For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21)
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me (Phil 1:29&30)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Being that we are in a political season right now we hear many claims and promises from those who are running, and when these candidates are asked if they are Christian they all give their reasons as to why they believe they are. I always cringe at this because they have no concept of what it means to say you are a Christ follower. However what is even more concerning, for a lot of people make this same claim, is why do they feel right in making this claim? It comes back to us, the Church. We live so weak a testimony being mixed with the world that there is not a clear distinction between believers and non believers. So though I cringe at hearing politicians claiming to be Christian, I am more grieved at the reason as to why they, or anybody else can make that claim if they are not truly born again.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Talking about making a clear line between belief and non belief. If we lived out this verse on the human stage of life, there would be no question about what it means to be Christian. If our complete focus would be on what actions bring me closer to Christ as opposed to what actions make me more socially accepted. That would clearly demonstrate the difference and our peers would quickly see that we march to a different drum. Soon the invitations to have a drink and hang out would end. Our life style and our conversation would not mix.
I have never “fit” well into social settings, even in High School as Student Body President I ate lunch alone with the exception of a few Christians who were not afraid to be seen with me. The whole school staff and student body knew where I stood. The position gave me much opportunity to share my faith. I was never weird, but I didn’t hide my faith either. Whatever was good about me, whatever was kind, whatever was loving, I wanted people to know that it was because of Christ, not me. I knew over 1/3 of the student body by name and many more by face but I still ate about half of my lunches alone. The half of the time I spent counseling other students. Some of the cutest girls on campus, who I would have loved to have dated, would come to me with their boy problems. It was the weirdest thing. A few would take me up on coming to church ( which was my definition of a date), but most would not.
” and to die is gain.” The more of me that dies, the more I gain. In the world of the Spirit, something must die for something else to live. As I grow closer to Christ the desires of the flesh begin to lessen and some even die. Conversely, as I stray from the faith, as the light dims the darkness grows until the light of faith is finally extinguished. Both lives cannot exist in one soul. As Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon ( Matt.6:24).” In context mammon represents the cares and ambitions of the world that our flesh values because of our insecurities ( think about that for a bit. Our insecurities play a huge role).
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also ( Matt. 6:19-21)” “Therefore keep your heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life ( Proverbs 4:23). So right now, in this moment, where is your heart? Is it aligned with Christ, or the world? Are you lukewarm and caught in the middle? Know yourself for the consequences are eternal and repent if any part of you is not with Christ. Yet know that as long as we live in this earthly tent, we will always have struggles with our flesh. However what Christ seeks is not perfection but a solid decision to be His and to seek Him, that’s our part; His part is to sanctify the whole of us – a task far too great for any of us to take on.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also ( Matt. 6:19-21)” “Therefore keep your heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life ( Proverbs 4:23). So right now, in this moment, where is your heart? Is it aligned with Christ, or the world? Are you lukewarm and caught in the middle? Know yourself for the consequences are eternal and repent if any part of you is not with Christ. Yet know that as long as we live in this earthly tent, we will always have struggles with our flesh. However what Christ seeks is not perfection but a solid decision to be His and to seek Him, that’s our part; His part is to sanctify the whole of us – a task far too great for any of us to take on.
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
We have a society that is overly bent on “my rights.” The basis for this was employer abuse and prejudice. Yet like many good causes, they ineveribly become tinted and now we have people claiming they have rights when all that is being asked of them is to put in an honest day’s work. It doesn’t take much to ruffle peoples feathers.
I am a fan of the Slyvester Stallon boxing movies (Rocky), and in one of his later movies he is telling his son, who now is a teenager, that “it is not so much how hard you can hit, but how hard you can be hit and get up again.” There is a verse in Proverbs 24:16 that states “that a righteous man ( or woman) falls several times but gets up again.” Since it has been given to us to suffer for Christ, what is the temper of our steel? If people look at us wrong do we consider that suffering for Christ, or is it more than that? I view suffering in two categories, one that is internal and one that is external. Internally, I have weaknesses inherit to my sin nature. They can be lusts, temper, envy, impatience, ego etc., that are not Godly and do not represent Christ. Much of these responses surface by just living life. These carnal emotions come across our heart and mind and how we deal with them is what matters and truly determines the temper of our steel ( our commitment to Christ). At times our responses are even a surprise to us, we say ” I don’t know why I got so put out.” However our responses are not a surprise to God, and God allows these trials to occur to introduce me to me. Often the man in the mirror thinks quiet highly of himself ( or herself) and these trials are God’s way of showing us the real person inside. The purpose is to cause us to surrender “our rights,” the gods of this world that we lay claim to and adhere to so dearly. Through the trials these god’s fail to give us peace, direction or lasting contentment be they the gods of finances, fame, possessions, vanity, or relationships etc. And in releasing them we finally see them for what they are.
God seeks to purify us by using these trials and uses these trials to make us wholly His, His Bride. I call these the internal battles were fear, lust, anger, disappointment, depression etc. are defeated by righteousness and truth, by justice and peace, until His Throne fully reigns in us. We become heirs conquered by Grace ( no longer my efforts but His) Truth ( no false idols, only the one true God) and Love ( the full acceptance and surrender to His love without the need in me to earn it, or to feel worthy of it, for I will never be. The acceptance of His love is the true foundation of humility from where true inner strenght comes from. So few truly find it and operate from it, yet it is the core of the Spirit).
As I seek to mature in Him these internal battles, the voices within me are quieted and only one voice and desire becomes dominant. As humility grows in me humility makes God bigger, my problems smaller and peoples imperfection, weakness and tempers much easier to handle. It becomes a “no big deal” scenario as opposed to “how dare they say that to me etc.,” which is the wrong reaction each and every time. For the flesh/pride is exercising what it takes as its rights. Yet recall that Christ surrendered all His rights for us, we are to do likewise.
“Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
External persecution deals with my life and the values I live by convicting others to the
point that I anger them, though I do nothing directly to them to cause an offense, other than being a Christian. This can be a minor annoyance to them or it can become a major problem. I find that if I love people by treating them with respect, I am accepted for the most part even though they do not share my belief. I welcome most people into my life which drops their barriers, allowing me to know them, however my beliefs keep them at a “respectable friendship bases.” Unless they seek to know more about Christ that is were we stay. If they are open to Christ then our relationship becomes more sincere, we become friends. Living a strong conviction of Christ and people themselves will determine where they want you to be in their lives. Yet know this, that though they won’t invite you to hang out with them, if a problem arises they will pick you over their hang out friends, just like the girls in high school chose me over their friends, which has been the pattern my whole life.
Father God,
Thank you for this study. Grow within a desire to be close to You. Let humility become that which I see as the means and the quality that brings me into a deeper walk with You. Help me to become free of my fears, insecurities and jealousies knowing that I am absolutely complete in You, lacking nothing. Thank you and Amen
Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur
Arthur Navarrette