August 3-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:1, Further, my brothers and sisters, 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.
Observe what it is saying.
Previously in this letter, Paul said that “whatever happens,” conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news of Jesus. No matter the temptation or the testing, make sure you don’t waver in your faith. Paul used the “whatever happens” again to emphasize, regardless of circumstances, we have reason to rejoice in Jesus. There’s something spiritually powerful about our relationship with Jesus which rises far above the good, bad, and ugly of this world. Joy isn’t determined by what’s going on around us but who is within us. Such a gift comes when we put our trust and confidence in the One who has ultimate sovereignty. Paul wrote this message to safeguard and protect our treasured faith. He wanted to ensure that we don’t go out of bounds. There will always be forces from within and without that are at work to diminish and destroy our faith. Such enemies often try to add to or subtract from the true gospel message. They complicate it or dumb it down. They explain it away or create another way that is not the gospel way. Just as it was in Paul’s day, we must be careful so that the corruption of faith that is happening all around us does not happen within us.
Relate it to your life.
Whatever happens, I will stand with Jesus and rejoice in Him.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, make Your presence so powerful within me that joy permeates my life in all circumstances. Amen.
August 4-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:2-3, Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul didn’t have a high regard for those who were trying to compromise the gospel. There were Jewish Christians who seemed to follow Paul wherever he went to cause trouble. They would come behind him and insist that the Gentile converts had to undergo the knife of circumcision in order to be Christian. Paul called these Judaizers, the mixers of religion and gospel, dogs. Today, we think of dogs in an affectionate way because we cherish them as pets. But he was not thinking of man’s best friend. His image was of a wild pack of dogs, which roam from place to place, scavenging and ravaging everything in their sight. Paul calls these religious rule-makers evil who were not only mutilating flesh but the gospel of Jesus Christ. In contrast to those who believe true faith is marked in the flesh, those who are marked in the heart represent the true circumcision. They are those who worship by the Spirit of God not by rigid laws, customs, and rituals. Paul could slam the law people because he had been one of them. The issue strikes at the heart of where you put your confidence for your salvation. Is it in you and what you have done or is it in Jesus and what he has done on your behalf? Are you living in such a way that by word and deed you are saying to Jesus, “You are the one that really matters?”
Relate it to your life.
Rules and regulations will not save me but the free grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace, whereby, through faith I am saved. Amen.
August 5-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:4-5, though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
Observe what it is saying.
Paul said if anyone had a right to brag about gaining their salvation by their own resume, he would be at the top of the list. He gives us the details: He was circumcised on the 8th day which was in obedience to the command given in Genesis 17:12. Paul was saying is he wasn’t a Jewish convert, but a Jew from the day he was born, a pure-blooded citizen of God’s chosen people. Many of the Jews who lived in Palestine during Paul’s day were of mixed stock. They had Gentile in their blood, but not Paul. He said he was a direct descendant of Abraham of the Benjamin tribe. This was the foremost tribe in Israel’s army which produced the first king of Israel, Saul. Paul’s first name was Saul. Paul was proud to be in this tribe and said he was a real Hebrew if there ever was one. His pedigree was perfect. He lived by the customs, language, and laws of the Jewish faith. To prove it, he said he was a Pharisee. This was the ultimate in Jewish religious stature. He believed if anyone was going to heaven, he was. What is your pedigree? What is your list of accomplishments that make you worthy of heaven? Are they enough?
Relate it to your life.
How do I know if my character and works are good enough to get me to heaven?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I know there is no other way except through Your gift and sacrifice to make me worthy of eternity. Amen.
August 6-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:6-7, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Not only was Paul a Pharisee in name, but he was a zealous one. He demanded strict adherence to the law for himself and all others. There was no gray in his book. He backed his claim by persecuting the emerging church which appeared as a threat to his faith. In his understanding, he was faultless in his obedience to the law. This is Paul’s resume of righteousness in which he could place his confidence if salvation were actually based on pedigree, position, and performance. If this were the case, he’d be at the front of the line to get into heaven. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg confessed that his mortality has started dawning on him. In an interview, the interviewer said, "He has little doubt about what would await him at a Judgment Day. Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin: 'I’m telling you if there’s a God, when I get to heaven I'm not stopping to be interviewed. I’m heading straight in. I’ve earned my place in heaven. It's not even close.'" [Jeremy W. Peters, "Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A." The New York Times (4-15-14)] Paul has solid credibility to warn the Philippians that he’s already been down this path, and it’s a dead-end path. He came to a personal crisis of faith where he understood that his pedigree, position, and performance meant absolutely nothing when it comes to being right with God. In that moment of crisis, it became dark enough for him to see and say to Jesus that He’s the only One that really matters.
Relate it to your life.
Am I counting on my goodness or have I given that up and am trusting in Christ alone for my salvation?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to put my full trust and faith in You for my salvation and nothing else. Amen.
August 7-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:8-11 (NLT), Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Observe what it is saying.
Paul’s Profit and Loss Report revealed everything was in the loss column except for one thing. The Profit column showed the infinite value of knowing Jesus. Paul takes it a step further and says he has discarded everything else in his life and considers it absolute garbage. The word garbage can mean one of two things. It can mean that which is "cast to the dogs." Dogs were scavengers who lived off of garbage. The word can also mean "manure". Both words speak of that which is worthless and should be cast away. This is what Paul pictured as life outside of Jesus. His right relationship with God wasn’t based on what he had done, it was based on what Christ had done for him. Our pedigree, our position, and our performance must be taken out of the salvation equation. It’s Jesus’ work of love that counts. We must accept and believe what has been done will wipe away all our sin and guilt. Paul, so closely, desired to know Jesus that he wanted to experience his resurrection power both now and in eternity. I imagine most of us would claim the same desire. But Paul went on to say he wanted to share in Jesus’ sufferings. Paul didn’t want to miss out on anything about Jesus but deeply desired to completely know Jesus in every way. Even suffering was put in Paul’s Profit column so he could experience resurrection. In all of this, Paul was saying to Jesus, “You’re the One that really matters.”
Relate it to your life.
If I’m truly honest, can I say about Jesus, “You’re the One that really matters?”
Do something.
Lord Jesus, You are the one that really matters. Forgive me when I think or live any other way. Amen.
August 8-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:8-11, (See yesterday)
Observe what it is saying.
So, what are we counting on to save us? Can I count on the fact that I was baptized as an infant, reared in a Christian home, went to worship and Sunday School every week, went to VBS, and went to youth group every Sunday night through high school? Am I counting on I was confirmed when I was 12 and, as a youth, even went to adult Bible Study on Wednesday evenings? Am I counting on the fact that I followed the call into ministry, went to seminary, and have served as a pastor ever since? Am I counting on the fact that I’ve made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land? Even though I have done all these things for Christ, they do not save me. They do not get me any closer to heaven. They are the results of being made right by Jesus. Everything I have done falls woefully short in adding up to make me good enough. There’s only one thing I can count on. Trusting in Jesus’ gracious gift of salvation. What about you? What are you counting on: your own resume of righteousness or Jesus’ sacrificial love at the cross?
Relate it to your life.
There is no other name, except the beautiful name of Jesus, that I can know I have been redeemed.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, today, I put all my faith in Your grace alone for my redemption and eternal salvation. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:1, Further, my brothers and sisters, 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.
Observe what it is saying.
Previously in this letter, Paul said that “whatever happens,” conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news of Jesus. No matter the temptation or the testing, make sure you don’t waver in your faith. Paul used the “whatever happens” again to emphasize, regardless of circumstances, we have reason to rejoice in Jesus. There’s something spiritually powerful about our relationship with Jesus which rises far above the good, bad, and ugly of this world. Joy isn’t determined by what’s going on around us but who is within us. Such a gift comes when we put our trust and confidence in the One who has ultimate sovereignty. Paul wrote this message to safeguard and protect our treasured faith. He wanted to ensure that we don’t go out of bounds. There will always be forces from within and without that are at work to diminish and destroy our faith. Such enemies often try to add to or subtract from the true gospel message. They complicate it or dumb it down. They explain it away or create another way that is not the gospel way. Just as it was in Paul’s day, we must be careful so that the corruption of faith that is happening all around us does not happen within us.
Relate it to your life.
Whatever happens, I will stand with Jesus and rejoice in Him.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, make Your presence so powerful within me that joy permeates my life in all circumstances. Amen.
August 4-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:2-3, Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
Observe what it is saying.
Paul didn’t have a high regard for those who were trying to compromise the gospel. There were Jewish Christians who seemed to follow Paul wherever he went to cause trouble. They would come behind him and insist that the Gentile converts had to undergo the knife of circumcision in order to be Christian. Paul called these Judaizers, the mixers of religion and gospel, dogs. Today, we think of dogs in an affectionate way because we cherish them as pets. But he was not thinking of man’s best friend. His image was of a wild pack of dogs, which roam from place to place, scavenging and ravaging everything in their sight. Paul calls these religious rule-makers evil who were not only mutilating flesh but the gospel of Jesus Christ. In contrast to those who believe true faith is marked in the flesh, those who are marked in the heart represent the true circumcision. They are those who worship by the Spirit of God not by rigid laws, customs, and rituals. Paul could slam the law people because he had been one of them. The issue strikes at the heart of where you put your confidence for your salvation. Is it in you and what you have done or is it in Jesus and what he has done on your behalf? Are you living in such a way that by word and deed you are saying to Jesus, “You are the one that really matters?”
Relate it to your life.
Rules and regulations will not save me but the free grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace, whereby, through faith I am saved. Amen.
August 5-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:4-5, though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
Observe what it is saying.
Paul said if anyone had a right to brag about gaining their salvation by their own resume, he would be at the top of the list. He gives us the details: He was circumcised on the 8th day which was in obedience to the command given in Genesis 17:12. Paul was saying is he wasn’t a Jewish convert, but a Jew from the day he was born, a pure-blooded citizen of God’s chosen people. Many of the Jews who lived in Palestine during Paul’s day were of mixed stock. They had Gentile in their blood, but not Paul. He said he was a direct descendant of Abraham of the Benjamin tribe. This was the foremost tribe in Israel’s army which produced the first king of Israel, Saul. Paul’s first name was Saul. Paul was proud to be in this tribe and said he was a real Hebrew if there ever was one. His pedigree was perfect. He lived by the customs, language, and laws of the Jewish faith. To prove it, he said he was a Pharisee. This was the ultimate in Jewish religious stature. He believed if anyone was going to heaven, he was. What is your pedigree? What is your list of accomplishments that make you worthy of heaven? Are they enough?
Relate it to your life.
How do I know if my character and works are good enough to get me to heaven?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I know there is no other way except through Your gift and sacrifice to make me worthy of eternity. Amen.
August 6-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:6-7, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Observe what it is saying.
Not only was Paul a Pharisee in name, but he was a zealous one. He demanded strict adherence to the law for himself and all others. There was no gray in his book. He backed his claim by persecuting the emerging church which appeared as a threat to his faith. In his understanding, he was faultless in his obedience to the law. This is Paul’s resume of righteousness in which he could place his confidence if salvation were actually based on pedigree, position, and performance. If this were the case, he’d be at the front of the line to get into heaven. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg confessed that his mortality has started dawning on him. In an interview, the interviewer said, "He has little doubt about what would await him at a Judgment Day. Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin: 'I’m telling you if there’s a God, when I get to heaven I'm not stopping to be interviewed. I’m heading straight in. I’ve earned my place in heaven. It's not even close.'" [Jeremy W. Peters, "Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A." The New York Times (4-15-14)] Paul has solid credibility to warn the Philippians that he’s already been down this path, and it’s a dead-end path. He came to a personal crisis of faith where he understood that his pedigree, position, and performance meant absolutely nothing when it comes to being right with God. In that moment of crisis, it became dark enough for him to see and say to Jesus that He’s the only One that really matters.
Relate it to your life.
Am I counting on my goodness or have I given that up and am trusting in Christ alone for my salvation?
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to put my full trust and faith in You for my salvation and nothing else. Amen.
August 7-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:8-11 (NLT), Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Observe what it is saying.
Paul’s Profit and Loss Report revealed everything was in the loss column except for one thing. The Profit column showed the infinite value of knowing Jesus. Paul takes it a step further and says he has discarded everything else in his life and considers it absolute garbage. The word garbage can mean one of two things. It can mean that which is "cast to the dogs." Dogs were scavengers who lived off of garbage. The word can also mean "manure". Both words speak of that which is worthless and should be cast away. This is what Paul pictured as life outside of Jesus. His right relationship with God wasn’t based on what he had done, it was based on what Christ had done for him. Our pedigree, our position, and our performance must be taken out of the salvation equation. It’s Jesus’ work of love that counts. We must accept and believe what has been done will wipe away all our sin and guilt. Paul, so closely, desired to know Jesus that he wanted to experience his resurrection power both now and in eternity. I imagine most of us would claim the same desire. But Paul went on to say he wanted to share in Jesus’ sufferings. Paul didn’t want to miss out on anything about Jesus but deeply desired to completely know Jesus in every way. Even suffering was put in Paul’s Profit column so he could experience resurrection. In all of this, Paul was saying to Jesus, “You’re the One that really matters.”
Relate it to your life.
If I’m truly honest, can I say about Jesus, “You’re the One that really matters?”
Do something.
Lord Jesus, You are the one that really matters. Forgive me when I think or live any other way. Amen.
August 8-Philippians-The Journey of Joy
Write out the Scripture.
Philippians 3:8-11, (See yesterday)
Observe what it is saying.
So, what are we counting on to save us? Can I count on the fact that I was baptized as an infant, reared in a Christian home, went to worship and Sunday School every week, went to VBS, and went to youth group every Sunday night through high school? Am I counting on I was confirmed when I was 12 and, as a youth, even went to adult Bible Study on Wednesday evenings? Am I counting on the fact that I followed the call into ministry, went to seminary, and have served as a pastor ever since? Am I counting on the fact that I’ve made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land? Even though I have done all these things for Christ, they do not save me. They do not get me any closer to heaven. They are the results of being made right by Jesus. Everything I have done falls woefully short in adding up to make me good enough. There’s only one thing I can count on. Trusting in Jesus’ gracious gift of salvation. What about you? What are you counting on: your own resume of righteousness or Jesus’ sacrificial love at the cross?
Relate it to your life.
There is no other name, except the beautiful name of Jesus, that I can know I have been redeemed.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, today, I put all my faith in Your grace alone for my redemption and eternal salvation. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals