1-7-24

As I was praying this morning there were 4 verses that came to mind the Lord asked me to consider.

1. “Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:16 NIV1984)

• In this section of his letter to the Philippians he gives an account of his righteousness by the law and his “flesh.”  He has come to the point of seeing that his own righteousness is rubbish.  True righteousness comes from knowing Christ and having His righteousness that comes by faith.  The Law and works are dead and he seeks to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings becoming like Him in His death so that somehow Paul might attain the resurrection from the dead.

• These are lofty goals that Paul seeks to attain and he says he has not quite gotten there yet.  It is a hard teaching he is giving and not everyone can understand it or seek to live up to it.  Paul, himself, does not consider himself to have gotten there yet but encourages those who are mature and seeking God to continue to press on towards the goal to win the prize they have been called heavenward in Christ Jesus.  He finishes the account saying that we should each live up to what we have already attained. 

• I am responsible to put into practice God’s calling on my life in what He has taught me through His word and the witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  I am not responsible for Paul’s calling, Billy Graham’s calling, or even your calling but to my own personal call of God on my life as he has revealed to me personally.  To neglect such a great calling on my life is to be a carnal Christian who is double-minded and unstable in all I do!  God has not taught me everything in His word yet but I am responsible to live according to what He has already shown me!!

2. “purify your hearts, you double-minded” James 4:8b

• a. A pure heart is one that is fully devoted to God. Paul wrote “and whatever you do,  whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV1984). 

• b. How do I purify my heart?  Paul leaves further instructions in that passage to the Colossians:
  • 1. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:  sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5 NIV1984)
  • 2. 8  But now you must rid yourselves  of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8 NIV1984)
  • 3. 12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,  gentleness and patience.
  • 4. 13  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13 NIV1984)
  • 5. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity
  • 6. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace (Colossians 3:15a NIV1984)
  • 7. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15b NIV1984)
  • 8. 16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you
  • 9. teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, 
  • 10. and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God  (points 8, 9,10 – Colossians 3:16 NIV1984)
  • 11. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17 NIV1984)

• c. To purify my heart I have to “take off” and “put on”
  • i. “take off”
    • put to death my earthly nature with all its desires
    • sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, idolatry
    • rid myself of
      • anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from my lips
  • ii. “put on”
    • clothe myself with
      • compassion, kindness, humility,  gentleness and patience
    • forgive as the Lord forgave me
    • put on love
    • let the peace of Christ rule in my heart
    • be thankful
    • let the word of Christ  dwell in me richly
    • teach and admonish one another with all wisdom
    • sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
      • with gratitude in my heart to God
  • iii. whatever I do, whether in word or deed
    • do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus
    • giving thanks to God the Father through him

3. Verse of the day bibleportal.com: James 1:6-8 NIV1984 – “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8  he is a double-minded man,  unstable  in all he does.”

• A double-minded man has a foot in both worlds – the physical world and the spiritual world. We die to the ways of the world when we become followers of Jesus.  Double-mindedness is to keep following the ways of the world and be in denial of the presence and power of God in our lives.  It is hypocrisy!  We say one thing that is spiritual but then live in a worldly way that denies the spiritual power of the Lord.  It is to operate by sight not faith.  Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 5:7 that we live by faith not by sight which is the exact opposite of being double-minded.

4. “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules (Colossians 2:20 NIV1984).

These are all verses I’ve been thinking, praying, and meditating on but there is still more I have to learn and wisdom I have to seek.

Thank you Lord that you love me even when I sin in thoughts, words, and deeds.  Help me to live up to what I have already attained in understanding, knowledge, and depth of insight that I can live and put into practice what you have taught me in your word by the Holy Spirit putting to death and crucifying my flesh so that I may live by the Spirit and not gratify the sinful desires of my flesh. 

Amen