Philippians 2:1-5
“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”
If you have been a believer for any time, you know this verse is nearly impossible. This is when we are nearing our purity as God’s gold. Most of the trash (the impurities, the me-first complex, and conceit) has risen to the surface and been scoped out. The saying goes that the Refinner knows the gold is almost purified when He can see His reflection in it. Can our Lord see His reflection in us? If so, it’s a time of rejoicing, where the flesh has taken a back seat, and when it decides to jump forward, it’s not difficult to make it sit down again. It’s so nice to meet others with this kind of maturity; you both know that all the credit goes to Jesus. The Word via The Holy Spirit moves mountains of resistance and pride in us. Without reading the scriptures, the Holy Spirit cannot produce change. The scriptures are that powerful. A garden grows because it is tended to; our spirit man (or woman) grows because it is tended to. As Paul said, “One sows and one water, but the growth is of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
“I planted (Paul), Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God who gives the increase. Now, he who plants and waters is one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (and what they are planting and watering are God’s truths).”
Another challenging scripture, like the first one, is…
Colossians 3:12-15 Character of the New Man( how close do we come to it?)
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Who can do this, be kind, humble, forgive, no complaining, no self-interest, etc? It is impossible to do apart from the Holy Spirit. Often, instead of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do the work through us, we seek to do the work in our own strength and confidence. We seek to prove to God and ourselves that we are good people worthy of Heaven. We tell ourselves to be positive, send out good “vibes,” and work hard, and God will see us and reward us accordingly. This path is too burnt out, and many have fallen prey. When do you know you’ve done enough “good works” to procure your salvation? And then what happens when we mess up? Does the bad erase the good? Works-based salvation is a hard road to take.
We do not understand the Holiness of God, nor have we received His forgiveness (“even as Christ forgave you,” once His forgiveness has touched you for you, you’ve changed, and it is not difficult to forgive others). Jesus asked the Father for another way to procure our salvation besides the Cross. Do you not think that the Father would allow the Son if there were another way? There was no other way. Hence, the Cross was necessary, and now, through our good works, are we really trying to find another way for our salvation? We are acting just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.
Galatians 2:16
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (it could not be more clear).”
Galatians 3:1-4 Justification by Faith
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched( put you under a spell) that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”
Through the centuries of Christendom, people have struggled with this, seeking to prove their worth before a Holy God when He has already established our worth: the Life of His Son. Anything outside of this is so far inferior that it simplymakes no sense. Getting this right is critical; it makes life so much easier to deal with. Life’s problems do not fit into a tiny, predictable mold. Life can be messy, and being unclear about your salvation makes it that much more challenging. Like having a hard drive laden with spyware, it makes everything work so much slower.
Even our expectations can make life hard. We expect a good marriage, a faithful spouse, good health, good kids, a rewarding career, being treated fairly, etc., but as we know, that does not always happen. Sometimes, people “luck out,” but most of us don’t. Everyday life for the majority of us is challenging. We have car accidents, we get sick, we have struggles with our spouse and our kids, some being serious. We have issues at work, and overall, life can be a grind. Yet despite all this, Paul says, “We can be more than conquers.”
Romans 8:37
“Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
How does this verse help us? I don’t know if you heard of RFT tires. I didn’t until we traded in our car and bought a newer one. It had RFT tires, meaning run-flat tires. Apparently, these tires can get flat, but the sidewalls are such that even without air, they support the car’s weight until you can get it repaired. I thought that was pretty cool. When we reallyconsider that God truly loves us, I take it to heart; that truth is like the supportive sidewalls on the RFTs. It’s what gets us through a crisis. Knowing that God loves me, I mean truly loves me, the Devil can’t work me over with his lies, especially his most destructive one; if God is a God of love, why does He allow this to happen to you? Maybe God wants me to grow up, turn to Him, actually read His Bible, maybe even prioritize Him in my life, and trust Him more. These are five good reasons right off the cuff; this next promise follows them.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (this is His promise to us, do YOU believe it?).”
Sometimes, I feel like we are spoiled. All of our other brothers and sisters around the world suffer hardship, but if we do, then God doesn’t love us. The Christian walk and confidence in it is founded on how well we know the Father. Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and it will suffice us.” Do you remember Jesus’ answer?
John 14 :8-9
“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Intimately knowing Jesus means we know the Father and the Holy Spirit, and in that knowing is our confidence and peace. If we know Him marginally, then our peace will be marginal, and our struggles and temptations will be greater. If we know Him as a best friend, then life will definitely get better, but even best friends can falter. However, if we know Him as our Father, then even fear flees, and temptation and or trials, be they what they may, worry, family, the lust of the flesh, low self-esteem, insecurity, etc., are subdued. Instead of being controlled by them, we control and conquer them. Isn’t it worth the sacrifice to become this free from our flesh? I think so!
Ephesians 2:8-10
“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship( He does the work in us, we give Him the tools He needs by being daily in the scriptures) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Please allow this verse to sink in. Many faiths teach that you have to earn your salvation, which is in direct conflict with this verse and many others. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned. Even if it is taught correctly, our normal human psychic says that if I do good, God will like me more, and that is simply not true.
Romans 5:8-10
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood ( Because of faith in His work) we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
This verse, like the one before, is a treasure that, if taken to heart, will produce a radical change in us. Instead of being on the hamster wheel of good works, these verses actually allow us to enjoy the Lord, feeling secure in His love, which we will ever be growing in.
Dear Father,
Thank you for the freedom You offer to us. Forgive us for the cages we put ourselves into or were put into at a young age, which still entrap us today. There is no need to remain trapped, but we will continue to be trapped if we ignore Your Word and spend time with You. Help us to understand that freedom is found in only one direction, and that is towards You. It’s just You, not in more money, a better job, more activities, or being more attractive. You complete us, for You made us to know You and define Life by being connected to You. Help us to listen and keep it simple.
In Christ’s name,
Your son by Grace,
Arthur