Monday, October 7, 2019

In the World not Of it

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
- Philippians 3:7-21 NASB

It was interesting to me that I hadn't even gotten to my devotional readings when something different about Philippians stuck out to me. 

I am reminded of a scene from a movie that I can't remember the title of,  but the scene itself was a perfect description of this.

In it a person was trying to fit in by eating what they were given, regardless of the fact that it was way too spicy for them.  Smiling through it, sweat pouring off them, they honestly were in misery.  Refusing to show it.  Their host laughing at them uproariously.  Knowing full well what they were going through and not stopping them.

Read that passage with that in mind.  Look at your world around you. 

Are you in the world but not of it, or are you trying to fit in so well that nobody can tell you are a Christian?

It's a serious matter.  People who are Christians shouldn't be so deep into worldliness that you can't see them as being a Christian.

Where's your passion directed?  Who are you serving?  What do you talk to Jesus about?  Do you talk to Him at all?  Is your prayer life personal or impersonal?  Is it a reading of wants or is it from the heart?

To be honest, we have been to I believe 11 churches in this town.  Some have Christ as it's center. Others are so mixed up that you really cannot tell whom is their God.  What do I mean?  I observe people.  It's in my nature.  Before I speak to you, I watch you.  Your body language is already talking to me long before you say a word with your mouth.  

I look at your clothes. They speak to where your mind and heart are.  If you are wearing shirts with symbols on them, it tells a lot about where your heart really is.

We live in a university town. Several in the area.  I get that.  However, it's not a good thing to show off by your attitude and actions that 'your team' means more to you than Jesus.  People do it again and again and it's been acceptable for so long that nobody questions it.

I have seen more passion come out of people when 'their team' was talked about than when Jesus is affronted! Really?!?

You won't bring up what you might have read in your Bible but you will practically quote and give play by play a recent or even older game.

This isn't just about sports, it can be anything.  There's a reason why the letters to the Churches in Revelation, to Colosse, to Phillippi, to Ephesus, and the Galatians speak to what they do.

We are aliens in this world.  We shouldn't be trying to get so close to it that we look no different from it.

"Hey! Look at me! I am just like you!  I am just as covered in sin and filth as you are!  We're the same!" Is really what people are saying by their actions.

Isn't that what Scripture is saying by taking the light we are to be reflecting and putting it under a basket?  Cover it up for fear of rejection?  If people see the light of Christ in you that they may indeed have a problem with you? 

Hate to break it to you, but Jesus said that if the world hated me they will hate you on account of Him.

We are to be living lives that show Jesus.

"For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."

Who set their minds on earthly things.

So where do you set your mind?

Do you shine as Jesus intended or have you covered it up so that you will be accepted?

As in all that is posted, these things are for you to think about.  I have had my own rude awakening.  I was already shown years ago that my mind wasn't where God wanted me.  My mind wasn't set on things above.  To me, it's a blow to the cause of Christ when anything other than Christ is lifted up in a worship service. We have seen Pastors lift up a sports team in such a way that it's easily seen by believers and unbelievers that to that Pastor it was of equal importance as worshipping God.

This ought not to be! 

Be mindful of your heart!  Examine your motives!  When you go out into the world what do people see?  Jesus or you?

That's your question.  Is your mind on things above?  Or on things below?

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