So last night was Large Group, and we've been going through the book of Philippians this whole semester. Last night's talk was on the second half of chapter 3, and there was some really cool things to think about from it:
"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. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, 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. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!"
We spent some time talking about what the "this" and "that" are which are mentioned in the first paragraph, seeing how Paul was called by Christ and for what purpose.
The first really interesting point I heard was from the second paragraph, the idea that Christians should "take such a view of things." Well, what things? The answer of course is the attitude of "foregetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...[to] press on toward the goal" then later he says, "Join with others in following my example" and also, "Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ."
The speaker talked about how as Christians we aren't really being Christ-like unless we have a like mindset of forgetting the earthly things and press on to fulfill what it is Christ has called us to. When looking in Acts as to what Christ called Paul to it was to preach to the Gentiles, understand Christ, and partake in His suffering. So the first question I've been thinking a lot about is, "For what has Christ called me?"
In general I think its safe to say Christ calls all of us to partake in the coming of His Kingdom by being witnesses to His glory in the sacrifice of our lives to His will and the proclamation of His good news. But personally, how has Christ called me to fulfill that?
Also talking about the enemies of Christ, the speaker made an interesting point that Paul starts that section by saying, "Join...my example." So he isn't necessarily talking about the act of becoming a Christian to not be an enemy, but rather the example of living forward for God's kingdom even in the face of everything we find repelling. The speaker very explicitly said that those who are then enemy of Christ are those who believe that they already know all they need to about Christ and therefore deny His call on their lives to be His witnesses and take risks in His Name and in His time. That was really challenging to think about; the idea that if you are not living in such a way as to dive deeper with Christ and believe larger in Christ and tell truer who Christ is then we are acting as enemies of Christ (since we are, after all, His ambassadors).
Lastly this passage talks about citizenry. The question asked and that has been running through my head ever since is, "How does it affect your life to be a citizen of heaven?" I honestly believe this will transform the way I live as I seek a deep and life long truth in the answer to this question.
So how about you?
For what has Christ called you?
And how does it affect your life to be a citizen of heaven?
Grace and peace.
