Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 23, 2014
Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:16
By God’s grace we live out what we know and understand to be true. The basic behaviors of a Jesus follower are easy to comprehend but sometimes hard to implement. To love and forgive are clear commands that command the attention of hurting people. We know honesty creates an environment of trust, so we seek to be clear about our intentions with those at work and home. When we live out what we already know, our heavenly Father knows He can trust us with more.
Each stage of spiritual growth has its own unique applications and responsibilities. The joy and enthusiasm of new converts to Christ propel them forward in somewhat of a surreal service. But once the spiritual honeymoon is over there are the world’s realities of adversity, temptation and rejection that have to be resolved by knowing God and doing His will. A disciple who tries to live out their faith alone will almost always fail. So, we live what we know with accountability.
“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Moreover, the Lord gives each of us a platform of influence to steward well for His kingdom. You may have attained academic achievements, if so, use your knowledge to educate others in the ways of God. Business success may fill your resume, if this is the case, be an aggressive giver and use your skills to build enterprises with a much bigger purpose than making money. Perhaps you are blessed with a family of faith. If so, leverage your family’s influence to influence other families for Jesus. When we live up to what the Lord expects, we can expect His favor to follow.
Furthermore, we press forward by grace through faith to attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Right now we are citizens of heaven on foreign soil, but one day we will enjoy our citizenship in heaven. Thus, we live up to what we have already attained in Christ and we live for what we have yet to attain with Christ. The wise and mature learn to live passionately in the present with hope filled faith in the future. We live what we know and trust God with the unknown.
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:10).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to live out what I already know and trust You with what I don’t know.
Related Readings: Psalm 119:66; Proverbs 11:19; 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Timothy 4:12
Post/Tweet today: By faith we live up to what we have already attained in Christ and we live for what we have yet to attain with Christ. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: Minute with Maxwell- Prosper: http://bit.ly/1lMVnHx
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I had been receiving the daily devotional but it stopped coming, and it was how I started out each day before going to work. It was my daily dose of scripture to deal with the world we all live in. Please resend starting with todays. Michael Cash
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Gwynne