Monday, May 13 | Philippians 3:1-11 | Alvin Pelton
“Rejoice in the Lord.” Rejoice in Him - not in your circumstances. Paul even says, “It’s easy for me to write this to you.” What an astounding statement considering he is chained to a guard night and day. No doubt Paul’s Roman citizenship afforded some small benefit but it was still house arrest. Through this captive audience, which came daily and rotated every six hours, the most unique plan for evangelizing the Roman empire began. We can even see the outcome in the last chapter of the book… “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.”
So, how does a person move beyond the difficult or even impossible circumstances to a place of rejoicing? Woven throughout the New Testament we hear Paul’s testimony and therein we will find the answer. The imagery he uses may change but the message remains the same. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul tells us that he was conquered and even taken captive by the love of Christ and he willingly became the Lord’s slave…possessing nothing of his own. In our reading today he paints his testimony using accounting terms. The entire ledger of what he once counted as valuable (the right family, the right school, the right political/religious connections) amount to nothing. All of the advantages and privileges once considered as profit are now, for the sake of Christ, loss. What is of worth? Paul says, “…that I might gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes through the law but through faith in Christ.”
In addition to rejoicing there comes a warning, people to “watch out for…” There were those individuals who wanted to add the legal requirements of Judaism to the Gentiles who wanted to become believers. In essence Paul is telling us to beware of any message or messenger that says Christ’s offering is not enough.
From time to time it is worth asking where our confidence lies. Do we think that God loves us because of all that we do for Him or do we know that God loves us because of what Jesus Christ did for us? His gift was perfect and we can contribute nothing to it. His gift cannot be improved upon nor can it be diminished. His gift is flawless and eternal.
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