The Pattern

"whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." Phil 3:19

Have you ever tried to sew something?  A dress?  Curtains?  A pillow?  Button, maybe??

My Grandmother Pacholski sewed all kinds of things for me growing up...dresses, shorts, pants.  I used to love going into her sewing room.  There was an abundance of fabric, a dress form that was molded to my size, thread, machines and patterns.

Any good seamstress knows you can't make anything without a pattern.  You can try, but just ask Denise on the Cosby Show how that turns out.  The sleeves end up too long and the button holes don't match up!  

The same is true of our lives.  If we try to live life without a pattern to go by, we'll end up jacked up and useless!

Paul speaks to this in our passage today.  In Phil. 3:17, he encourages believers to follow is example and to pattern our lives after those who walk worthy.

I have some incredible people in my life that I can duplicate their pattern.  Women who poured truth into me, even when it hurt.  Women who championed for me in prayer.  Women who taught me how to love Jesus and a family. I've watched them grieve, yet not without hope.  They stay true to their convictions.  Always at the feet of Jesus, wanting more of him.  These are my "Paul patterns."  

My hope is that I too can produce a pattern some would want to follow.  That my children and those I am blessed to mentor in the faith would see Jesus in me and want more of him.  That I would not hesitate to speak the truth in love.  That I would tirelessly pray for them.  That they would see me running a race, valuing Jesus as a priceless treasure, dependent upon him.  I never, never, never want to be described as an "enemy of Christ" (vs. 18)  A fake Christian...one who's path is destruction, whose god is sensuality or appetite, who glories in shameful things and whose mindset it the here and now.

Steve Green has a song that depicts my heart (if you don't know who he is...you weren't born in the 80's Baptist church lol)

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Today, think about those people in your life that have shown you a godly pattern.  What do they do that points to Him?  How do they live?  How do they love?  Now...imitate it. 

Running-The Mark of Maturity

"Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;" Phil 3:15

I am NOT a runner.  I don't get the thrill or adrenaline rush a lot of my friends do when they take to the open road, wind rushing past them as they run in cadence with nature all around them, their breathing timed perfectly to their steps.

No...I look like a dying animal, running for it's life, sucking wind and cramping!  I hate every minute of it.

The other day, though, while walking the Comet Trail, I became a runner... if but for only a moment.  Eli was riding his bike ahead of the group.  He eventually got a little too far ahead of us and I couldn't see him any more.  When he didn't come into view again soon, maternal instinct kicked in and I took off running to catch up with him.  I wasn't thinking of anything but the goal...finding my baby boy.  Quitting wasn't an option until I had him safely in my view again.

Today's scripture is Eph 3:1-15 which is Paul's personal testimony on his race to the finish.  Our focus verse is vs.15.  When I first read it, the word perfect had me puzzled.  Nobody's perfect!  I will never be perfect this side of Heaven!  So of course I looked it up and the same word can be translated as "mature."  That's a little easier to swallow.

Paul says that the mature Christian will have the same attitude that He has had.  So let's unpack what that attitude/mindset is:

1.  Worship God in the Spirit and glorify Jesus (vs. 3)
     Paul again is warning us about focusing on legalism.  He wants us to firmly grasp the we are saved by what Jesus alone has done for us.  Our pride is in Him alone and our lives are for his glory!

2.  Put no confidence in the flesh (vs. 3)
     A mature mindset says, "It doesn't matter how long I've been a Christian, who my parents are, what my job is, what material things I own, or how frequently I serve."  The only thing of value in my life is Jesus.  Paul gives his resume in vs 5-6.  His pedigree was outstanding!  He was the "Jew of Jews" but to him, it was all worthless.  

3.  Knowing Jesus surpasses everything (vs. 8)
     The Amplified version of vs 8 truly explains what KNOWING Jesus is:
"Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),"
The mature mindset says, "Nothing is more important than getting more and more intimately acquainted with Jesus.  It is a priceless privilege!  He is my treasure and the goal of my life...everything else is garbage."

4.  Be found in Him (vs. 9)
     The word for found in the Greek is heuriskō.  One of it's definitions is how I want my life to be described:  to be discovered, recognized, detected, to show one's self out, of one's character or state as found out by others (men, God, or both).  I want to be discovered as His, recognized as His, detected doing His work.  My character is His character.  

5.  Press on (vs. 12)
     Am I mature yet?  Gracious NO!  Do I quit striving towards the goal of maturity?  No, sir!  Paul says to keep going, keep reaching toward the purpose.  Verse 12 is just awesome to me..."Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  The word for "lay hold of" is katalambanō which can also be translated apprehend or comprehend.  Christ apprehended me so I can comprehend Him!! How cool is that!!!

To sum it all up, Paul uses the runner's example in vs. 13,14.  They train for the race, they leave everything at the starting line, and they don't stop til they reach the finish.  

Let me tell you how I know I'm not mature...because all too often I do put confidence in my accomplishments, I don't think Jesus is the ultimate prize and I quit all the time!  The encouraging part of this verse is that Paul says if we don't have this mindset, God will reveal it to us (vs.15).  And through our weaknesses, He is strong! (2 Cor. 12:9,10)

My prayer today is that I will train to run the race to maturity.  That I will desire Jesus above everything else.  And that I will press on...and press on...and press on.