39 - Connecting w/ God
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 39 | CONNECTING AS A TEAM
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 39 | CONNECTING AS A TEAM
CONNECTING AS A TEAM
Philippians 3:13-16
“Brothers and sisters, 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. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
What team sports have you played, even if at recess years ago? Basketball? Baseball? Kickball? Football? Have you noticed how each of those games and many others, have different rules, goals, and objectives? How would it work if one person on say, a baseball team, were playing his/her position as they would if they were playing football? Running the ball down the baselines, tackling the runner, and throwing the baseball to the outfielder like a pass? It would be a mess!
Paul is focusing the Philippian church on “the goal” of living in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord. I can imagine that Paul was remembering the teachings of Jesus who, when asked “What is the greatest commandment?” answered – in essence – to love God and love one another. And that these attitudes should come from within, from the heart, not from rigid, joyless “duty” but in Christ, in harmony with one another and with great joy.
It’s easy to get sidetracked even in church and to allow the focus to shift and become “me-focused” … “I want this type of music,” “I want the services to be held at this time,” “I want the sermons to be shorter” and on and on.
We must not lose focus on the HIGHER purpose to which God has called us.
Prayer: Lord help me to keep my eye on the goal which you have set before us. Help me to play well on our “church team” as we focus on “making disciples in a healthy church.” Amen.
Philippians 3:13-16
“Brothers and sisters, 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. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
What team sports have you played, even if at recess years ago? Basketball? Baseball? Kickball? Football? Have you noticed how each of those games and many others, have different rules, goals, and objectives? How would it work if one person on say, a baseball team, were playing his/her position as they would if they were playing football? Running the ball down the baselines, tackling the runner, and throwing the baseball to the outfielder like a pass? It would be a mess!
Paul is focusing the Philippian church on “the goal” of living in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord. I can imagine that Paul was remembering the teachings of Jesus who, when asked “What is the greatest commandment?” answered – in essence – to love God and love one another. And that these attitudes should come from within, from the heart, not from rigid, joyless “duty” but in Christ, in harmony with one another and with great joy.
It’s easy to get sidetracked even in church and to allow the focus to shift and become “me-focused” … “I want this type of music,” “I want the services to be held at this time,” “I want the sermons to be shorter” and on and on.
We must not lose focus on the HIGHER purpose to which God has called us.
Prayer: Lord help me to keep my eye on the goal which you have set before us. Help me to play well on our “church team” as we focus on “making disciples in a healthy church.” Amen.
Posted in Connecting w/ God
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