What are we living up to? What are we being called higher to? Definitely in the way we think, by transforming and renewing our thoughts and mind.
We don’t have to live up to anyone else’s expectations but live up to what we have obtained through Jesus.
Certainly, none of us have arrived yet! So be encouraged, “Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on…” (Philippians 3: 12)
Let’s look at just one thing we can all do. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Philippians 3: 14)
- The front window in our car is so much bigger than the rearview mirror.
- There’s so much to unfold before us that we haven’t seen yet.
- God has a bigger picture to complete, as He completes in us.
How do we look ahead, when we are still being pulled down from our past? Learn this truth: “Only live up to what we have already obtained.” (Philippians 3: 16)
Key #1: Focus on what we’ve been given.
It’s very easy to stay focused on what’s lost, but think upon what we have been given.
Key #2: Put into practice this truth by joining with others in following His example.
Live to glorify God and your focus will be clear.
Key #3: We are responsible for the truth we currently possess.
The Truth of God’s Word will possess our thinking and enable us to…
Key #4: Live according to the pattern we have been given.
It is so sad, that “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3: 18)
Kingdom-minded believers live not as an enemy of the cross, but live out their God-given destinies.
How do the enemies of the cross live? “Their destiny is their destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame.” (Philippians 3: 19)
Did you notice it’s all about them? Within that sentence, I counted six” theirs.” Look at what this means as we break it down a little.
- Living in destruction is the opposite of salvation.
- Those whose god is their stomach are those who are self-centered with their own appetites and desires coming first.
- Jesus told us to “Seek His Kingdom first…(Matthew 6: 33)
About the shame part, they toot their own horn and promote their own glory. In other words, they are shameless.
Kingdom-minded lovers of God know their shame has been removed through Jesus.
We have these promises: “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.” (Psalm 25: 3)
We are to look to Him and look up. “Those who look to Him are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame.” (Psalm 34: 5) The covering of shame has been taken away!
Jude describes Godless men as, “Wild waves of the sea, foaming up with shame, wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” (Jude 13)
- Wind-tossed waves constantly churn up.
- Wandering stars such as shooting stars appear in the sky only to fly off into eternal oblivion.
We are not going into an eternal oblivion.
We as Kingdom-kids are shining as stars. “We shine like stars in the universe–as we hold out the Word of Life.” (Philippians 2: 15-16)
Our mind is not on earthly things. “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await our Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3: 20)
Every citizen in the Kingdom of God is a designated king; as we serve with our God-given gifts.
KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: Living up to, is living in Christ, our King. He carries it all out, as we carry Him.
“For it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2: 20b)
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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