Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. (Philippians 3:17-4:1a)
If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you know I’m a thread puller. I cannot stop with just one verse. I need to understand it. What was its intention and how does it apply to me today? I truly believe if there was nothing for me (or you) to take away from a passage of Scripture, it would not be included in the Bible.
Anyway, this passage is from my Sunday morning prayer and Bible time. Paul wrote it in a letter to the church of Ephesus and his boldness struck me. The verse of the day was Ephesians 3:20. When I read it in context, this is what followed.
“Pattern your lives after mine.” v 3:17
Self Question(s): Am I following Jesus closely enough that others can follow me to Him?
“there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ“ v 3:18
Self Question(s): What does my conduct reveal about my desires? What do my words, my responses, my actions, and my choices tell others about my priorities in life?
“they think only about this life here on earth” v 3:19
Self Question(s): Am I remembering to live with eternity in mind or do I make all my decisions based on the here and now?
“we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior” v 3:20
Self Question(s): Am I eagerly waiting for Jesus to return for me? And if so, why? Is it just so I can get away from the troubles of this world (John 14), or am I looking forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face?
“he will bring everything under his control” v 3:21
Self Question(s): What areas of my life do I still need to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ?
“stay true to the Lord” v 4:1
Self Question(s): Am I consistent as a Jesus-follower, or do I only follow Him when it feels good, others will agree, or doesn’t require any effort or sacrifice?
All of this brings me back to the bold statement of Paul, “pattern your lives after mine.”
LORD, I desperately want to be a consistent Jesus-follower who others can follow toward you. I want my desire to be for You and Your ways. Help me to never lose sight of You even as I live here on this earth. Help me learn from You. Teach me to submit to Your authority in every area of my life. And create a genuine love for You and others in me, so I will always follow You well.
And LORD, for those reading this today, I pray You would reveal to them just how much life You have for them. May they understand following You is not about finding out about the rules, but about the deep intimacy of relationship with You. And may their growing intimacy with You overflow into every other relationship in their lives. Amen.
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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.