Devotion • September 8
Today’s Scripture Reading
Philippians 3:1–16
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh — even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. (NRSV)
Reflection
In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns us Christians about the peril of concerning ourselves so much with rituals and rules that we forget about the importance of our relationship with Christ. During Paul’s time, the early church had fallen into a period of believing that the laws around “religion” were bringing them into a closer relationship with God.
The early Christians were so busy following the rules that they forgot that the goal was to develop a personal rapport with the Lord. If we reflect on this scripture, one might quickly realize that the modern church may deal with this same struggle. How often do we find ourselves thinking “I better go to church — I haven’t been in a couple of weeks”?
Attending church is important because of the fellowship and the inherent support of a community of believers. However, going to Sunday service alone will not bring you into a closer, more profound relationship with God.
Paul goes on to proclaim that righteousness is not found in laws or rituals but in the power of faith in the resurrection. As Christians, we must remain focused on our faith in Christ, not the laws of religion. Our faith will allow us to continue to “press towards the mark” as Paul says and ultimately reach a closer, more meaningful relationship with the Lord.
Prayer
Lord God, help us to remember that our faith in you and in the death and resurrection of Christ is the gateway to our salvation. Help us to hone our relationship with you and seek to do your will in all our doings. In your name we pray. Amen.
Written by Justin Epps, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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