Philippians 3:17-4:1 (NIV)
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
The good news was that, even though the Judaizers were running around and trying to persuade Christians that they weren’t really saved unless they were saved the Jewish way, and even though there were many terrible examples of Christians around demanding the spotlight, God had not left Himself without witnesses. Paul and the godly, Christ-like life he lived was definitely one of them. But there were others, notably those Paul had trained up, who were living in the Kingdom day by day. Paul urged the Christians to follow their example.
The difference was not just in behavior. Their behavior was actually an outgrowth of their worldview and their theology, as is always the case. Those who lived as an enemy of the cross were focused on this world, on luxuries, on status, and on stuff.
The focus of true Christians, on the other hand, is on the Kingdom of God, on the Savior, Jesus, and His agenda of bringing Salvation to the whole world through His people. And that change of focus changed everything. Instead of living each day for the here and now, God’s people live everyday with their focus on eternity. Instead of looking for ways to acquire more money and more stuff, God’s people live with their focus on bringing light and life to the broken and lost people around them. Instead of looking for ways to gratify their physical bodies with sensual pleasures, God’s people live with their focus on the fact that these bodies are temporary, and are on their way to being replaced with resurrection bodies like the one Jesus has.
With those priorities, and with the good role models that they had in their midst, every one of the Philippians was set up for success. If they would live in this way, they would land safely on heaven’s shores when all was said and done.
Father, how easy it is sometimes to lose our focus on your Kingdom priorities, and to adopt the priorities of the world, that scream at us from every commercial, or movie, or television show. These alternative voices are so loud, so pervasive and so obtrusive that it takes a strong and diligent effort to turn away from them and to keep Your worldview and Your standards front and center in our hearts. But, Lord, we do have some strong role models. Help us to follow their lead. We do have the Holy Scriptures. Help us to internalize them. And we do have your Holy Spirit. Help us to listen to Him and obey His leadings every minute of every day. Amen.