A Better Game

5

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 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; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

- from Philippians 3:4-7

In the passage we looked at yesterday, Paul was disputing the teachings of those who wanted the Gentile Christians to put on the badges of belonging from the Jewish law.

Paul could have played that game. He had all of those badges going for him. If he wanted to follow the path he grew up with - have the right lineage and perform the right way and God will rescue you - he could have. He didn't quit that game because he couldn't compete.

Paul quit the game because he found a better game.

There are all sorts of things we can look to in order to make ourselves feel like our place in God's community is secure:

  • Doing good stuff
  • Trying to be nice to other people
  • Getting behind the "right" causes
  • Church attendance
  • Volunteering
  • Financial generosity
  • Small Group participation
  • Serving

Now, don't get us wrong. All of these things have value and we've been blessed by each of them. But they stink when they stand in the place of Jesus.

Faith in Christ alone secures our place in God's community. Christ alone gives us what we need for joy. Everything else we do is a faith-response coming from our secure place in God's family. 

We do God-sized and God-directed stuff ... not to get into the family and not to stay in the family but simply because this is what this family does! 

What do you look to in order to secure your place in God's community? What do you think happens if you look to the good stuff you're doing to secure your place in God's community?


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All I once held dear - Robin Mark (lyrics / inspiration)

"All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus
There is no greater thing!

Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh to know the power of your risen life
And to know you in your suffering
To become like you in your death my Lord
So with you to live and never die!"

All I once held dear - Robin Mark - YouTube

What I look to is the cross...that He died for me, for us....and that no matter how hard I try, I always fall short of what I want to be.

Sorry for the double submission. I am not to be trusted to type on that itty bitty screen of my phone. Thanks for your grace! And a correction--not "busy residing" (although He is that, too!), but "busy rewiring."

It occurred to me when we were discussing this in small group that because of the Fall we are born with crossed wires when it comes to this issue. I, for instance, didn't grow up in a particularly legalistic environment, yet I keep the Holy Spirit mighty busy residing me

To

to receive His grace-transmissions. Remember the old song "Tou don't know what you've got till it's gone"? I didn't know I had legalism till I got grace. Grace n joy skip in hand in hand. :)

It occurred to me when we were discussing this in small group that because of the Fall we are born with crossed wires when it comes to this issue. I, for instance, didn't grow up in a particularly legalistic environment, yet I keep the Holy Spirit mighty busy residing me

To

to receive His grace-transmissions. Remember the old song "Tou don't know what you've got till it's gone"? I didn't know I had legalism till I got grace. Grace n joy skip in hand in hand. :)

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