On one hand, we try to purchase the least expensive product. Many generics are just as good as the name brand. On the other hand, some substitutes don’t cut it. I buy a name brand garbage bag that maybe more up front, but I use only one bag instead of doubling or tripling the cheap ones. Sometimes, we go with the name brands because we must.
Paul writes a heartbreaking passage for him to write and us to read in Phil. 3:18-19, “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you 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 set on earthly things.” Even in the early church (historically and geographically closer than us), people fell away. They became enemies of the cross of Christ. Time and space does not allow a discussion on losing salvation. So, regardless of one’s view, look at the description of those enemies. They have settled for a generic instead of the Name brand.
They traded down to a destiny of destruction. They replaced the God for another god: their stomach. Paul could easily be referring to their desires and not just food. God’s glory is replaced with shame. Earthly mindedness replaces the heavenly mind.
How? Why? The explanation can be found in the Parable of the soils. Some of the word just got choked out. Others had no root. Paul warns them in the previous verse to follow his example. Be diligent. It can happen. We can settle for cheap imitations. Chilling. I want the brand name when it comes to Jesus. I need to be on guard against cheap hucksters who over promise with cheap facsimiles.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Bunny travel
Time to hippity hop down the bunny trails.
I continue my journey through Philippians. I love Paul’s not so subtle conclusion after he encourages to forget what lies behind and press on (persecute) to what lies ahead. He then writes, “All of us, then, 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” (Phil 3:15). So, if I’m immature am I off the hook? Well, we like to think of ourselves as mature, so we had better agree. But, if you do not think accordingly, GOD WILL DEAL WITH YOU!
Here, my thoughts travel the bunny trails.
Trail one: God loves me enough to correct me on this issue. The underlying principle is that he loves me enough to correct me on all issues. He will make clear how I need to mature. Nice.
Trail two: Zion has been working on Generosity to start 2011. Just because one preaches a topic, does not mean one has “arrived” there. This series causes me to think hard about my own heart when it comes to generosity. I have thought differently before, but now God is making it clear. His grace inspires more generosity. I will reap what I sow, so why not sow all I can into God’s kingdom?
Trail three: How can I do that? Am I holding on to my time, abilities, and money where I should be generous? Where am I investing these resources that come from God in the first place? And most of all, will I stick my neck out, sow what I have knowing that there will be a harvest?
Pastor Joe
I continue my journey through Philippians. I love Paul’s not so subtle conclusion after he encourages to forget what lies behind and press on (persecute) to what lies ahead. He then writes, “All of us, then, 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” (Phil 3:15). So, if I’m immature am I off the hook? Well, we like to think of ourselves as mature, so we had better agree. But, if you do not think accordingly, GOD WILL DEAL WITH YOU!
Here, my thoughts travel the bunny trails.
Trail one: God loves me enough to correct me on this issue. The underlying principle is that he loves me enough to correct me on all issues. He will make clear how I need to mature. Nice.
Trail two: Zion has been working on Generosity to start 2011. Just because one preaches a topic, does not mean one has “arrived” there. This series causes me to think hard about my own heart when it comes to generosity. I have thought differently before, but now God is making it clear. His grace inspires more generosity. I will reap what I sow, so why not sow all I can into God’s kingdom?
Trail three: How can I do that? Am I holding on to my time, abilities, and money where I should be generous? Where am I investing these resources that come from God in the first place? And most of all, will I stick my neck out, sow what I have knowing that there will be a harvest?
Pastor Joe
Friday, January 7, 2011
I want to persecute
Yes, I know…what’s the point of having a blog if I never update it? Sorry…I will try to improve my diligence. But, I noticed something in my devotions this morning I thought challenging.
I’ve been on a tweezering through Philippians. In chapter three, Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (3:14). He uses the same word for press on twice earlier in the chapter, but it is translated differently in one instance. He says in verse 12 that he presses on to take hold of what Jesus took hold of him. Ok, that fits. But the other time is in verse six: “…as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
What? Don’t see the expression press on in verse six? Paul is explaining his previous life before Jesus. He has quite a pedigree including persecuting the church. Wait, there it is: persecuting. In all three verses, Paul uses the same Greek word, dioko (dee-o-ko). It’s a very strong word. One does not persecute something half-heartedly. You go for it. You chase it down. You become obsessed.
Now, think of the two latter verses. “I persecute toward the goal…” and “I persecute to take hold…” Yes, it can be press on, but is Paul saying, “I now use all my energies to pursue after this prize with the same vigor I used to persecute the church”? Maybe.
I want that heart in my own life. I want to vigorously pursue the goal and prize that God has laid up for me. May it consume us with persecution vigor!
Pastor Joe
Zion of Petroleum Valley
PS Don't forget: The Generosity series starts this Sunday! We can see how to "perscute" after a generous heart!
I’ve been on a tweezering through Philippians. In chapter three, Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (3:14). He uses the same word for press on twice earlier in the chapter, but it is translated differently in one instance. He says in verse 12 that he presses on to take hold of what Jesus took hold of him. Ok, that fits. But the other time is in verse six: “…as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
What? Don’t see the expression press on in verse six? Paul is explaining his previous life before Jesus. He has quite a pedigree including persecuting the church. Wait, there it is: persecuting. In all three verses, Paul uses the same Greek word, dioko (dee-o-ko). It’s a very strong word. One does not persecute something half-heartedly. You go for it. You chase it down. You become obsessed.
Now, think of the two latter verses. “I persecute toward the goal…” and “I persecute to take hold…” Yes, it can be press on, but is Paul saying, “I now use all my energies to pursue after this prize with the same vigor I used to persecute the church”? Maybe.
I want that heart in my own life. I want to vigorously pursue the goal and prize that God has laid up for me. May it consume us with persecution vigor!
Pastor Joe
Zion of Petroleum Valley
PS Don't forget: The Generosity series starts this Sunday! We can see how to "perscute" after a generous heart!
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