Word@Work Phil36 - Philippians 3:15-16
Published: Thu, 11/12/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
STILL 'ON MESSAGE'
Phil. 3:15-16 All of us 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. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (NIV)
The advertising industry and politicians have learnt that inconsistent communication does more harm than good. They need to be clear about what they believe, and get everybody in the team to know how to express it in such a way that there is no confusion. The Apostle Paul was well aware that people might not agree with what he was writing. Of course, those who resist the Lord will also dispute the Apostle's teaching, because sinfulness hates righteousness. But accepting truth is also about maturity, relationship and experience.
New-born believers enter a radically different world, but start off with their old habits and ways of thinking about things. Without teaching, and the example of more mature believers, they will not know how to live their new life. Enthusiasm alone will lead to disaster. Those who have learned how to accept God's truth and put it into practice, become mature. And maturity shows wisdom by agreeing with the Bible instead of arguing against it! Maturity also develops through relationship with God. As we obey the truth, the Holy Spirit encourages us to be hungry to know more. When the immature disagree, they think they are right and reject the truth; but when the mature think differently, they pray about it and ask God to show them what will please Him and build their relationship.
But for most of us, the problem is not maturity or knowledge but of experience. Most people who follow Jesus have far more information about what is right than they ever put into practice. So the Apostle urges the Philippians (and us) to live up to the mark of our place in Christ, the companionship of the Spirit and our information about what pleases the Lord. In the same way that some people are addicted to gaining degrees and qualifications, others love to acquire more spiritual information, for its own sake (see 2 Tim 3:7). But gaining more knowledge does not make us more holy, if our lives are unchanged. That would deny the truth we already know, and show that we do not relate properly with God, if we refuse to live in obedience. However, today could be a healthy new start: thank Him for your privileged place in His family and Kingdom, agree with His Word and decide which of the next truth to obey.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for this reminder to start where I am, to trust what You say and put it into practice. Please forgive me for arguing and grumbling, and for refusing to obey You. Please help me to learn from those who are more mature than me, and to be an encouragement to new believers at work and church - by showing that I am obedient to what I know, and hungry to know more so that I can obey You more. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The advertising industry and politicians have learnt that inconsistent communication does more harm than good. They need to be clear about what they believe, and get everybody in the team to know how to express it in such a way that there is no confusion. The Apostle Paul was well aware that people might not agree with what he was writing. Of course, those who resist the Lord will also dispute the Apostle's teaching, because sinfulness hates righteousness. But accepting truth is also about maturity, relationship and experience.
New-born believers enter a radically different world, but start off with their old habits and ways of thinking about things. Without teaching, and the example of more mature believers, they will not know how to live their new life. Enthusiasm alone will lead to disaster. Those who have learned how to accept God's truth and put it into practice, become mature. And maturity shows wisdom by agreeing with the Bible instead of arguing against it! Maturity also develops through relationship with God. As we obey the truth, the Holy Spirit encourages us to be hungry to know more. When the immature disagree, they think they are right and reject the truth; but when the mature think differently, they pray about it and ask God to show them what will please Him and build their relationship.
But for most of us, the problem is not maturity or knowledge but of experience. Most people who follow Jesus have far more information about what is right than they ever put into practice. So the Apostle urges the Philippians (and us) to live up to the mark of our place in Christ, the companionship of the Spirit and our information about what pleases the Lord. In the same way that some people are addicted to gaining degrees and qualifications, others love to acquire more spiritual information, for its own sake (see 2 Tim 3:7). But gaining more knowledge does not make us more holy, if our lives are unchanged. That would deny the truth we already know, and show that we do not relate properly with God, if we refuse to live in obedience. However, today could be a healthy new start: thank Him for your privileged place in His family and Kingdom, agree with His Word and decide which of the next truth to obey.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for this reminder to start where I am, to trust what You say and put it into practice. Please forgive me for arguing and grumbling, and for refusing to obey You. Please help me to learn from those who are more mature than me, and to be an encouragement to new believers at work and church - by showing that I am obedient to what I know, and hungry to know more so that I can obey You more. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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