S - Philippians 3:7-9, 12-14, 20-21 (NRSV): "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. … 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. … But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself."O - We do live in the bodies of humiliation, as fearfully and wonderfully made as we are; fundamentally all of us are way below the level and intention of our original creation. Body, soul and spirit really share the same tragic dilemma; hints of what we could and should have been and the complete inability to gain or maintain it. Jesus comes to change all this … but to do it in such a way that all may participate and all may have hope in this age and in all the ages to come. God bound all over to disobedience (not the way we started) so that he might have mercy on all (Romans 11:32). If Jesus is to have any friends from our race, then he will have to be the friend of sinners. Even the most zealous and self-disciplined among us is a sinner. So from our best to our worst we are called to forget it all to count it all loss; to regard as rubbish not just our sins but our successes in order that we may be found in him and in the only true/real/acceptable righteousness God desires and requires. This is a goal which we press on toward and make our own because Jesus has made us his own. While we do get to grow, to put off the old, to be strengthened in spirit, to be made new, we never fully escape the humiliation of our current condition … and neither do we escape the hope of transformation and the security of his love. Remembering our sins can discourage us unto a foreboding hopelessness. Remembering our better actions and patterns can inspire us to pride and a numbing loss of grace's amazing wonderment. The goal, the call, that for which we strain is not found in a "condition" or "pattern" or "enablement" but in a person. Jesus is the point, the goal, the reason, the righteousness, the power, the hope, the way, the truth and the life. And there is a day coming when he WILL transform and conform our bodies to the body of his glory … and O what a day that will be.
A - Forgetting all, remembering only Jesus. Straining for him not a condition, pattern or enablement. Making him my goal because he has made me his is the point and the only life-giving, life-sustaining, life-changing reality. Everything else, good and bad, pure and impure, righteous and evil is rubbish, refuse, loss. Anything which interferes with this pursuit is an interference none can afford … especially me:)! So, today while it's called today … my goal is clear!
P - Lord Who is the only Point,
I am not only amazed at the power and volume of your grace but it's resilient and indefatigable nature. Always more grace than sin; always grace for all; always ours for the asking; always ready to wash, refresh and set right again. This is a marvel and this grace is only available in you … be strong in the grace that is IN Christ Jesus. This grace is not available in a principle and does come work its work because I can recite a scripture or bible promise. This grace is the person who has made us/me his own and you say come to me. Lord, I come. Lord, there is so much for me to be thankful for in your blessing and kindness. There is so much which challenges me and still hurts me … forcing issues I want to be over and wounds which have yet to finish healing. It is a longer and harder process than I imagined or thought. Fortunately, you are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above whatever I may ask. And so, as I ask, wait, work, follow, hope, and believe I know my goal is not the healing, the rescue from challenge, the blessing received or any such thing. YOU are the goal and my goal. I have missed you often and even refused you on occasion … this is to my sad shame. But you have said to me and to all … come to me. Thank you for making me your own, your friend. Thank you for always being a friend to sinners.
Running to you,
Steve
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