Today’s chapter is Philippians 3

Tom writes:

It’s like a huge athletics centre racked with state-of-the-art equipment and every contraption for helping you reach your peak. Philippians 3 is a spiritual mega-gym. It is stacked up with line upon line of muscle-enhancing concepts. If you want to be spiritually mature then Philippians 3 is a room you should live in. That’s right. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come through having been a Christian a long time. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come through consuming a lot of worship or listening to a lot of talks. Spiritual maturity comes from living the word. It comes from taking the bible’s view on life. It comes from wanting to know Christ, from working hard to know Christ, from choosing to see everything else as crud except the joy of knowing Christ. Spiritual maturity comes through giving our own achievements - or lack of them - or heritage - or lack of it - no regard. It comes from forgetting all that stuff and instead choosing to strain towards what God has in store for us.

The clear practical step in all of this is for us to check our role-models. Who are the people you aspire to be like? Who are the voices you value and the lifestyles you leer at? Some of them will be dogs. They will look cute and attractive and then tear at your flesh. Watch out for the ones whose god is their stomach. Don’t just follow anyone. Don’t just listen to anyone. Watch out for the dogs. Instead actively pursue the mature in Christ. Follow the example of those whose extended patterns of life show they really know Jesus. Press forward to get to know those who abound in joy in Jesus, who model the humility of Jesus, who really walk with their God. And don’t just listen to their words; live according to their patterns. Grasp hold of all Jesus wants you to be, by apprenticing yourself to those who have apprenticed themselves to him. That is a great way to grow in maturity. That is a great way to live up to what we have already attained.

Question for reflection

Who are your role models? Are they people who abound in the joy and humility of Jesus?

Philippians 3 - Tuesday 16th July