Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 56

Proverbs 22:6 is NOT a Promise

Once in a ladies’ Bible study group, a young mother of three small boys made a bold declaration. “If you raise your kids correctly and to follow God, they will never rebel.”

Her words hit the room like a wrecking ball. Most of us knew that two godly mothers in the group were dealing with rebellious teenagers. You could see the anguish on their faces. And the empathy on the faces of most of the rest of the group. “Young mother of three small boys” was clueless.

As the leader, I knew I had to do something. As graciously and kindly as possibly I attempted to minimize the damage she had done.

I have no doubt this young woman meant well, but she should never have made this statement. She was claiming something to be fact, but was not speaking from a place of knowledge or experience. Her boys were all five and under. I mean, seriously, what did she know about rebellious kids?

So if her statement didn’t come from knowledge or experience, where did she get the idea that if you raise your children “correctly” they won’t ever stray? More than likely, she got it from the Bible book of Proverbs. You may be familiar with the verse too:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Yes, the verse – like all the others in Scripture – is the inspired, authoritative Word of God. But “young mother of three small boys,” and many of us too, have wrongly claimed this verse as a blanket promise from God. We may have even been taught that this is a promise from God.

Over the last couple of Thursdays, I’ve posted about verses that are often misunderstood because they are taken out of context. (See also, “Do you misuse Philippians 4:13” and “What’s the Good of Romans 8:28.”) Proverbs 22:6 is often misunderstood because we fail to consider the literature genre.

The book of Proverbs is classified as wisdom literature. “The Introduction to Biblical Interpretation” by Dr. William Klein and Dr. Craig Blomberg define a proverb like this:

“By nature proverbs are not absolute promises from God that guarantee the promised outcome if one follows them. Rather, they point out patterns of conduct that, if followed, give one the best chance of success. In other words, they offer general principles for successful living rather than a comprehensive “legal code for life'” (page 315).

#Proverbs22:6 is NOT a #promise
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Considering the nature of a proverb then, God does not promise us that if we diligently teach our children about God and His ways, and raise them to love Him they will grow into godly, responsible adults. Though it is far more likely to turn out that way if we do, then if we don’t.

The grief of many godly parents has been multiplied because they misunderstood #Proverbs22:6
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The grief of many godly parents has been multiplied because they misunderstood Proverbs 22:6. Jen Wilken comments on this in her book “Women of the Word:”

“Reading a proverb as a promise can lead to heartache and doubt. Understanding it as a general rule for life can point us toward wise decision-making.”

Many godly parents have taken this verse as a promise. But then their teenager rebelled or their young adult walked away from the faith. The parents were shaken to the core. Where did we go wrong? Why did God allow this to happen? Why wasn’t God faithful?

So, what do we do with Proverbs 22:6? And all the other proverbs? We accept them as God’s inspired Word. We read and study them. We embrace them as the best principles to live lives that please and honor God. And we entrust our children to God who is indeed faithful!

Have you ever misunderstood Proverbs 22:6 as a promise? Have you been “disappointed” by Proverbs 22:6? How can we find comfort in the truth that this verse is not a promise?

The post Proverbs 22:6 is NOT a Promise appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Mug Monday: Need a Filter?

It’s Mug Monday! Each week this summer we will seek to make some sense out of the wisdom or humor written on the side of a coffee mug. Pull up a chair and join me in a cup of coffee!

A friend I worked with for several years worked hard to control his speech. Whenever he naturally would have made a sarcastic or quick comeback, he would pass his hand in front of his face as a physical reminder to “filter” his words. It was a visible reminder to himself to think before he spoke. It gave him pause.

Of course we all knew he had left something unsaid. Perhaps something biting that may have been funny, but not kind or helpful. Like my friend, when we “filter” our words before we allow them to leave our mouths, we check our speech for any impurities or damaging elements.

Do you have a mouth #filter? #MugMonday
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Unfortunately, our culture doesn’t much value the verbal filter today. Instead, we want to hear every cutting, rude, crude, hurtful word. In fact, the more outrageous the better. All we have to do is tack on a “just saying” and it’s all good. Today’s mug reflects our society’s desire to hear every unfiltered word. (I know it’s only been two weeks since we talked about our speech, but seriously, we can’t talk about it enough!)

God not only tells His children we should use filters for our mouths, He tells us very specifically what we should filter out and what we should allow through:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. “ Ephesians 4:29 NIV

The Greek word translated as “unwholesome” refers to far more than foul language or curse words. It means we shouldn’t say anything that tears down or deflates the one who hears our words. That doesn’t mean we don’t ever say anything hard of difficult to hear, but that the goal of our speech is to help and build up the other person.

Does your #speech build up or tear down? #Filter #MugMonday
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This is so challenging for me! Think about this, what percentage of what comes out of our mouths helps and builds up the hearer? What percentage hurts or tears down the hearer?

Yes, I long for 100% of my words to build up and 0% to tear down. Unfortunately, my filter is often faulty. How about you?

God commands us to control our speech, so in part, using our filter is a step of obedience. But we also need the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit because “no man can tame the tongue” (James 3:8) on our own. We need His divine power!

If you want to tame the tongue and control your speech, join me in this “filter prayer”:

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3, NIV

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD. Ps 141:3 #MugMonday #Filter
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Here’s the good news: God is waiting to help us control our speech! Let’s ask Him to help us keep that filter in place!

What about you? Have you ever taken pride in your “anything goes” speech? Have you struggled to control it only to fail time and time again?

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What’s the “Good” of Romans 8:28?

Life is filled with disappointments, grief, difficulty, trials, and strife. These things have touched each of us. It is the human experience. But in the midst of suffering, we cling to a promise found in Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome:

“For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, NIV

Christians find comfort, encouragement, and hope in these words. And rightly so. Unfortunately, many of us have misapplied this well-known verse. Our understanding is shortsighted. We slap God’s promise on the current and temporal, expecting our physical circumstances to soon look “good” – better even than when things went awry.

Isn’t that what Romans 8:28 means? Isn’t our commonly condensed version of this passage – “all things work together for good” – accurate? Doesn’t God divinely control all the events and circumstances of our lives to make things turn out great for us?

Does God control our circumstances so we experience #good? #Romans8:28
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In order to understand “all things work together for good” accurately, we must not only consider the entire verse, but also the context of the larger passage.

In Romans 8:18-39, Paul is comparing present, earthly suffering of believers with the eternal glory to come. (See Romans 8:18.) On this earth, we “groan” or experience difficulties because of the effects of sin. But God has conquered sin. In His sovereignty, He is working out His plan to save, sanctify, and glorify those He has “called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28-30).

The who, what, and how of #Romans8:28. What’s the #Good?
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With the larger context in mind, let’s discover the “who,” “what,” and “how” of Romans 8:28:

Who is the promise for? – This promise is only for Christians, those who have entered into a saving relationship with Jesus. Not only did Paul write this letter to believers, but the verse itself defines the “who” – “those who love [God], who have been called according to His purpose.” We cannot apply this verse to all people.
What is our “good?” – This is probably the most often misunderstood and misapplied part of this verse. “Good” does not mean our happiness, physical comfort, or material abundance. The larger context of the passage refers to our spiritual condition and sure hope of one day sharing in Christ’s glory. Verse 29 specifically says God’s purpose for us is to be “conformed to the likeness of His Son.” This is our calling, God’s goal – and “good” – for us. In His power and sovereignty, God is working through the circumstances of our lives to make us like Jesus and to bring us to our eternal glory.
How does God accomplish it? – God works in and through our trials, difficulties, and pain and suffering to move us toward His will (Romans 8:27) which is conformity to Jesus and future glory with Him (Romans 8:29-30). (See Romans 5:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7, and James 1:2-4.) In order to be like Jesus and share His glory, we must also share His sufferings (Philippians 3:10-11). God uses and works through our physical circumstances to bring about the spiritual condition He desires in us.

God’s “good” for us is far greater than our temporary, physical circumstances. His plan is spiritual in nature and eternal in scope. God intimately knows our physical needs and cares greatly about each one (Matthew 6:25-33). But He cares even more about our spiritual condition. He wants us to be like His Son.

#GodCares more about our #spiritual condition than He does our physical
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Is this understanding of God’s “good” for us different than you’ve understood it in the past? In what way?

 

 

 

 

 

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Mug Monday: Designed to be Unique

 

It’s Mug Monday! Each week this summer we will seek to make some sense out of the wisdom or humor written on the side of a coffee mug. Pull up a chair and join me in a cup of coffee!

There are over 7 billion people on planet earth, but no one is exactly like you. There is only one “you.” You are unique.

Your uniqueness extends far beyond your physical characteristics. No one else has your exact life experiences, gifts, talents, personality, passions, knowledge, wisdom, or skills. You are uniquely you.

The wisdom on today’s coffee mug reflects a truth we see in Scripture:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10, NIV

The Greek word translated as “workmanship” in the NIV is poiema. The English word “poem” is derived from it. We are God’s spiritual “handiwork.” If you have been born again through a personal relationship with Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10), you are a “thing of His making,” God’s own design.

You are God’s #handiwork a “thing of His own making” #MugMonday
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Every believer has not only been chosen by God, He has also prepared a specific purpose, an individual set of “good works” for each of us to accomplish. Then He gifts and equips us so we have what we need to fulfill our purpose (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Isn’t that amazing?

God made you uniquely you. #MugMonday
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God establishes a unique purpose for each of us. He prepares us to carry it out by equipping us with a unique set of gifts, talents, passions, and experiences. Yet so often we expend our energy trying to be something we’re not. We waste our dreams wishing to be like someone else. We squander our time pursuing the wrong passions.

We waste our dreams and squander our time trying to be someone else. #MugMonday
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My challenge for us today is to embrace God’s design and purposes for us. Let’s stop trying to be someone else and rejoice in the unique person God has designed us to be!

Have you ever wasted your time and energy trying to be someone other than the unique individual God created you to be?

 

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Do You Misuse Philippians 4:13?

It’s probably the most well-known and oft-quoted verse from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13, NKJV

Unfortunately, it’s also one of the verses most often taken out of context. We love that one verse so much we pull it out of its home in the surrounding verses. We hold it out on its own and say, “Jesus gives me strength to do all things.” But is that what it means?

Unfortunately, when we take it out of context we lose the original meaning. We even begin to assign meanings to it God never intended.

Let’s say, for instance, I desire to do something big for the Kingdom of God. I have an idea, a vision, of what I’d like to do. But it’s big, really big! Well, if “Jesus gives me strength to do all things,” then doesn’t that mean He will give me the power and opportunities to not only pursue this dream, but also to succeed?

Is that what Philippians 4:13 means? Does it mean that Jesus will give me the power and strength to do whatever I desire to do for Him? Or maybe it means Jesus will give me the power and strength to do what He calls me to do?

Do you #misuse #Philippians 4:13? #context
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We know from other Scriptures that God does gift and guide, equip and empower His children to carry out His purposes for our lives (2 Thessalonians 1:11; Ephesians 1:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-13). But Philippians 4:13 does not promise us that God will give us strength to follow our desires or even to carry out His purposes.

So what does Philippians 4:13 mean?

Let’s drop Philippians 4:13 back into the verses immediately surrounding it and see what it means in light of its context. (For more on the “context” of a biblical passage, check out this post: “4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context.“) In Philippians 4:10-14, Paul thanked the Christians in Philippi for the financial gift they sent him. He appreciated their gift, but he was not in desperate need. In fact, he had learned to be content no matter his physical circumstances. Paul had discovered the secret of contentment whether he was in physical want or plenty.

And what was his secret of contentment, whether he was fed or hungry? Paul had experienced Christ’s strength within him to endure any and every situation. He found total sufficiency in trusting Christ. Paul gained strength from Jesus to be content with whatever God provided for him.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” never meant Paul could do anything because Jesus would give him the power to do it. It meant Paul could endure any difficult circumstance or physical need through the strengthening power of Christ.

#Philippians 4:13 does not obligate God to empower our #plans. #Context
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Great, incredible truth. Although Philippians 4:13 does not obligate God to empower our plans. Oh no, it’s far better than that! Jesus will give us the strength we need to endure desperate need. His empowering presence will be with us through every difficult circumstance.

Have you gained a better understanding of Philippians 4:13? Does it encourage you today?

 

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Mug Monday: Bite Your Tongue!

It’s Mug Monday! Join me this summer for the weekly mug (some mine, some yours, & some borrowed). We will seek to make some sense out of the wisdom or humor written on its side. Pull up a chair and join me in a cup of coffee!

I need to drink my coffee out of today’s mug every day. The wisdom recorded on its side highlights an area of weakness in my own life and voices a prayer for God’s divine and supernatural help. Yes, Lord! Help me to hold my tongue!

The Bible is not silent – yes, pun intended – on matters of our speech. Jesus’ half-brother James described the tongue like this:

“So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” James 3:5-6, NLT

On first read we may roll our eyes and think dear James is a bit dramatic. But if we are totally honest with ourselves we know he’s right. I’ve seen it happen in my own life. More times than I’d like to admit.

My words have wounded. My words have torn down. My words have defeated and deflated and even destroyed. And they cannot be taken back. What takes only a second to do, then takes a long time – if ever – to heal.

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about our tongues as well. Here are two that have specifically spoken to me recently:

“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” Proverbs 10:19, NLT
“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.” Proverbs 12:18, NLT

Do you struggle like me to keep your #tongue in check? #BiteYourTongue #MugMonday
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So, if you’re like me and struggle with keeping your tongue in check, what can we do? First, we must realize that what comes out of our mouths is only a symptom of the real problem. Jesus Himself got right to the heart of the matter:

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 9:34, NLT

While discipline of our speech can help, we can only “hold” our tongues for so long. To get to the root of the problem and permanently stem the “flow,” we must have a heart change. We must ask, then allow, the Holy Spirit to change our attitudes and thought patterns. And unfortunately, this won’t happen overnight. It will be a long – and sometimes painful – process.

Let’s get to the root of our #tongue problem and stop the flow! #MugMonday
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Are you up to the challenge? Join me in this prayer of David:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24, NLT

Give this some thought: Name one attitude of your heart that directly impacts what comes out of your mouth.

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4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context

“Stop, you’re killing me!”

Which of the following scenes produced the statement above?

A teenage boy won’t stop tickling his little sister.
A middle-aged woman just scored 75 points against her Scrabble partner.
A masked man is beating a defenseless elderly woman.

Does it matter? Absolutely! In the first two cases, the statement is meant to be teasing and playful. But the last scenario is life and death and someone needs to call the police!

Context does indeed matter in our daily life and in our study of God’s Word.

Unfortunately, many Christians fail to consider the context of a biblical passage before they come to a conclusion about what it means. As one of my seminary professors used to say, “A passage can never mean what it never meant.” In other words, every verse in the Bible has the same meaning today that it had when it was written. It may have unlimited applications depending on the individual and her circumstances. But God’s meaning never changes.

But here’s our problem: “the Bible was written in a foreign language to people who lived a long time ago in a different part of the world with a different way of life.”[i] In order to discover the original – and therefore current – meaning, we must consider the original context of the passage.

4 Things to Consider in Understanding the Biblical Context

Although numerous volumes have been written on the subject, there are a few things we can quickly consider to help us deal correctly with God’s Word.

Literary Genre – Is the book you are studying poetry, wisdom, prophecy, narrative, or apocalyptic literature? The genre of the book affects the interpretation. For instance, narrative simply tells us what happened and not necessarily what we are supposed to do in a given situation. And wisdom literature, like Proverbs, states general life principles and not solid promises of God.
Literary Context – Every sentence is part of a paragraph. Every paragraph is part of a larger passage. Every passage is part of an entire book. We cannot assign meaning to a verse without considering the greater context. For instance, knowing that Jacob stole the birthright from his brother Esau in Genesis 25 and Esau’s blessing from his father in chapter 27 helps us understand why Jacob was afraid of him in chapter 32.
The Context of the Book – It matters who the author was, who he was writing to, and why he was writing. For instance, knowing that the author of the book of James was the half-brother of Jesus and not James the Apostle, definitely changes the way we understand the letter.
Historical-Cultural Background – Every book of the Bible was written in a specific time in history, to a specific people, in the midst of a specific set of circumstances. We cannot accurately understand them outside of that context. The political climate, current customs, and speech idioms are just a few of the things that impact the original meaning of a passage. For instance, the book of Hebrews is packed with references to Jewish religious practices. Its rich meaning will be lost on us unless we go back and study things like the Day of Atonement and the Levitical priesthood.

A few resources to help with context

We cannot begin to cover everything here, but if you’d like to look deeper into the context as you study, here are a few suggestions:

Read the introduction to a Bible book in your study Bible.
Get a good Bible Dictionary. I have a copy of Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible.
Another great resource is the two-volume set of The IVP Bible Background Commentary.
Bible handbook like the classic Halley’s Bible Handbook 

Have you ever misunderstood God’s Word because you failed to consider the context? What is a verse that you think is regularly taken out of context?

[i] Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Klein, Blomberg, Hubbard, Word Publishing, 1993, pg. 155.

Note:This post was originally published at www.DoNotDepart.com

 

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Do you fall apart when your plans do?

Today’s mug speaks to me – and not just because it begs to be filled with coffee. The “wisdom” recorded on its side also reflects my personality.

I am a planner. I make to-do lists. I put everything that’s happening in my calendar. And when my plans fall apart, so do I. At least a little bit.

Unfortunately, life is full of surprises and unanticipated bumps. And even though I usually act like I’m in charge, in reality I’m not. When it gets right down to it, I have no control. And that’s exactly the way it should be. Because if I’m totally honest, in the grand scheme of things I have no clue what I’m doing.

In the grand scheme of #life I have no clue what I’m doing. No #control! #MugMonday
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Oh, but praise God, there is One who sees all and knows everything. He is always right. His plans are never thwarted. His will is never derailed.

So, setting aside our own plans and ways to follow His just makes sense, doesn’t it? So how come I still so often fight to have my own way? Why do pout when my plans fall apart?

The Bible book of Proverbs is full of wisdom regarding our plans compared to the Almighty’s. Here’s a sampling:

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21
“How can we understand the road we travel? It is the LORD who directs our steps.” Proverbs 20:24

We may be limited in our #knowledge and #understanding but God is NOT! #MugMonday
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Oh, we are so limited in our human knowledge and understanding. But thankfully, our God is not limited! He sees all, knows what’s best, and has the power to accomplish it! On a world-wide scale and for you. Individually. Personally. You and God.

“The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

Wow! Think about this. If you submit yourself to God’s authority in your life, He will not let you stumble or fall. He takes delight in caring for every detail of your life. Why in the world would we want to try to do it all ourselves?

God delights in caring for every detail of your life! #MugMonday #Plans
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Who would you rather follow? Someone who doesn’t know the future and has no power to intervene in or control the circumstances? (By the way, that’s you or me.) Or Someone who knows everything that lies ahead and has the sovereign and absolute power to intervene?

So, who you gonna follow?

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Do I Care More About My Bible than I do God’s Word?

I misplaced my Bible last week during a mission trip to Canada. Funny thing is, I’ve had this Bible for decades and only misplaced it twice. Both times happened this year during trips to Canada.

In January, I left it at the community center where a local church meets. I found it the next day in the lost and found bin. Then last week, it lay hidden under the seat of our rental car when we turned it in. I called Avis the very next day but they had already rented the car again. They promised to hold the car when it was returned for a thorough inspection.

Three days later they called back and left a message. We played phone tag for two days before we finally connected. They found my Bible! The Avis desk would not be open when we flew out a few days later, so I made a special trip to the airport to pick it up.

I do have other Bibles, but this one is precious. This red leather edition is the 1984 NIV translation. I’ve used this Bible for memorization. I can quickly locate all my favorite passages. I know if they fall on the left side or right and in which column. I’ve studied in this Bible and I’ve taught from this Bible. I was not going to let it go without doing everything I could to find it.

Sentimental value aside, this Bible is just paper, leather, and ink. God’s Word and the truth found in it, is infinitely more than that. As I reflected on my efforts to get this particular Bible back, I began to wonder what I cared about more – this Bible or God’s Word. Do I pursue God’s true and eternal Word like I did my lost Bible?

My #Bible is paper and ink. #God’sWord is eternal and true
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One day, this physical Bible will be gone. If I don’t lose it forever in Canada, it will one day finally disintegrate with age. But God’s Word, which is recorded in my Bible, stands forever.

“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Psalm 119:89

God’s Word is not bound by culture or restricted by time. It judges my thoughts, attitudes, and motivations.

“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

If I listen to God’s Word and follow it, His Word will lead me in the way I should go.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105

So, do I care more about my Bible or God’s Word. Yes, I love this red leather Bible. But I desire to live by the Word of Truth recorded between its covers.

What about you? Do you care more about your Bible or God’s Word?

Do you care more about your #Bible than you do #God’sWord?
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Mug Monday: Are You a Good Example?

It’s Mug Monday! Join me each week through the summer to see the featured mug (some mine, some yours, & some borrowed). We will seek to make some sense out of the wisdom or humor written on its side. Pull up a chair and join me in a cup of coffee!

People are watching you. Oh, yes they are! As a Christian, you are setting an example. The question is – Are you a good example or a bad one?

Many Christians don’t want to be an example. We point to Christ and say “There’s our example. That’s who we follow, not another person.” Ah, yes, that let’s us off the hook. Let’s take the humble route and say, “Don’t look at me. Just look at Jesus.”

Today’s wisdom from the side of a coffee mug reflects this “humble” stand with a bit of sarcasm.

There’s just one problem with that. It isn’t biblical.

Yes, our ultimate example is Jesus. In fact, the Holy Spirit is constantly working to conform us to His image. But God wants to give us flesh and blood, in our face examples too. The apostle Paul knew those first century believers needed that and he strove to be a Christ-like example for them.

To the believers in Corinth, Paul wrote: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Those folks were surrounded by a plethora of bad examples. They needed someone who could say, “This way. I’m following Jesus, so you can follow me.”

#MugMonday. Are you a #GoodExample or a #BadExample? Move toward #Jesus
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That’s the kind of Christ follower we should be. We should be following Christ so closely that others could follow us and be going the right direction.

Are you following Jesus closely enough that others can follow you? #MugMonday
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It’s not that we’ve gotten things perfect. Even though we still have a ways to go, we can still guide others in the right direction. Hear Paul’s words from Philippians:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus… Join with others in following my example, brothers and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Philippians 3:12-14, 17

Did you hear that? Paul did not consider himself perfect. He was still learning and growing spiritually. But he was running hard after Jesus and that made him a good example. Others could follow him and be headed in the right direction.

What about us? If others follow us will they be headed in a Christ-ward direction? What does it look like to “strain ahead” and “press on toward the goal?”

 

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