Philippians 4 (this is Paul talking) Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, they ate headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the lord jesus christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Therefore, my dear brother and sisters stay true to the lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work. Paul challenged the Philippians to pursue christlikeness by following Pauls own pattern or example. This did not mean, of course that they should copy everything he did; he had just stated that he was not perfect but as he focused his life on being like christ, so should they. The Gospels may not yet have been in circulation, so paul could not tell them to read the bible to see what christ was like.therefore, he urge them to imitate him. That Paul could tell people to follow his.example is a testimony to his character. Can you do the same? What kind of follower would a new Christian become If he or she imitated you? Paul criticized not only the Judaizers but also self-indulgent Christians, people who claimed to be Christians but didnt live up to Christs model of servanthood and self-sacrifice.Such people satify their own desires before even thinking about the needs of others.Freedom in christ does not mean freedom to be selfish. It mean taking.every opportunity to serve and to become the best person you can be. Paul gets tough with people who live to appease their appetite, who believe so strongly in their greatness that they become slaves to pride. What horrible people these must be so concerned with earthly trivia that during worship their minds wander; so consumef with work that worship is inconvenient; so busy planning the next party that there is no time for prayer. Paul says they are headed for destruction because all they can think about is thid life here on earth. But then we must ask ourselves: is too much of our time spent on efforts that will not endure in eternity, seeking earthly pleasure, or satisfy our physical desires? We must set our minds on knowing Christ, not on the pursuits of this world. How do we stay true to the lord? This refers to what paul has just taught. The way to stay true is to keep our eyes on christ, remember that this world is not our home, and focus on the fact that christ will bring everything under his control staying true means steadfastly resisting the nrgative influences of temptation, false teaching, or persecution. It requires perserverance when we are challenged or opposed. Dont lose heart or give up.God promises to give us strength of character. With the holy spirits help and with the help of fellow believers, you can stay true to the Lord Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:29:29 +0000
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