March 15, 2019
Philippians 3:17-20 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Today is the ninth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. A Kingdom heart develops when we recognize and trust the Author of our Faith—Christ the Anointed One—to finish the work he began in us (Heb 12:2).
Every believer struggles in life; no one is exempt from trials and testing. God helps us disconnect from the world’s influence; a struggle is the outflowing result. Have you ever thought about how God may use different struggles or conflict found in your life to help you grow in the humble character of Christ? It is a blessing, but it doesn’t feel like one at the time. Sometimes our struggles are connected to the discipline of God in our lives. God’s discipline flows out of his love for us and his desire to make us holy. We may struggle and suffer in order to learn obedience. God may use our disobedience to his Word in order to draw us back to himself. Scripture teaches God disciplines those whom he loves. God is the Father of our spirits, so we should submit quickly to his discipline to draw us to himself and away from sin.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is sharing with those in the early church in Philippi; they must govern their lives by a different standard than the world. As their pastor, Paul weeps for those who have chosen to return to the ways of the world; they rejected the discipline of God and the leading of the Spirit toward self-sacrificial living. Keep this in your thoughts today, if you know Jesus, you are a citizen of his Kingdom and he is making you a proper representation by maturing your faith. Imitate Christ’s Kingdom heart.
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
Philippians 3:17-20
17 My beloved friends, imitate my walk with God and follow all those who walk according to the way of life we modeled before you. 18 For there are many who live by different standards. As I’ve warned you many times (I weep as I write these words), they are enemies of the cross of the Anointed One and 19 doom awaits them. Their god has possessed them and made them mute. Their boast is in their shameful lifestyles and their minds are in the dirt.
20 But we are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Prayer: Lord, I praise you for your faithfulness to lovingly discipline me. I repent for making too many connections to the world. I ask for you to help me imitate Christ in a truer fashion. I yield as you teach me more about living as a citizen of heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.