Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 17, 2010
Philippians 3:1-4

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.

3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence...

Philippians 3:1-4 (NIV)




There are several techniques that I think Satan uses to get us off track in our relationship with Christ, but I think one of his biggest weapons is distraction.

Sometimes Satan uses very obvious types of distraction, like the temptation to do things we know will be displeasing to God, or maybe just busyness, a hectic lifestyle, etc. But in this case Satan is using a particularly devious type of distraction. There were individuals spreading the word that the grace of Christ was not enough for a non-Jewish believer to be saved. There would be additional religious steps necessary in order to achieve a relationship with God. They were trying to tack some things on to make salvation look right to them. And as with anyone who works hard to add some step to the true process of beginning a relationship with Christ- these people had an agenda. Paul tells us by way of giving us a contrast in verse 3 that these individuals were doing this as a way of putting confidence in themselves. If anybody had a right to file an application for salvation based off of his upbringing, citizenship, or religious training it was Paul. But Paul reminds us in verse 3 that what makes true believers different is that they know better than to trust themselves. We live clean before Christ, we worship by the Holy Spirit, and we glory alone in Jesus Christ.

For today...
"Watch out," as Paul says, for distractions. Focus on Jesus Christ. To Him we direct our worship, and in Him we find cause to celebrate!

A Thankful Thought


Lamentations 3:21-24 ~ Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

A majority of the population does not like waking up in the morning and I am in that majority. Once I smack my alarm, wake up, and get in the shower I try to start thinking of verses and Lamentations 3:21-24 usually comes to mind. It puts a smile on my face and starts me off on the right track for the day. Knowing that His faithful love and mercies are never ending is such an encouragement and a blessing in my life. Christ chose to give never ending love to someone like me. Something that blows my mind is that every morning he renews His mercies for us.

According to the dictionary, the definition of inheritance is “portion, birthright.” God gave us Christ just like a kind rich uncle gives you a good amount of money. If I was given a great inheritance, I would put my hopes and desires into it because it is the thing that will be there when I need it the most. Because Christ is my inheritance I place all my hope and desires in Him because He is the only one that will not fade away when I am in great need. What makes me thankful is that He will never leave me no matter what is going on in my life: good or bad.

A NewSpring Staff Member

 



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