December 11
Philippians 2:12-4:23
We live in a world where there is no quiet, no time for meaningful contemplation, no time set aside for God. Many might squeeze Him in here or there, but for most of our day the noise and distractions never stop. If you question this, simply pause and look anywhere and everywhere. Workplaces and lunchrooms, no longer see people engrossed in meaningful things, but instead fixated on that electronic appendage, everyone is drawn into their own little world of vanity. One person might be shopping online, the next following sports, the next watching a movie, the next laughing by themselves engrossed on social media, etc. The truth is vanity does not necessarily have to be evil things, they can just be things that have nothing to do with God. This is not an accident. If the devil can keep your heart, your thoughts, your emotions, yes, your life wrapped up in anything other than God, in effect he wins. For many, these distractions will be enough to keep God far from their minds, so a decision will not be made for Jesus Christ, and people one day perish without entering the only relationship which enables entry into heaven. For others the decision has been made, but their walk while on earth is ineffective and purposeless, as they lose their focus from God and instead place them on vanity. The proper walk with God is purposeful, intentional, and focused.
As Paul writes his letter to the Philippians, often referred to as the letter of "joy", he does so incarcerated in a Roman prison. Though his circumstances were far from ideal, he did not allow the distractions of his predicament to deter him from his purpose and his calling. We read in Philippians 4:8, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Rather than aimlessly going through his day, Paul learned to fix his thoughts on God. He also never forgot where his true identity rested in as we read in 3:20, "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." Since he was already a citizen of heaven, and only an ambassador on earth, he would not allow his mind to be distracted on that which is lesser. We allow ourselves to get caught up with the things of this world, and in the process we are never satisfied, but Paul did not allow his situation to dictate his life, as we read in 4:11-13, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
Most people are miserable, and feel justified in explaining why they have the right to feel this way. Pointing to any of a number of things they surround themselves with they validate the reasons for their ineffective lives. But, God gave us this day. We are not promised tomorrow on this earth, only today, only now. None of us are where we are by accident. Some, because of sin have allowed them to be where they shouldn't be. Many are exactly where God wants us to be, in the mission field that is ripe for the harvest, but filled with our distractions it is missed, it is wasted on us, His children, who choose to allow ourselves to be carried away by one distraction after another. Paul gives us a good perspective as he writes in Philippians 3:7-9, "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him..."
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: