Sunday, July 02, 2006
July 3 Philippians 3
Go ahead and look first at Philippians 3 . See how God speaks to you individually. Then come back, if you wish, and see what God has put in my mind/heart.
Key Verse(s): Philippians 3
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.
Title: Brokenness Is OK, Sitting Down and Giving Up is Not
Observation: There was a 7-11 commercial a number of years ago. An adult man in a jogging suit is sitting on the curb eating ice cream and drinking a soda in front of the store. Up pulls a station wagon and a window rolls down. Its his wife. She says, “I thought You were out running?” heavily dripping with accusation.
His responds defensively, “I got hot.”
She responds, “We only live two blocks away.”
I’m sure I’m remembering this story wrong, but I do understand the temptation to do something good and to give up and eat ice cream. Some days I realize how broken I am more than others. There’s a lot about me, my mindset, and my heart that need to become crucified so that I might become more like Christ. My failures are many, but they really don’t discourage me all that much, usually. What really discourages me are the habits and mindsets that I have that are wrong that I am not particularly interested in changing. I can accept Jesus forgiveness for physical errors and mental blanks. But the wayward part of my soul that wants to be fed and nurtured in rebellion to God and what God wants from me can make me want to give up.
And yet, Christ calls us onward. There are days I think I should lay my leadership burden down, work at a 9-5 job, and believe that I was never called or gifted for leadership. Yet this scripture encourages me. It reminds me that even Paul did not have it all together and that ‘he does the things he does not want to do’ like the rest of us. What he doesn’t do, and what I can be guilty of, is self-pity. He never cries, poor me, and huddles on the ground somewhere, or retires to a make the best tents in all of
Application: I need to fully embrace that I am where I am because of Christ’s calling, not because I’m holy enough or smart enough for the tasks I have been given. I need to not be anxious. Nor believe the fallacy that I will get better by sitting down and licking my wounds. I will become more transformed into the person Christ wants to be the more I fully give myself to the tasks to which he has called me.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see that I am not worthy of the honor that you have given me, to lead a family and a church, but that you are. And that your Holy Spirit is what will enable me to faithfully discharge my duty, until I lay it all down when you call me to my eternal home. May your love propel me forward and encourage me with your great love as I go forward.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
