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The Narrow Road – Week 24/25 / June 13th
Phillipians 3:17-21; 4:1
The scriptures are clear about the fact that Christianity is not a road of “easy believism”. That is the way we walk is a narrow one requiring dedication, commitment and the payment of a cost. Many western Christians know nothing of these things and perceive Christianity as nothing more than a hobby by which once a week one listens to a religious sermon delivered by a competent religious expert! Paul reminds us in the passage above of the values that we are to embrace as God’s people. We note the following:
1. The Call to Model V17
Christians are to model the life of Christ for others to follow! Paul clearly invites believers to follow his example since his life is a pattern for them to duplicate. Paul knew that the power of this salvation in Jesus is effective in transforming lives and those who embrace it should reflect it and call others to model it.
2. The Call to be Careful V18-19
So many Christians claim to follow Jesus but in reality are pursuing other interests that do not have Jesus’ kingdom as a priority. These “interests” are very often legitimate, like a career, but they become illegitimate because they supplant the first place that Jesus should occupy in our lives. The writer of the book of Hebrews called this embracing a “hindrance.” Paul is brutal about this situation as he states that this condition makes us an “enemy of the cross of Christ” because it means that we have followed our carnal appetites and we thereby set ourselves up for destruction. Strong words indeed and worth of taking very seriously.
3. The Call to be Properly Focused V 20-21
The truth is we are only passing through this wicked and dying world and our true and real citizenship is not here but in Heaven. Our hope is not in a broken world but in the future glory that is awaiting us in Heaven. This hope includes the transformation of our bodies into the glory of Jesus body by His glorious coming. This and nothing else is our focus. We are not trying to transform this sinful world in any shape or manner but we are aggressively, by the Gospel of Jesus, calling people out of it. Those who hear our message are to live separate lives not isolated ones. We are not to be a “holy huddle” but a holy people focused completely on the hope of the resurrection by Jesus second coming.
Closing Thoughts- The Call to Stand Firm 4:1
The first verse of chapter four of Paul’s epistle to the Church at Colossae constitutes his final exhortation. That is, we are to embrace all that he has written, believe it and stand firm. Meaning that we recognize what we are called to and do not change or waver. The Christian world today is filled with false teaching and error and many, sadly, are falling prey to these traps. In writing to Timothy Paul, by the Spirit warns that in the end time many in the visible church will give heed to and embrace “doctrines of demons.” These doctrines abound today and it will take real courage and determination to stand firm and be faithful to Christ. May it be so of our lives.
Malcolm Hedding.
©Malcolm Hedding Ministries
2013Devotional Blog