The Saturday after the Festival of the Ascension of our Lord
Posted on May 31, 2025 by under
Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21 (NKJV)
3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Devotion
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”
“Join in following my example.” Wow! What a thing for the Apostle to say! Did he not also say, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Rom. 7:19)? Does he want us to practice the evil that he wishes he did not do? Clearly not. It is all too easy for us to look at a statement like this and think only in terms of the Law.
By all means, we want to strive to obey the Law. In Romans 7, St. Paul is simply expressing the frustration we all should feel, that we are not doing better! But in our text, when Paul encourages us to follow his example, it makes sense if we think in terms of the Gospel: when Paul beholds his own sinfulness, he makes no excuses. He repents. He receives the forgiveness of sins that his Savior Jesus Christ purchased for him. So it is in this way that we would follow Paul’s example: making no excuses, repenting of our sins, and rejoicing to receive the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ Jesus.
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens; so may we also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
