Slices
Prepare
Who has helped you grow in the Christian life? Make a list of key people and thank God for them.
Bible passage
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Explore
Paul portrays dynamic and forward-facing Christian maturity. He isn’t complacent about where he stands as a Jesus-follower now, but focuses on what Christ has done, is doing and will do – and his own response. Christ has ‘taken hold’ of Paul (v 12), and Paul responds by pressing on to the finish line. In the Roman games, the victor went into the crowd to the president of the games to receive their victory laurel wreath – but in Paul’s case it is God’s call to a heavenly reward (v 14).
Christ will return at the last day and complete the work he began in believers’ lives, transforming them in every way to be what he intends (vs 20,21). Jesus’ glorious resurrection body is the prototype for our future bodies (v 21) – that’s a prospect to look forward to!
So in the present, Christ is to be the focus of the Philippians’ attention, not earthly concerns (v 19). This isn’t an invitation to abandon this world, but rather to be different in this world, showing that we are citizens of another place by our lifestyle (v 20). The believers had learned this model from Paul and Timothy, who planted the church there (v 17; 1:1), and need to persist in copying their model.
Respond
Reflect on life in the world to come and rejoice in the transformation which Christ will complete in your life at that time.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 65,66; John 1
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God for all our volunteers who give up so much to share their faith with children and young people on holidays and missions. Pray that as they return to normal routines, they will continue to be encouraged and inspired by all they experienced of God’s work.
