Day 186 "Victory is Found in Christ, Not In Ourselves" (Philippians: Chapter Three)

Running the race of life can be a daunting and challenging task, especially when we attach our identity and self-esteem to our successes. But the Christian runs a different race. The victory in life has already been won and procured by Christ.

It is now up to the believer to run the race in life that Christ has run for them. As we shall see in Philippians chapter three, Paul claims that it is Christ and Christ alone who is his source of strength and provides his sense of well-being. The only thing that matters to Paul is knowing Christ.

Chapter Three:

:1 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the

same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you."

:3 "we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no

no confidence in the flesh-"

There is a tendency with rejoicing that helps one to focus on the solutions and

provisions for one's well being as opposed to focusing on the problems. Lord, knows, there are enough problems to go around to keep our minds preoccu-

pied with the negatives, preventing us from breaking through to the positives

and victory. Paul, reemphasizes that Jesus is our victory and our positive! As believers, focus on him and rejoice. Through Christ, each of us, as believers, are victorious, not because of what we have done but because of what Jesus has done for us.

:7-8 "But whatever was to my profit I know consider loss for the sake of Christ. What

is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. "

:8-9 "I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

Clearly, Paul is making a distinction between our righteousness by trying to follow the law or our righteousness which is attained by faith through Christ. Paul, himself, has first hand knowledge and knows what it is like to pursue righteousness through legalistic practices. He admits to being a card-carrying

zealot. But after encountering Christ for himself, he now sees that his previous

efforts were foolishness and rubbish. The only thing that matters, now, to Paul is his relationship with Christ.

:10-11 "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the the resurrection from the dead."

Being set free from our sins should have a major affect upon our lives- to live the rest of our lives honoring and following the one who set us free.

:12 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

:13-14 "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is

ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me

heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The kingdom of God is ahead of us. We live almost all of our lives in the physical realm of what we can see and touch. It is, for the most part, our understanding of reality. We grow up, get educated, find a job, get married, establish a home, have kids, live life, raise and prepare our kids for their cycle in life, plan and prepare for retirement, enjoy the freedom of retirement, and then leave the world behind for the next generation. But Paul awakens us to

see our lives and reality in a new light-a spiritual one. With a view into the spiritual realm which is eternal, and our place within it as God's children

through Christ, Paul exhorts us to seek after that which is really important in

life and is life's true reality.

:15 "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things."

It is easy to get lost and caught up in the day to day living. But as we continue our walk with God through Christ, our understanding deepens and our focus broadens. In the essence of love, we discover that life is much more than seeking and meeting our own needs. In love, a more mature attitude overtakes us to become not only aware of ourselves being God's depository of his love, but also his dispensers.

:18-19 "many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their

god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on

earthly things."

The antithesis to love is self-centeredness and selfishness. Whereas love looks out for and is sensitive to the needs of others, selfishness seeks to serve self and acquire benefits for oneself at the expense of others. In the end, their own

greed with be the basis for their own destruction.

When victory over sin and reconciliation of our relationship with God has been achieved, there is no other response for the believer than to give credit to where credit is due. All honor and glory goes to Christ, and Christ alone.

*************************************************************************

Hillsong United sings "Cornerstone." It's a very good song to meditate on the merits of Christ and what he had done for us. May you be blessed listening to it.

In his love, see you tomorrow....

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)

Here is another song that may bless you. The group Leeland sings "Wellspring."