Philippians 3:12-21

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Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Devotion
            Paul begins by saying that he is not perfect, complete, or has obtained Christ likeness. He is still in the struggle daily to reach his goal of complete Christ-likeness. He knows that “a fact of the Christian life is that the more you mature the more you realize how much further you have to go to become like Christ.”[1] It indeed, seems like the further down the Christian road you travel the farther it seems you have to travel in order to reach the reach the “Celestial City”. We know that the struggle is worth the cost because heaven is promised to those who do not give up on the goal of the call of Jesus.
            Those who are mature are to think this way. While the immature go on through life not bothering about reaching heaven and will suffer for it. God reveals the path to heaven for those who seek him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Paul urges the Philippians to imitate him. That is a brave statement how many of us would urge anyone to imitate us on our walk with Christ. Paul encourages the church to hold on to the gains made in their walk with Christ. “We are not perfect, but that is no excuse not to run the race and seek the prize. God is calling us to the victory stand. We must run as hard as we can to cross the finish line.[2]”
            Paul then concerns himself with his enemies. Those who walk as “enemies of the cross. Those who seek the things of the world. Fame, and fortune, whose god is their appetites. Those who live as though there were no heaven or hell. Those who seek after what looks good to their lustful eyes and their depraved thoughts. Christians no matter how imperfect have a citizenship in heaven kept unfading and undefiled until we at last can claim it. “Mature, godly believers live in anticipation not in participation. Believers know the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back from heaven. He will fully establish the kingdom of heaven, where we have citizenship. While we wait, we participate in kingdom activities, not worldly activities.[3]” We will participate in godly activities such as worship, communion, baptism and the rest. While we wait for our fleshly bodies to “get sick, hurt, desire sinful pleasures, grow old, and eventually die. Followers of Christ have the hope that life in this world is not the end. Someday, we will have a perfect body that will never die, a body like the one the Savior now has[4]”
            Paul wants us to keep running the race for the joy that will ultimately be ours. A joy that we will be made imperishable and glorified in heaven. Quite unlike our current earthly bodies that wear out and ultimately return to the dust from which they were made. Our joy should be permanent and everlasting as we have this promise from Jesus, that we shall be like him in the end.

[1] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 245.
[2] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 246.
[3] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 247.
[4] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 247.

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