Our minds are filled with the thoughts of our own choosing. Philippians 4:8 directs us to sharpen our focus on the target of our mind. The Greek words used in this passage shows that this call for right thinking is tied to the peace of God mentioned in the verse 7. We still have a will, and we still must choose moral excellence; however, the peace of God will help fuel right thinking.
We are all running a race on this earth. It is the race of daily living as we navigate our families, marriages, workplaces, friendships, personal struggles, and personal victories. We must finish the race well. To run the race well, we must think beyond what we can see (like a runner in a long-distance race). Let’s take a look at what is at the finish line.
Paul did not accomplish great things for God because he never sinned or never experienced hardship. Paul accomplished great things for God because he walked in humility, kept on getting back up, sharpened his focus on the prize (Phil. 3:14), and persevered to the end. Take time to sharpen your focus on the target!
We often struggle with our past as well. Consider this list of possibilities that the Philippian believers needed to leave in the past: relationship hurts (2:2-3), selfishness (2:3), pride (2:7-8), complaining (2:14), arguing (2:14), and belief in false teaching (3:2-3). Are you leaving your past in the past?
So, we ask, “what is the point?” How does heeding repeated warnings against false teachers, embracing God’s righteousness for justification, and rejecting my own righteousness as sufficient impact me today? This is an important question! Here are 4 outcomes of rejecting my own righteousness as good enough and choosing to follow God:
The church is called forward as a team! We all have our part to play on the team and function as God intended the church to function. When we insist on stubbornness, selfishness, pride, jealousy, or resentment we will not function the way God intended. We will then have a hard time finding our target because we are too busy worrying about ourselves. We need to aim to serve the Lord together.
Only God does the work of the forgiveness of sin and saving a soul from eternal judgement, for it is only God the Son who paid the price that all of mankind owes for their sin! However, God clearly calls the believer to a work after their salvation (Rom. 6:12-13; II Cor. 6:1). What has God called the church to do?
Why do we often wait to express our love for someone until they are gone? Why do we sometimes insist on nurturing emotional scars and offenses while our loved ones yet live, but declare our love when they are dead? What a difference the church makes when we simply love as God has called us to love one another!
