I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and somehow to attain to the resurrection. (Phil. 3:10,11a).
Narrative doesn't really touch the power of the resurrection. Poetry points to it, but singing from our soul is the best we can do. When I was in Young Life in high school, one of the first songs I led in Christian singing was about the power of the resurrection.
CHORUS:
I am the resurrection and the life;
He who believes in me will never die.
I am the resurrection and the life;
He who believes in me will live a new life.
1. I have come to bring the truth;
I have come to bring you life;
If you (yes you), believe (I do), then you shall live.
2. In my word all men will come to know
It is love which makes the Spirit grow
If you (yes you), believe (I do), then you shall live.
3. Keep in mind the things that I have said
Remember me in the breaking of the bread
If you (yes you), believe (I do), then you shall live.
Ray Repp song youtube by Henry Garcia (audio only)
Jesus came to give us eternal life. But eternal life does not begin after we die- the life God has meant for us begins now. We can be loving- now. We can be kind- now. We can have joy- now. We can experience forgiveness for our sins and our past- now. We can be lifted up when we feel we are the mud on the bottom of someone's shoes- now. Jesus said He has come to give us the abundant life- now (Jn. 10:10). The Bible says that you can know you have eternal life. It doesn't begin after we die- it begins the minute we first really believe. This is true in the coronavirus time and in ordinary time.
Prayer: Lord, you are my resurrection and my life. Help me to trust that if I believe in you I will never die. Iin this tough time, Lord, lift me up.
Showing posts with label Philippians 3:10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippians 3:10. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Focus on the Power of Jesus
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (NIV)
Thoughts: We are called to know Christ but also to know His power. It is one thing to know Christ as a person- but miss the power of His resurrection. Billions claim to know about Christ; Billions claim to know Him in some way; But to know His power- His ability- His strength- His help- His amazing wonders- His power emanating from Him is another matter. If your God can do nothing either for or against you- then you may want to re-examine if this is the right person you are worshiping. God does not just exist in the past. He did not just have power when He created the world- and then He not only rested but stopped. God did not just do miracles in the Old Testament times- for about 2,000 years and then He did miracles through Jesus and the apostles until the Bible was canonized. God is still God- and that means He is providentially alive and powerful. He governs the world in His providence. He rules the world through His power.
There are different ways to focus or respond to getting over this virus. Let me list a few.
1) A stiff upper lip- just endure it and it will go away. This is the stoic way, and it is a growing way of looking at life in America. The problem with stoicism is it offers no hope and no meaning just "get through it" is all, when there can be so much more.
2) We did it ourselves. Last week, the governor of New York self-gratifyingly said, “We have turned the corner on the Coronavirus plague. It was not faith or prayers that did it. Only hard work and science.” How does he know that God had nothing to do with it. He did not take an agnostic stance but an all-knowing stance that God did not heal anyone, God did not help anyone, God did not give any ideas to anyone, God didn't give courage or inspiration to anyone (even the Samaritan's Purse hospital in Central Park?). God often works through our hard work, our science, and our wonderful volunteers, and the people who socially distanced out of consideration of others.
3) We could pray to the evil itself. I see this in people who are in awe at the power and spread of this virus. They cower only at the virus and do not bow to the true God. In the ancient world this was common. So the plague takes on a persona and offerings are made to it. So in Corinth statues were made of the syphilis virus and the boils and growths STDs produced in an offering to the goddess of love for the easing of pain. There were many plague gods in Akkadia Aplu/Apollo, Babylon Nergal, China Wen Shen, Northern Europe Ruohtta, Aztec Xipe Totec, and in Egypt Resheph- whose being the plague god did not stop the 10 plagues caused by the Hebrew god. We do not need to worship the power of corona and fear the corona-virus as if it were all-powerful, or that the sickness and pain it brings about are the ultimate end of life.
4) We could worship and look to the Lord to raise us up. It is the power of God over pestilence and death that God shows in the Passover/Exodus and also in the resurrection of Christ. No plague/pestilence/disease/sickness or evil can stop His life and thus our hope. Our focus should not simply be on our stiff upper lip, our own abilities, the pain and evil around us. Rather we are called to lift up our heads to the power of Christ. He offers us hope, the ability to cope, but also the power of God to overcome. By the way, the greatest healing agent against the corona-virus is not something you buy over the counter- or even bleach or any kind of alcohol- but it is UV rays found in FREE- God-given sunlight! we do not worship sunlight- but we should give thanks to the One who gives it.
We would do well to remember, especially today, the power of God to resurrect us and lift us up as a nation now- and the ultimate resurrection later.
Prayer: Lord, Let me focus on your power instead of my powerlessness. Let me wait on your timing instead of giving into my impatience. May your power not only protect us, heal us, but also raise us back up again.
Thoughts: We are called to know Christ but also to know His power. It is one thing to know Christ as a person- but miss the power of His resurrection. Billions claim to know about Christ; Billions claim to know Him in some way; But to know His power- His ability- His strength- His help- His amazing wonders- His power emanating from Him is another matter. If your God can do nothing either for or against you- then you may want to re-examine if this is the right person you are worshiping. God does not just exist in the past. He did not just have power when He created the world- and then He not only rested but stopped. God did not just do miracles in the Old Testament times- for about 2,000 years and then He did miracles through Jesus and the apostles until the Bible was canonized. God is still God- and that means He is providentially alive and powerful. He governs the world in His providence. He rules the world through His power.
There are different ways to focus or respond to getting over this virus. Let me list a few.
1) A stiff upper lip- just endure it and it will go away. This is the stoic way, and it is a growing way of looking at life in America. The problem with stoicism is it offers no hope and no meaning just "get through it" is all, when there can be so much more.
2) We did it ourselves. Last week, the governor of New York self-gratifyingly said, “We have turned the corner on the Coronavirus plague. It was not faith or prayers that did it. Only hard work and science.” How does he know that God had nothing to do with it. He did not take an agnostic stance but an all-knowing stance that God did not heal anyone, God did not help anyone, God did not give any ideas to anyone, God didn't give courage or inspiration to anyone (even the Samaritan's Purse hospital in Central Park?). God often works through our hard work, our science, and our wonderful volunteers, and the people who socially distanced out of consideration of others.
3) We could pray to the evil itself. I see this in people who are in awe at the power and spread of this virus. They cower only at the virus and do not bow to the true God. In the ancient world this was common. So the plague takes on a persona and offerings are made to it. So in Corinth statues were made of the syphilis virus and the boils and growths STDs produced in an offering to the goddess of love for the easing of pain. There were many plague gods in Akkadia Aplu/Apollo, Babylon Nergal, China Wen Shen, Northern Europe Ruohtta, Aztec Xipe Totec, and in Egypt Resheph- whose being the plague god did not stop the 10 plagues caused by the Hebrew god. We do not need to worship the power of corona and fear the corona-virus as if it were all-powerful, or that the sickness and pain it brings about are the ultimate end of life.
4) We could worship and look to the Lord to raise us up. It is the power of God over pestilence and death that God shows in the Passover/Exodus and also in the resurrection of Christ. No plague/pestilence/disease/sickness or evil can stop His life and thus our hope. Our focus should not simply be on our stiff upper lip, our own abilities, the pain and evil around us. Rather we are called to lift up our heads to the power of Christ. He offers us hope, the ability to cope, but also the power of God to overcome. By the way, the greatest healing agent against the corona-virus is not something you buy over the counter- or even bleach or any kind of alcohol- but it is UV rays found in FREE- God-given sunlight! we do not worship sunlight- but we should give thanks to the One who gives it.
We would do well to remember, especially today, the power of God to resurrect us and lift us up as a nation now- and the ultimate resurrection later.
Prayer: Lord, Let me focus on your power instead of my powerlessness. Let me wait on your timing instead of giving into my impatience. May your power not only protect us, heal us, but also raise us back up again.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
I want to Know Christ and His Power
I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10, 11)
Thoughts: I am going to concentrate on these verses a bit this week. The point of these verses is to know Christ and His resurrection power. But there is a lot of deep meaning here. I think at Eastertide (which is what we are in now) and during Coronavirustide (which is what we are stuck in now), there is some deep truths for us.
First- I want to know Christ. Now, Paul already knows Christ. Yet there is so much more to know. I know my wife, yet I do not fully know her.
It is not just knowledge about Christ that Paul is referring to. I know about Queen Elizabeth, but I have never met her. It is one thing to know about Christ- that He lived in Palestine, died there and is an important teacher.
It is not just knowledge and following of His teachings here that is important. Of course, His teachings of love, of grace, of respect are important. But this is not the knowledge that Paul sought more and more.
It is the knowledge of His person experientially that Paul sought. Paul wanted to know God and to love God. God is infinite. The Scriptures are finite but point to the infinite God truly.
Often I hear people say, "You can never know about God- your guess is as good as mine." If God did not reveal Himself that would be true. But Jesus claims to be the revelation of God ("He who has seen me has seen the Father", et al.). Scriptures claim this about Him too ("The exact representation of the invisible God"). Scriptures do not explain or answer everything. But what they say is true enough for us.
In our Coronavirus Time, we are struggling to find hope based on truth. It is time to stop going our own way- and turn to go God's way. It is time to stop naval gazing at our own abilities and accomplishments and start looking to know the infinite God and love Him better.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know you. Let me seek more of you in my mind, soul, and life. Help me to grow in my love for you. Amen.
Thoughts: I am going to concentrate on these verses a bit this week. The point of these verses is to know Christ and His resurrection power. But there is a lot of deep meaning here. I think at Eastertide (which is what we are in now) and during Coronavirustide (which is what we are stuck in now), there is some deep truths for us.
First- I want to know Christ. Now, Paul already knows Christ. Yet there is so much more to know. I know my wife, yet I do not fully know her.
It is not just knowledge about Christ that Paul is referring to. I know about Queen Elizabeth, but I have never met her. It is one thing to know about Christ- that He lived in Palestine, died there and is an important teacher.
It is not just knowledge and following of His teachings here that is important. Of course, His teachings of love, of grace, of respect are important. But this is not the knowledge that Paul sought more and more.
It is the knowledge of His person experientially that Paul sought. Paul wanted to know God and to love God. God is infinite. The Scriptures are finite but point to the infinite God truly.
Often I hear people say, "You can never know about God- your guess is as good as mine." If God did not reveal Himself that would be true. But Jesus claims to be the revelation of God ("He who has seen me has seen the Father", et al.). Scriptures claim this about Him too ("The exact representation of the invisible God"). Scriptures do not explain or answer everything. But what they say is true enough for us.
In our Coronavirus Time, we are struggling to find hope based on truth. It is time to stop going our own way- and turn to go God's way. It is time to stop naval gazing at our own abilities and accomplishments and start looking to know the infinite God and love Him better.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know you. Let me seek more of you in my mind, soul, and life. Help me to grow in my love for you. Amen.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
4/19/15- To Know the Power
10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10,11)
Paul wanted to know the power of the resurrection of Christ. It is this power that changes us from a dead, zombie-like existence to a living one. It is this power that makes us lively- and wanted to share good news to the whole world. As we live in that power, we become transformed more and more by it until we reach heaven itself.
Prayer: Transform me by your resurrection power.
Paul wanted to know the power of the resurrection of Christ. It is this power that changes us from a dead, zombie-like existence to a living one. It is this power that makes us lively- and wanted to share good news to the whole world. As we live in that power, we become transformed more and more by it until we reach heaven itself.
Prayer: Transform me by your resurrection power.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
11/10/12- To Know Christ
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-10)
Thoughts: Jesus told the parable of the man who found a huge, expensive pearl (Mt. 13:45,46) and sold all he had to buy it. So Paul says he lost everything and considers it rubbish (KJV "dung") compared to the "surpassing greatness" (NIV 84) of knowing Christ. May we also know the blessing of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. It not only is possible to know Christ (not just knowing about Christ), but it is the highest joy of life. May we find joy in simply being with and growing in understanding of Christ.
Prayer: Give me grace to want to know you better, and to grow in knowledge of you, Lord. You are worth knowing! You are worth all that I am or have.
Prayer: Give me grace to want to know you better, and to grow in knowledge of you, Lord. You are worth knowing! You are worth all that I am or have.
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