Keep Going – 23 October 2009

And that's about it, friends.  Be glad in God!  I don't mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don't mind hearing it again.  Better safe than sorry - so here goes.

…All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life.  Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him.  I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ -God's righteousness.  I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself.  If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.  But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.  Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus.  I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.  If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision - you'll see it yet!  Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.  Stick with me, friends.  Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.

My dear, dear friends!  I love you so much.  I do want the very best for you.  You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride.  Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

From Philippians 3:1 to 4.1 [Message]

So that’s it, says Paul!  That’s encouragement!  He has shown us how to be encouraged and how to encourage others.  Be proud of your friends, tell them so!  Fewer people die of a swollen head than a broken heart!  Take the risk.  Be around personally, talk to your friends and those who need a friend.  Think of Jesus and his example and redouble your efforts.  And be a breath of fresh air.

‘I don’t mind repeating that’, says Paul and draws what seems to us an extreme simile, v8.  But he means it: compared with knowing Jesus, everything else does seem like less than nothing. And that perspective helps us to look at our troubles, our lives, our relationships, our problems and to see that 100 years from now, when we are with Jesus those troubles will be seen for what they are: a challenge and an encouragement to press on, to break through the pain barrier to the joys ahead.

And you will get there – be quite sure of that Paul reminds us.  He began the work in you: he will (yes, he will!) do it.

Wouldn’t it be great to receive a letter like Philippians – addressed to us?

We do! Be encouraged.