Because That Is How We Should Stand Firm

I kind of have a feeling that this post isn't going to make much sense. My brain is a little scattered, so things aren't going to be explained as clearly. So, bear with me on this one, guys. It's just something that I felt would encourage others as well (maybehopefully).

So.

I'm not going to type out Philippians 3-4:1. But as I was reading through it all, a lot of things sort of "clicked" in my brain. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that it's stuff I've been beating into my brain for a few days now, and it just doesn't stop coming up. Again, isn't God hilarious about stuff like that? It's like, you pray about something and read in the Bible something, and then the next day at church, that's what the sermon is about.

That's been my entire weekend. Had difficulty Friday and, of course, waited till later to confront the issue. But when I finally did confront it and confess it, God put things into perspective for me and only enhanced it Saturday morning. And Philippians 3 -4:1 confirms much of what was expounded on from Saturday's service, and Friday night's battle.

But it also has more than can be added, which makes things make even more sense.

So, without further ado, let's get to it, shall we?

This may not be much of a challenge, but I want you to get out your Bible, and open it to Phil. 3. Read verses 1 - 11.

I don't know about you, but when I first read that section, I was kind of confused. What does Paul mean when he says "- though I myself have reasons for such confidence"? I mean, obviously, verses 7 - 11 are all about giving it up for Christ, because ultimately, that's the way to go, etc., etc. But those first 6 verses...huh?!

Maybe you understood it perfectly and think I'm crazy for not getting it. Maybe I've had too much caffeine, so my brain's just spazzing everywhere it can, not being able to focus and put two-and-two together.

(God, open my heart and my mind to understand.)

Then I understood: Paul, before giving his life over to Christ, had it all. He was a Pharisee, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, he had done all that a good little Jewish boy was supposed to do, knew the law like the back of his hand, he persecuted Christians, etc., etc.

He was safe.
His confidence in the "flesh" was his comfort zone.

Then Christ came to him. Good-bye comfort zone.

"But whatever was to my profit I now 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."

Giving it up to God and letting Him take control means putting all our confidence in Him. Not in what we've done or are going to do, but in what He has done and is going to do in us to be more like Him, for His glory.

I think that's what we call living.

"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."

Everyone uses that verse for every stage in their life, and I think that's great if it's applicable. But I also think too many people take it out of that chapter, ignoring everything else (I've done it too, though).

I do want to say this: I love Paul's first sentence there, in verse 12. I can picture him saying that in a quick, sort of "Pleasedon'tthinkI'mperfectbecauseofwhatI'vesaid" kind of a way, because I try to explain things in the same way too.

Anyways, putting those verses in context with what has been said in verses 1 - 11, it's not easy to give up everything, just because one person tells you to. That was made clear in Matthew 19:16-22.

And think about it: Paul had everything. Fame, fortune, brains. Probably wasn't bad lookin' either.

Paul doesn't claim to have obtained the righteousness and perfection of Christ, but he "press[es] on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [him]." He hasn't gotten there yet, but his attitude towards it is so in the right place.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..."

I think we often get to that place where we've given up everything, and then feel like we don't know where to go from there because we haven't quite obtained "that which Christ Jesus took hold of" in us. We feel sort of lost, and maybe get a little negative about it because the transformation wasn't immediate. And that is so not the right attitude to have.

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

Amen.

We need to put things into perspective. Understand that God's timing is not ours. When we give to all up for Christ, we need to know what we're getting into. He understands our fears, and will never forsake us. It's going to be a process, and we need to keep looking up. He has called us "heavenward", not "hellward".

It's like a quote I read by one of my favorite classic authors, Charlotte Bronte: "I try to avoid looking backward and keep looking upward."

If our attitude is negative because we're struggling with letting God control everything, He'll make it clear to us who He is, and that His will is better for us. I think we also lose sight of the goal when we associate with negative people, those who find "glory in their shame". You know who I'm talking about: the people who boast about their destructive lives, because, for some reason, they don't want to let it go. They're so comfortable in their own confidence, and that kind of attitude rubs off.

I'm the kind of person who has to be careful of what kind of friends I make, because when I'm around someone enough, their attitudes and habits seem to rub off on me. I start picking up on their quirks and phrases. I don't know why that happens, either. It just does. When I'm around a lot of negativity, it will rub off on me, and become my thought process.

That's when I lose sight of the goal. That's when I suddenly stand on shakey ground. It's like, I can't be positive around those people. I should. But I don't. Because I feel like I can't.

I don't know if that made sense, but I'm getting to the point, I promise.

So, let's review:
Giving it all to Christ = putting our confidence in Him, letting Him be in control of our lives, for us to do His will, which is to be like Him for His glory. It's not an easy task, and it's a long, day-by-day, year-by-year process. It's stepping out in faith.

Having the wrong attitude when we feel like it's not worth it will only bring us - and those around us - down. Instead, with God's help, we need to keep looking up to the Son, looking ahead instead of behind, because it's not what we've done/are going to do, it's what Christ has done and is going to do, which is He died to redeem us from our sins, and is working in us to make us more like Him.

Whenever we have the wrong way of lookin' at it, we need to stop and reflect on God, ask Him to tell us when we're not thinking straight. Then we can be an example to others, show them that there's a better way, and that's His way.

Give it up and look ahead.

Because "that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" , with a positive outlook, living for Christ, because of Christ.

I hope that made sense. If something should be added/edited, let me know!
I hope also that nothing was taken out of context.
Those of you who read this: God bless you for your patience.