Philippians 3:4-6: Threats to Grace!
Devotions based on week 7 of Joy in the Journey: Grace (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 3:4-6 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
Satan loves to take good things and deceive us into thinking they are the ultimate thing.
Circumcision wasn’t a bad thing. For centuries, God’s people circumcised their young boys in keeping with God’s direction and with trust that they were connected to God’s promise. Circumcision was never the ultimate thing, a heart connected to the LORD was.
Paul had quite the list of things he, at one time, thought were the ultimate thing. He put is pedigree forward. He was born into the right family. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, a smaller more elite group. He was recognized as the epitome of the Hebrew people and one others aspired to be.
He put his performance forward. He kept the laws that the Pharisees put over and above God’s law. He was elite in his law keeping. He was passionate for the Jewish way of belief and behavior that he zealously opposed by persecution all who opposed Judaism. He was the keeper of all the religious rituals and traditions, never missing one.
He had a list based on his pedigree and performance that he thought would merit him a place in the presence of God.
Satan had deceived him and taken many good things and made them the ultimate thing. Paul was proud and working hard. If anyone was going to put confidence in the flesh for a right standing with God, Paul could.
But he didn’t.
God led him to see the deception of Satan and let go of his pedigree and his performance and put his focus on the LORD and his confidence in Christ.
Does God need to do this work in you too?
Satan loves to deceive us to think that grace isn’t good enough.
Born into a great Christian family? What a blessing! But Satan loves for us to subconsciously rely on our family roots for our right standing with God.
Great Christian in your ritual, attendance and service! Super! But Satan loves for us to pause when we come to church and think, “I hope God notices.” He loves to twist our service from thankful giving to merit earning. He loves to lead us to think that the better we are at being a Christian, the closer we are coming to being with Christ.
We maybe even think, “If anyone is getting to heaven, certainly it is me…(and then go on to silently list all the reasons we have given God to choose us.)
Satan, stop lying to us! (Oh that’s right, he’s not going to stop.”
Spirit, show me truth through Satan’s lies! (He certainly will.)
Our pedigree or our performance or a combination of both gives us fake confidence in our relationship to the LORD. Stop putting confidence in it. Send the lies of Satan packing and allow the truth of God’s grace to settle deeply into your heart.
A grace that is based on the pedigree and performance of Jesus.
A grace that freely gives you the pedigree and performance you need to stand confident before the LORD!
Apply: What subconsciously do you put confidence in to be right with God when grace slips from the primary focus? Do you know someone wrestling with their relationship with the LORD and wondering if they will be good enough to get to heaven? Share this devotion with them! (and the rest from this week!)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for exposing the lies of Satan that like to settle in my heart. Lead me to always drop my confidence in my personal pedigree or performance and always put my confidence for salvation in the pedigree and performance of Christ! AMEN.
Philippians 3:2-3: Don’t Cancel Grace!
Devotions based on week 7 of Joy in the Journey: Grace (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
The people in Philippi knew who Paul was talking about.
The Judaizers.
These individuals were connecting with Christ, but holding onto the practices of their Jewish faith and traditions of the past.
On the one hand, who could blame them? They had been taught that circumcision was an absolute must to be included in the covenant relationship with God. For nearly 2000 years, generations of dads had circumcised their sons on the eighth day in keeping with the direction the LORD had given to Abraham:
Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, a covenant between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised by cutting the foreskin off your flesh. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 Every boy among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised, every male throughout your generations, whether he is born in your house or purchased with money from any foreigner who is not descended from you. 13 Every male who is born in your house or one who is purchased with your money must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked on your flesh as an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised by removing the foreskin from his flesh, that person must be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
Why the harsh words for those that, putting the best construction on it, were intent on following the direction to stay connected to the covenant given to Abraham?
Because the practice was primary over the work of Christ.
Circumcision was cancelling grace.
Circumcision had become people’s confidence of a right standing before God.
Circumcision had been deemed the primary mark of a child of God.
And it wasn’t.
Even with the descendents of Abraham, the LORD was always interested in the heart more than what one’s flesh looked like. The practice of circumcision was an outflow of a heart that trusted the Lord.
Paul said to the Galatians: (6:15) Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
What the Lord desired was a heart that cut out sin and experienced the presence of God’s Spirit. What the Lord desired is a reliance on him not on the works of the flesh. It’s why Paul wrote: 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
The same is true today. Outward practices can easily become internal confidences. What we do can deceive us into thinking we are safe with God…even if the action has good religious tradition attached to it.
The Lord is always first interested in our heart which places its full confidence in Christ.
Apply: What “Christian” activities can subtly deceive us to rely on them over relying on Christ?
Prayer: Lord, circumcise my heart to always rely on you. AMEN.
Philippians 3:1: A message worth repeating!
Devotions based on week 7 of Joy in the Journey: Grace (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Repetition is the mother of learning.
However, sometimes it can be frustrating to have to repeat things.
Ask a teacher trying to make a point to a class not paying attention.
Ask a parent trying to get a child to clean up their room.
Ask a spouse trying to converse with their partner locked in on their phone scrolling.
Many times we have to repeat ourselves because the listeners aren’t paying attention. But in this case, Paul has an important point he wants to say again. “It’s no trouble for me to write the same things to you again…”
Repetition isn’t just the mother of learning, it is the reality when a point is important.
Listen to any public speaker and if he or she wants to drive home a point, it is repeated, emphasized and repeated again. In fact, usually the main point of the talk is repeated multiple times.
Why?
Because the knowledge is worth not only remembering, but embodying for future benefit.
The first two chapters of Philippians focus on the Gospel partnership and focus Paul shared with the Philippians. He points them back to the humble service of Christ and the humble servants that brought Christ to them.
But chapter three connects the reader to the crux of the Christian faith: grace. (More on this as the week progresses).
There is nothing more wonderful that preaching, writing, and sharing grace.
As a pastor, it is wonderful to not just tell people to “Rejoice in the Lord” but to continue to remind them of the love, mercy and grace of God. There is no greater message in the world than the heart of biblical Christianity, grace.
And it bears repeating, and repeating and repeating again.
“…it is a safeguard for you.”
If you want to rely on a message shared with you, you want to have certainty that you are remembering the message correctly. This happens when the speaker repeats himself until the listener can repeat the truth, the main point without hesitation. Hearing something repeated reinforces the importance of it so there is no doubt in your mind that you are understand and believing the correct thing.
What follows in Philippians 3 communicates not just the heart of Paul, but the heart of God. There is no other message from the Lord that is more important than the message of grace. He begins it in Genesis and generation after generation communicates it to his people. Philippians 3 is no different.
And God’s Spirit has preserved these words for us to hear today.
It’s like God saying to you, “It’s no trouble for me to write these things to you again, as a safeguard to you.”
He wants you safe in grace…as long as and as many times as he has to repeat it!
Apply: Do you sometimes tune out to grace because it is a familiar teaching? Take time today to read Philippians 3. Capture the essence of God’s grace to you once again.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being willing to repeat and repeat again the message of grace so we can find certainty and safety in its teaching. AMEN.
Philippians 2:28-30: A godly friend is a hero!
Devotions based on week 6 of Joy in the Journey: Friendship (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 2:28-30 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Heroes deserve honor.
After a devastating flood, tornado, or hurricane stories of heroism arise of individuals who risked their lives to rescue others. Many heroes make it out alive. Others give their life in sacrifice to others. Our armed forces are filled with stories of heroes who risked or gave their lives to ensure the safety of others and the security of our nation.
Heroes deserve honor.
Every hero has loved ones that care about them. At times family and friends wish their hero wouldn’t risk their life and spend time worrying about them and concerned for their well being.
When a hero returns safely, they are welcomed warmly.
A godly friend is a hero. A godly friend is willing to risk their life and reputation to ensure the safety and well being of their friends.
Epaphroditus was a friend to Paul and fellow Gospel minister. He risked his life to serve Paul and share Jesus. Paul was ready to send him back to Philippi to bring comfort to the Philippian hearts. One can imagine the joy and relief the Philippians would have as Epaphroditus walked through the door!
We live in a world that celebrates platform, recognition, and fame. Social media praises the influencers, culture applauds the loudest voices, and even the church can sometimes focus more on popularity than quiet perseverance. But Paul says: honor people like Epaphroditus.
Not because they are flashy, but because they are faithful.
Not because they are gifted, but because they are willing.
Not because they lead thousands, but because they will serve one in need.
A godly friend is a hero.
They are faithful.
They are willing to help.
They quietly serve the need.
They are courageous.
They are sacrificial.
They model the heart of Jesus to the people in their lives.
They are worthy of honor.
A godly friend is a hero.
May God’s Spirit enable you to be a friend of honor and give honor to your friends!
Apply: Take time to honor a godly friend in your life that has sacrificed much to be a blessing to you. Resolve to be a friend of honor by being willing to sacrifice for you friend.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of Epaphroditus and the reminder that faithfulness matters more than fame. Forgive me when I seek recognition instead of humble service. Teach me to honor those who serve others with quiet strength and Christlike sacrifice. Help me become someone who risks, loves, and gives like You. In Your name, Amen.
Philippians 2:26-28: God preserves a friend when we need him most.
Devotions based on week 6 of Joy in the Journey: Friendship (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 2:26–28 “For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.”
“Don’t worry about me, tell me how you are doing.”
Have you heard this from a friend or relative who has a very serious illness? Somehow in the midst of their challenge, they are still more concerned about others than themselves.
In fact, at times, individuals choose not to share their illness or challenge with people they care about because they don’t want those people to worry or be concerned about them.
We can banter about whether this is the right thing to do or not, but it is a strong characteristic of a godly friend who continues to hold the interest of others, even when they are going through challenges in life themselves.
In these verses, the Apostle Paul is speaking of Epaphroditus, a faithful servant and companion in the gospel. Epaphroditus had become ill and as a result almost died. This event impacted Paul and also word made it back to Philippi and the Christians there were concerned for his well being (after all, he had traveled to Rome on their behalf to care for Paul.)
Not only was Epaphroditus willing to sacrifice to travel to Rome, but he continued to serve Paul, even in the midst of a severe illness.
Epaphroditus’ dedication is commendable. He continued to serve his friend Paul, even when he wasn’t feeling well.
God had intervened. “But God had mercy on him.”
Have you ever felt like God preserved a person to be your friend because you need him or her in your life for a while yet? It seems like God preserves Epaphroditus’ life because he knows Paul needs help from him AND the Philippian Christians needed to hear from him.
Remember that God is always the orchestrator behind godly friendships. God knew Paul’s vulnerability and knew that he needed Epaphroditus. It would have been “sorrow upon sorrow” if Paul had lost Epaphroditus. God preserved him.
Again we see in Epaphroditus a compelling portrait of what it means to be a godly friend. Epaphroditus was distressed not primarily for himself, but because others were worried about him. His heart was outward-facing, concerned for the peace and comfort of fellow believers. In his suffering, his thoughts turned to others, a rare and Christ-like quality.
A godly friend, then, is one who is both compassionate and transparent. They carry the burdens of others and allow others to carry theirs. They are unafraid to enter into the mess of life, not to fix, but to stand with, to pray, to encourage, and to reflect Christ’s love.
Godly friends walk side by side through challenges and rejoice hand in hand when the Lord delivers from that challenge. The blessing is God allows Christian friends to serve in both roles: To walk with us through challenges and rejoice for us when the challenge is lifted by a merciful God.
Application: Check Your Compassion: Are you more concerned about your own image, comfort, or convenience than you are about the wellbeing of others? A godly friend learns to put others first, not to earn favor with God, but in response to the mercy they’ve already received.
Prayer: Lord, give us a heart like Epaphroditus who, in spite of his failing health, kept you and your people at the center of his heart. Allow us to always be a godly friend who carries the burdens of others, trusting you are carrying our burden for us! AMEN