Category: Spiritual

Philippians 3:20-21

We all know the story of man disobeying God in the Garden of Eden, which resulted in his fall from fellowship with God (Genesis 2-3). How unfortunate this is! Man was no longer innocent but was a wretched, sinful creature, who was separated from God. So, here in verses 17-19 Paul encouraged the Philippian church to be followers of his life and other believers who fashioned their lives after godliness. He also wept sadly as he warned the church that he had told them previously that there are many who reject and oppose Christ’s way of salvation. Now this was not the only reason for the apostle’s sadness. He is weeping because their end is doom and eternal.

Paul continued, “But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v.20); “who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious, resurrected body” (v.21). 

Believers live in the world but are not of the world. So, they eagerly wait for the coming of Jesus, through Whom they are called to fulfill God’s purpose to glorify Him. Paul told the Philippians that through Christ’s power their present mortal bodies will be completely changed physically and spiritually, reflecting the glorified, immortal body like Christ after His resurrection. While we wait for Christ to return, we have time to prepare for the eternal glory we will share with Him forever.  

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Philippians 3:17-21 Amplified Bible

Like everyone else believers live in this world and are subject to the governing authorities of the land, but this world is not their home. Therefore, their life-living should reflect who they are in Christ. Addressing his brothers and sisters of the Philippian church, Paul urged them to be fellow-imitators of his example and observe those believers whose life-living was according to the model they gave them (v.17). 

Paul continued, “For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation]” (v.18), “whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things” (v.19). Paul warned the church that there are many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. This is not the first time he warned them of those who reject and oppose Jesus’ way of salvation; however, this time he is in tears. They have their minds set on the fleshly desires and things of this world, rejecting and opposing the work Christ did on the cross. Paul’s tears are because their fate is eternal damnation.  ^“But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v.20);  “who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious, resurrected body” (v.21).

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Philippians 4:7 GNT

Most people long for peace in their everyday lives. Many believe that peace can be achieved through man’s reasoning power of negotiations; they don’t trust one another and often break their word. However, because God gives peace, believers can trust He will do as He promised. The reality is unless we allow God to change our moral and spiritual conditions, we will not know peace. Recall that we live in a fallen world, spiritually separated from God because our first parents disobeyed Him in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, we must accept Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross to reconcile us to Christ. “And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7 GNT).

 Being in union with Jesus, believers have peace that gives them protection those outside of Christ do not have. Even in the midst of all the confusion in this world, the beauty of the spiritual benefit of peace is trusting God to keep our hearts and minds. ^“… but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6b).   

Many song writers wrote hymns of hope. Thomas Dorsey, Father of Gospel Music, penned There’ll Be Peace in the Valley for Me. The chorus says: “There’ll be peace in the valley for me some day, There’ll be peace in the valley for me. I pray no more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be, There’ll be peace in the valley for me.” The words express what believers look forward to in both the afterlife and rest for the soul from the toils of this old world. 

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

1 John 3:1-3 NKJV

Just a week ago, many around the world celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, Who fulfilled the universal need  for man’s salvation. Because of man’s disobedience, sin entered the world, leading to man’s fall from God that resulted in man’s need to be redeemed and reconciled to God. Therefore, belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus is essential for believers. He sacrificed His life to redeem mankind from sin, and His victorious resurrection from the grave gave us hope and eternal life. Apostle John said, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! And we are. Therefore, the world does not know us because it did not know Him” (v.1). 

In our selfishness we wrongly tend to love only those who love us, yet God manifested His love for us while we were still His enemies. So much so that believers are set apart from the world that does not know Him and privileged to be called children of God. In verse 2 John said that even though we are children of God, it is not yet made known what we will be. However, we do know that when God comes, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is in all His glory. “And everyone who has this hope confidently placed in Him purifies himself just as He is undefiled” (v.3).

Lift your voice and give God glory!

Luke 23:34-38 MEV

When Jesus left His home in glory, He came to fulfill the will of His Father. His mission was to restore disobedient, sinner man’s relationship with God by providing us eternal life. So, He came and lived a righteous life before humans in this evil world. Now as He is hanging on the old rugged cross dying for the sins of the world, He made seven statements. The first of them is “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (v.34a). What a powerful example to us –  Jesus did not manifest anger for those who treated Him wrongly!

As the Roman soldiers divided His clothes by casting lots, (v.34b) fulfilling prophecy, “The people stood by watching. But the rulers with them scoffed, saying, “He saved others. Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God” (v.35). “And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him sour wine” (v.36), saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself” (v.37). “An inscription was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (v.38).

Despite His pain, He Who was sinless showed the world the necessity of humanity’s forgiveness of one another. He showed that forgiveness is for our relief, giving us the benefit of a healthier relationship with our neighbor and God. He knew that they who mocked and crucified Him were ignorant of what they had done. He made an intercessory prayer on their behalf. They didn’t understand “He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God,” and His love for sinners, nor His ultimate display of mercy and willingness to die for our sins.

Today, lift your voice and give God glory for His Son’s obedience!