In today's message, we are diving head-first into Paul's teaching to the church in Philippi as we engage and explore Philippians 3:13. In this text, Paul continues to reinforce and remind us that he has not attained nor perfected being completely Christ-like, yet he presses on by narrowing down his focus to one thing. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul again let's us know of his humanity when he writes that he is the chief of sinners.
As I have pondered this thought of being Christ-like, I have asked myself the elementary question of, "What does this look like and what does this mean?" A friend of mine recently wrote about being Christ-like and the process that we must endure in-order to strip away and prune the impurities that thwart this endeavor. This is what he says:
"God has a single purpose for every Christian and it is the same for all. He has promised to conform us into the image of His Son, which requires the crucifixion of self. God’s will is not that we discover some unique purpose for our lives so we can be happy, successful and get what we want in this life! We please God by learning to live by faith and becoming obedient as He chips away everything about us that does not look like Jesus. That is what the authentic Christian life is really about. When people see you, who do they see?" - Jim Norman
What a simple, yet powerful and convicting question. When people see me... when people see you, who do they see?
Be encouraged and be Engaged in the The Truth.
Psalm 115:1
Jon
Great message...press on! Enjoyed seeing you yesterday at the All Pro Pastors lunch.
Posted by: Jim Morgan | 02/19/2010 at 09:59 AM