From: October 2, 2018
October 2
Scripture for today: Isaiah 66:1-24; Philippians 3:4-21; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 24:15-16
“Arise, O God, plead Your own cause” (Psalm 74:22 NKJV).
From: October 2, 2017
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV)
From: October 2, 2016
Like an olympic runner stretching for the finish line, the apostle Paul “strained forward” towards the future “goal” in Christ. He didn’t let his past predict his future, but focused on the goal of Christ. Some live in the past, living a life of regret or remembering past glories or failures. Others live as dreamers, always searching for the gold at the end of some distant rainbow. But Paul had a singular focus to follow and be with Christ. Have you yet made Jesus the object of your faith, the one you worship and follow, your all in all?
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7 NKJV)
From: October 2, 2015
Paul listed the personal achievements that he had attained before following Christ and then described them as “loss” in comparison. Paul had quite an impressive resume, if anyone had reason to boast, he did. Yet, he chose to count it as nothing compared to knowing and following Jesus. He understood that following Jesus meant leaving your former life behind. What have you left to follow Jesus? What have you “counted loss for Christ?”
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8a NLT)
From: October 2, 2014
Paul was one of the most brilliant minds of his generation, yet he counted human knowledge worthless when weighed against the “value of knowing” Christ. Truth is not a philosophy or equation, it is a Person. Decide to know Jesus. Let Him be the criterion for knowing, the lens by which you interpret reality. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6).
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12)
From: October 2, 2013
Paul knew that he belonged to Christ, yet he pursued knowing all of Christ that belonged to him. We come to Christ saying, “I am His and He is mine.” Yet, we don’t fully understand either. Perhaps we partially grasp that we are His to some degree. But that Christ is ours, is mine? That all that Christ is and owns is now mine? His love, His wisdom, His relationship with the Father, His future in heaven, His resurrection, His … all mine? Like Paul, “I press on to make it my own.”
“And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control” (Philippians 3:20-21)
From: October 2, 2012
This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be changed to be like His. Christ is the firstborn (prototokos) from among the dead, the prototype. Those who believe will have a glorious body like His! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2)
From: October 2, 2011
God lifts up those who bow down. He applauds the one who is fearfully moved by His Word. What is your response to hearing the Word? Those in whom the Spirit resides tremble like a leaf blown by the wind when God speaks.