Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 141 Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 What things were gained to me, these I counted as a loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. What do you boast about? Many people boast about their achievements, children, spouse, grandchildren, any number of things often to the dismay of the person to whom they boast. The first telling is fine, but when a person constantly boasts about what they do and have it becomes nauseating. Paul boasted, not in what he did, but what God did in him. He told the Philippians that everything he achieved he counted as loss for the cross of Christ. He told them to have the same mind as he, to walk as he walked so that the world would see Jesus in them. Paul told them what those who followed the world were: enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end was destruction, whose god was their belly, and whose glory was their shame. Instead, they were to follow the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. For their citizenship was in heaven, not on the earth. They looked forward to the transformation of their earthly bodies to a glorious body in Christ Jesus, in whom He subdues everything to Himself. Christians often fall into the same trap of the world, boasting about their achievements in the body of Christ, not for the glory of God, but to make themselves out to be someone they’re not in the body. Everything you do should be for God’s glory, not your own. Paul told the people to be imitators of him who did everything for God’s glory. You should do the same. Everything you do, no matter what you do, should be for God to bring glory to Him and what He does in you for His kingdom. You are to rejoice as Paul rejoiced. Not in what you accomplished or in who you are. Your earthly lineage doesn’t matter. When you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you gained a new lineage, a new family, the body of Christ. Your hope changed from what you achieved for yourself, to what you achieve for Christ. Rejoice because Jesus works in you to accomplish His will in your life. Let’s pray: Father, let me boast in what You do in me, not to give myself credit but to point to You in everything I do. Let me imitate You in everything I do and rejoice in what You accomplish through me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 4 December 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.