely asking whether they believe in Jesus.

    Christians have a different loyalty.  “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself”(Phil 3:20-21).  Citizenship implies allegiance and identity.  We do not belong to the earth, therefore we do not set our minds on earthly things (Phil 3:19).  We look above to the place where God lives and from which our Lord will return, changing our bodies to be like his.  Like immigrants and strangers, we live among the people here but do not feel at home because we are from somewhere else.  We also do not place our hope in worldly power, wealth, or methods because we await a heavenly savior.

    A heavenly citizenship requires us to remain aware of the impact worldly culture and thinking is having on us.  Worldly things—sports, politics, science, and entertainment—are not as important as the return of Jesus and the transformation we will experience when he comes back.  Paul has shown the passion that motivates Jesus’ disciples (Phil 3:7-15) and it contrasts sharply with worldly thinking and priorities.  We think and act and love differently because we are not from here.

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One Thing to Think About: Am I comfortable among people of the world?

One Thing to Pray For:  My savior to return
 

That I May Know Him

Reading:  Philippians 3:7-16
    
    Paul’s words crackle with intensity as he describes the remarkable transformation he has experienced.  After spending his formative years building his resume, everything changes.  “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”(Phil 3:7-8).  Paul discovers something so much better than glorifying himself and has devoted his whole life to pursuing it.  He has “suffered the loss of all things”—his friendships, his comforts, his good name, his money, his health, his bright future in Judaism—yet he decides that this is all “rubbish” or “dung.”  Paul has done the math:  knowing Jesus is worth more than temporary personal greatness.

    So now Paul’s burning desire is “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead”(Phil 3:10-11).  Knowing him means my righteousness is not based on my goodness, but his grace (Phil 3:9).  Knowing him means suffering like him (perhaps even dying like him) so that I can be raised like him (Phil 3:10).  Paul will sacrifice anything and submit to anything if it means he will be raised with Jesus.  Now he goes forward:  “But one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”(Phil 3:13-14).  This pursuit has taken over his life; it is now the “one thing” he does.  Knowing Jesus motivates him each day and will not end until he rests with Jesus in eternity.

    Paul’s passion burns through the page.  Jesus has captured his heart and rearranged his life.  Now Paul preaches and lives and works and writes as he does because he wants to know Jesus.  Our story may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, but the basic contours are the same:  we abandon our attempts to save ourselves and run hard after our Savior. 

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One Thing to Think About: Is knowing Jesus my burning desire?

One Thing to Pray For:  Courage to surrender everything to seek after Jesus
 

Confidence in the Flesh

Reading:  Philippians 3:1-6
    
     Paul has a warning about a group that promotes a dangerous mentality:  “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.  For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”(Phil 3:2-3).  He is probably referring to Judaizing teachers who emphasize the need for circumcision for salvation (“mutilate the flesh”).  Disciples of Jesus are different; we are the circumcision because we put no confidence in the flesh.  We do not rest on our accomplishments, good works, or lineage.  Our confidence is not in ourselves.

    Yet this is the mentality that Judaizing teachers spread and Paul is well-acquainted with it because of his past.  “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless”(Phil 3:4-6).  It reads like a resume.  These are Paul’s well-rehearsed credentials and reason for boasting.  He is properly circumcised, a native Israelite, a Pharisee by training and temperament, zealous to a fault, and with no accusations of lawbreaking.  There is a lot to be confident about here.  Yet “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”(Phil 3:7).  Jesus changed everything.  When we follow Jesus, we “glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”(Phil 3:3).

    We all have unique talents and attributes.  Some of us have impressive bloodlines.  Some have a long history of righteous living.  Our world encourages us to build this type of moral resume, justifying to others why we are worthy to be praised or heard.  Yet when we come to Jesus, it is no longer about us.  All our accomplishments go in the garbage (they are “rubbish,” Phil 3:8).  Even in my best moments, I cannot save myself or atone for my own sins.  My confidence now is in what Jesus has done for me.  

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One Thing to Think About: How am I tempted to have confidence in myself?

One Thing to Pray For:  Awareness of my tendency to trust myself rather than Jesus
 

Honor Such Men

Reading:  Philippians 2:19-30
    
    This section centers around two of Paul’s co-workers whom the Philippians know well.  First is Timothy, who is not accompanying the letter:  “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.  For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.  For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ”(Phil 2:19-21).  This is high praise.  Paul sees a unique gift in Timothy:  he is “genuinely concerned for your welfare” as he does his preaching work.  Preaching is not a job for him, nor is it about giving others a piece of his mind.  Timothy sees it as an opportunity to serve and bless.  The Philippians also know this (“but you know Timothy’s proven worth,” Phil 2:22) and so Paul hopes not only to send Timothy to them soon, but also to join him there once released from prison (Phil 2:23-24).

    The Philippian church sent Epaphroditus to Paul with their gift to him (Phil 4:18) and now Paul is sending him back, presumably with this letter.  “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill”(Phil 2:25-26).  In the course of his mission, Epaphroditus has become seriously sick and nearly died.  Paul connects his sickness with his service:  “he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me”(Phil 2:30).  Somehow this sickness (or his inability to recover) has been worsened by his efforts to deliver the gift and help Paul.

    Having discussed these two noble men, Paul gives an instruction to the church:  “honor such men”(Phil 2:29).  Christians honor men who are examples of genuine faith, humble though they may be.  We often fail to recognize admirable traits in people we know well.  Paul speaks of these men in glowing terms, highlighting Christian virtues and real-life sacrifices.  They do not require ceremonies or recognition, yet Christian examples deserve honor.  Will we honor them?

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One Thing to Think About: Who do I know who is living a life for Jesus worthy of honor?

One Thing to Pray For:  Appreciation for the positive spiritual influences around me
 

Work Out Your Salvation

Reading:  Philippians 2:12-18
    
    Though Paul hopes to be released from his imprisonment, he wants the Philippians to continue to do what is right whether he comes to them or not.  “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”(Phil 2:12-13).  “Work out your own salvation” does not mean that salvation is a difficult math problem we must puzzle over.  Paul urges the Philippians to do the work that stems from the new relationship they enjoy with God.  In context, this includes standing firm, striving for the faith, refusing to be cowed by persecution, and humbling themselves like Jesus (Phil 1:27, 28, 2:5-11).  As we do this work, we are assured that “it is God who works in you,” supplying both the knowledge and power to continue to obey him.  When we have done what he asks, we still cannot glory in ourselves because he is ultimately responsible.

    There is more practical work here too:  “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”(Phil 2:14-15).   Part of working out our salvation is eliminating our habits of complaint and argument.  We will always encounter unpleasant situations; mature believers do not bemoan every inconvenience.  We will always disagree on some level with those around us; mature believers do not constantly dispute.  These differences make us shine like lights in a dark world full of bitter, divisive, malcontents.  Christians have their eyes on different goals than whether we are always happy or always proven right.

    Salvation is not an end, but the beginning of a life of service.  As we obey “with fear and trembling” because of the awesome responsibility we have and the unique closeness of God to us, we give him glory for his work in us.  We approach the tasks of the believer with passion and vigor, eager to represent him in a dark world.

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One Thing to Think About: How will I work because of my salvation today?

One Thing to Pray For:  The appropriate mixture of gratitude and fear