Read
Philippians 3
Consider
When we think about Christianity, what would be our ultimate goal of our faith? There are some who might say that it is about understanding who we are and our place in the world. Others might say that it is about how we actualize our skills and talents to serve others and build up communities. Still, some might functionally believe that it enhances what we already hold important in our lives.
Though there may be some value in exploring the questions above, especially when it comes to how we express and live it out in our culture and context, we see Scripture call us to a different starting point. The testimony of the Bible is that God is redeeming and reconciling all things in Jesus and a way has been opened by Him to live in loving communion and participation with Him. The apostle Paul would answer that the goal of our faith is the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”.
Are we willing to surrender ourselves over to God’s work in and through our lives to draw us close to Him and to know Him in every circumstance? As mentioned in this passage, this includes daily sharing and becoming like Him in His death so that the new resurrected life can be manifest and mature in our lives, relationships, communities, and neighbourhoods.
Through the revelation of His Holy Spirit ministering to us, we begin to see how some of the parts of our lives that we would have considered advantages are actually stumbling blocks when we rely on them as our methods to be righteous and perfect in God’s sight. We are invited into a journey in which God is at work decluttering areas in our lives so that we would make space to know Him more, seeing His grace in every moment and interaction to trust and open our lives to His presence and work.
Pastor John Nip
Pray
Heavenly Father, we come before you remembering that you are the one who has made a way for us in Jesus. Would you give us the deep desire and primary goal of knowing you more and to be able to see and experience the worthiness of living in loving communion with you. We ask that you show us the areas and confidences in our lives that are getting in the way of knowing and trusting you more deeply and uproot them from our lives.
By your Holy Spirit, would you reveal, convict, transform, and show us how to participate in your work of decluttering. Would you change the way we see ourselves and others and to consciously be attentive to how every moment and circumstance can be an opportunity to know you more. We give you thanks that you have already been at work doing this and we surrender the present and the future of our lives into your hands.
Diving Deeper
If the main goal of being a disciple is to know and love Jesus, what are areas in our lives that may be barriers and hindrances?
What changes in attitude and dependency are needed in what we would normally put our confidence in? What defaults might we need to shed in order to be in deeper communion with Jesus?
How do we make space and engage in practices in our lives to encounter God’s presence and power?
How does knowing Christ impact how we relate to one another, especially when there are differences and conflicts?