Devotionary

While we can choose to deny our sin and ignore our guilt. God cannot and will not. Which is why He gave Israel the sacrificial system. He made forgiveness possible. But first, guilt must be acknowledged and sins must be confessed.

Repeatedly, we read that the Israelites were to present their offerings “before the Lord,” as a pleasing aroma to Him. As they obeyed His commands concerning the sacrifices, they would be worshiping and honoring Him for who He is: The Holy God of Israel.

While the content of Leviticus speaks of a different dispensation than the one in which we live, it reminds us of God’s desire that His people live lives that are set apart and distinct from all those around them.

For the Christian, there is nothing in this life we need, beyond Jesus. And, while we may agree with that statement, our lives rarely reflect that we truly believe it. Yet Paul was more than content with nothing more than Jesus.

If you’re going to reach the finish line, you can’t allow the things of this life to lure you off course or tempt you to stop running altogether. And you can't let the enemy distract you with a detour that leads to a false finish line.

Paul stressed the need for godly contentment. But he also warned of the danger of growing complacent or content with our current spiritual status. For Paul, there was such a thing as divine discontentment.

Paul wasn’t interested in knowing more about Christ. He wanted to know, intimately and personally, Christ Himself – on an ever-increasing basis.

The church is always in need of godly leaders, but it takes discipleship and the commitment of older men and women in the church who are willing to pour into the lives of the next generation. The church is only as strong as its leadership.

Paul would have us recognize that our transformation into the likeness of Christ shows up best when we allow the Spirit of God to assist in loving the people of God. Our light shines brightest in the darkness when we love one another.

Paul gives us a much-needed reminder that our lives are to look a lot like Christ’s. We are to share His mindset, which translates into a life of selfless service, willful obedience and humble submission to His will.

Rather than focus on the perceived negative conditions surrounding his imprisonment, Paul chose to be motivated to make a difference. He saw his condition as the perfect opportunity to preach the gospel, and to encourage all those churches he had helped to start.

Like a loving father, Paul wrote to his children in the faith, encouraging them to keep on growing in Christ-likeness. In the opening chapter and the first 11 verses, we will see Paul lifting up a heartfelt prayer on behalf of his friends in Philippi.

Our new life in Christ doesn’t start when we arrive in heaven. It began when we placed our faith in His sacrificial death on the cross. And when God saved us, He left us here so that we might grow up in our salvation and share the gospel with others.

Paul demands lives that model mutual submission, selfless love, radical forgiveness, and a no-holds-barred pursuit of holiness. We have been called to live starkly different lives that act as lights in the spiritual darkness of this world.

Paul would have us make heaven our focus. This world is not meant to last. So, one day God will remake it. He’ll create a new heaven and a new earth. Perfect. Filled with His presence. Marked by perfect peace. And designed to last an eternity.