Fun in Florida at the Park

Resurrection

Philippians 3:10-14 "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 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."

I have read this passage several times in the past and always thought it was talking about our life and making it until the end. But while studying the other day, the Holy Spirit revealed to me what I believe the passage is talking about (It was like a light bulb came on!). It did not help that in my Bible some of these verses were separated with a chapter break and new title.

What I now believe is that Paul is talking about being resurrected. Resurrection is his goal. Yes we are to press on in this life and live in a manner worthy of the gospel, but that is not all of what this passage is talking about. It is talking about being found in Christ and when He returns, being resurrected with Him. Paul wants to be like Christ in every way possible- that includes resurrection. When we are resurrected we will be perfect, we will be with Christ, and we will be finally complete. This type resurrection is not for all, but for those who by faith believe and are found in Christ.

With resurrection being Paul's goal, he presses on to make it his own, because Christ has made him His own. He is staining forward, pressing on, and forgetting what lies behind. These all seem to be things that help you to focus on the future, not the past. They are also all verbs. Obtaining this resurrection is something we have to work towards.

Paul is not saying that we have to do something to earn God's favor or that we have to earn salvation. He has already said in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." But what I believe him to be saying is that we do have to work out our salvation. Believing in Christ is not the first and last step in our journey of faith. We have to persevere and press on through this life so that we will obtain the final goal- being resurrected from the dead and living forever with Christ in the new heavens and the new earth!

We need to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Grace

I have been thinking about grace these past couple of days. I was so overwhelmed with the saving grace that God has shown me the other night that I was completely humbled. Sometimes I have to take time and remember where I came from, to appreciate where I am now- where God has brought me to be. Going home, to where I grew up, is always a reality shock- or rather a reality check.

I am so undeserving of the love that God has lavished on me. He saved me from so many things. I look at my family- broken homes, sin is rampant everywhere (with little care about what is right), lack of love and forgiveness, hurt, jealousy, and a multitude of other sins that break my heart. Yet God in His great mercy and grace chose me and saved me from this. I did not deserve it, nor do I deserve it today. But He has called me to be His child.

It is often easy to live in the "Bible Belt" (as I do now) and think that it is like that everywhere... A church on every corner, people are (for the most part) kind, God is something people talk about and believe in... the list could go on. But these past few days back home have renewed my thinking on grace and life and brought things back into perspective. I live in a fallen world where people are in desperate need of a Savior (even those who do not think they do).

Here is where it is hard- to show grace to others- especially my family. I am to be salt and light to them. I am so very different from them -that is the point I suppose- I am to be "in and not of the world". If I were like them, then I would be just as lost as they are. It is difficult because we do not value the same things. We do not enjoy talking about the same things. My very presence at times is just unwanted- yet I am to share the love and grace of God with them. Growing up this way has challenged me and strengthened my faith, but it has also made me very alone at times.

So, I often find myself wondering how to show this grace that I have received. Especially to those who do not want it or see a need for it- not just my family, but to all that I encounter.