Written ~ 11-03-2023
Philippians 3:17-21
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.
21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
In our verses today we have Paul writing to the church in Philippi. The Book of Philippians is a fantastic instruction manual, when time allows, read through this entire Book, it’s just 4 chapters and it’s packed full of wonderful, godly advice. Here we have Paul, with tears in his eyes telling the believers in Philippi to pattern their lives after his, to honor the Lord, serve the Lord, to share the gospel message, and to shine Christ’s light brightly for all to see. It is important for us to align ourselves with other believers, to follow their example of Christ’s love. But the warning Paul is giving in verse 3:18 is “…that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.” There are those who have infiltrated the church, causing others to fall because they really aren’t believers, they’re just pretending and can lead astray those who are not careful and not following the godly example Paul and other believers are sharing.
Think about your own life. Who do you have in your life that you can pattern your life after? Is it someone like Paul who reminds you to live your life for the Lord? Is it someone who wants desperately to teach you the truths from the Word of God? Is it someone who shows encouragement when you stumble, and helps get you back on the Lord’s path? I really hope you do. Because if you don’t have that kind of influence in your life, you may be tricked by those who do not have good intentions.
Let’s look at who the “…enemies of the cross of Christ…” are and how easily it should be to spot them and not allow yourself to get drawn in by their example.
The Message Version (MSG) says this…
Verses 3:18-19,
“There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them.
I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again.
All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.”
The Amplified Version of these two verses are even stronger…
“For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.”
Who are your examples, whose lives have you patterned your life after? Have you gotten drawn in by the world’s appetite? Has the allure of the world’s sensuality and vanity pulled you in? Has the focus of your mind been turned “…to earthly and temporal things?”
In our verses for today Paul is cautioning us to keep our emphasis steady. We are not to be swayed or have the focus of our hearts and minds be turned to the things of this world which are carnal, fleshly and material. No, as believers our focus is Heaven! Our true home! In verse 3:20, Paul says, “…we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.” It may be that we go along each day, not really thinking too much about what we have to look forward to. The troubles of this world have engulfed our enthusiasm, and we find it difficult to look past our circumstances. That’s why it is so important to have that person or persons you look to for guidance and who you know will get you back on the right path and encourage your focus to the things of Heaven. And what do we have to look forward to in Heaven? Well… sooooo many things, but in our verses for today, this is what Paul writes about in verse 3:21 (NLT),
21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own…”
Here’s The Message version…
“…He will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like His own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole…”
And The Amplified version…
“…He will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious, resurrected body…”
Wow. Now look at our lives here on earth. Many of us are consumed with what the world’s standard of beauty and fitness is. It is important not to make our main focus on what we look like on the outside, but instead focus on what we look like on the inside. Am I saying don’t exercise, eat whatever you want and let yourself go? No, absolutely not! Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we do need to take care of these temporary bodies even though we have our eyes set on the transformation of these bodies when we get to Heaven!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20,
19 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price.
So you must honor God with your body.”
What did we learn about the non-believer?
- “Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.” (NLT)
- “…they make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.” (MSG)
- “… their god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and their glory is in their shame—they focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.” (AMP)
The Apostle Paul says,
17 “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.”
If you don’t yet have someone in your life that you can pattern your life after, seek out that person, learn from them, ask for guidance and help when the world’s voice gets really loud. Remember we have wonderful things to look forward to in Heaven, but in the meantime, let’s keep our hearts and minds focused on serving the Lord in all we do.
~AMEN~
- If you are still contemplating whether or not you want to give your heart over to the Lord, I pray that today would be the day you decide, and you pray this prayer of Salvation. My hope is that you will then have the same enthusiasm about Heaven, it is what each believer and follower of Jesus Christ looks forward to!
Dear Jesus, You know my heart, all the things I have done and said. Please forgive me for my unbelief. Please forgive me for all of my sins. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead to give me freedom from sin and death. By faith through believing in Who You Are, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, cleanse this heart of mine, white as snow. Help me not to doubt any longer and breathe life into me, fill me with Your light. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
If you solemnly prayed this prayer, tell at least one person, so they can share in your joy!! I rejoice with you! All the angels in Heaven rejoice with you! Now remember, once you are born again and have Jesus residing within you, your spirit has now joined the ranks of a citizen of Heaven!
“…we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.
It is very important to me that those who might be reading these journal pages of mine and don’t yet know the Lord Jesus Christ, that you make that decision. Today. Your heart and mind may not understand everything you have been reading, but if you open your heart to the truth of who Jesus is, you will be saved from sin and death. By the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be amazed at how quickly after giving your heart to the Lord your eyes and ears will be opened to the truth.