Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… that I may gain Christ and be found in him…
Summary: In this passage, Paul touches on the keystone of Christian living.
What does it mean to “gain Christ?”
Paul is going to tell us in great detail. He begins his explanation with the following words:
Continue reading “Philippians 3:8c-9a – Found in Jesus”
… for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage…
Summary: Paul’s assessment of the things in his life gives us a reason to pause and consider what it is that we value, too.
Sometimes people say things and they don’t really mean it.
For example, if I said, “If I don’t get to go on vacation soon, I’m just going to die!,” you would understand that I am exaggerating. Some call it hyperbole. Everyone “get’s it.”
Continue reading “Philippians 3:8b – All Things”
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…
Summary: When Paul compares the things of this world to knowing Christ Jesus, he makes us think about what we value in life.
Paul has just walked us through all the things he considered his “gains” in life (Philippians 3:7). What were his “gains?” They were the material things that put him ahead of others.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:8 – Just Jesus”
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Summary: Paul declares that his entire life before Jesus was a waste. Is that true? The question makes us ponder the timing of Jesus’ birth.
Have you ever worked hard on something, only to get to the end of it and realize it wasn’t really what you wanted or needed to do?
Continue reading “Philippians 3:7 – Wasted Effort”
… as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Summary: Understanding the difference between the law and love is not as simple as it sounds.
How can anyone say that they are “faultless?”
Really?
Faultless?!
Continue reading “Philippians 3:6b – Faultless”
… as for zeal, persecuting the church;
Summary: Paul’s zeal for persecuting the church provides a window into who Paul is and the depth of his love for God.
The keyword in this passage is “zeal,” so let’s take a closer look at what it means.
Interestingly, the Greek word for “zeal” is very similar to our English word. In Greek, the word is “zẽlos.” (Zee, I told you! 🙂 )
Continue reading “Philippians 3:6a – Flipped”
… in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
Summary: Paul reminds us that he was a Pharisee before he met Jesus.
What does Paul mean by saying “in regard to the law, a Pharisee?” The answer, it turns out, requires that we understand the story behind the Pharisees.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5e – Before He Met Jesus”
… a Hebrew of Hebrews…
Summary: Paul’s description of himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” is not just a casual reference. The phrasing itself echoes Hebrew history and culture.
I am fairly certain that no one has ever claimed to be a “Norwegian of Norwegians.”
My parents were both Scandinavian, but pure bloodlines are not something that our culture values these days. It is okay to be part this and part that. Most of us are of mixed blood.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5d – He Had it All”
… of the tribe of Benjamin…
Summary: Paul’s reference to the tribe of Benjamin was, no doubt, a point of pride. Yet, when we look at this history of Benjamin’s people, we find a sordid past overshadowing the good.
Our last meditation points out how God made the Hebrews keep a record of every major thing they did wrong. Even though Israel was blessed by God (Genesis 32:26-28), she continued to poke God in the eye every chance they got by doing the opposite of what God told them to do.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5c – The Tribe That Almost Wasn’t”
…of the people of Israel…
Summary: Israel is a people with nothing to hide – because all of their ‘dirty laundry’ has been written down in a book that millions of people have read.
One of the reasons I believe the Bible is from God is because of the “people of Israel.” Not because the people of Israel are intrinsically good, but because they aren’t. It is because only God could make a race of people write down all of their mistakes and then make it their mission in life to preserve the book they wrote.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5b – No Secrets”