Saturday after the Festival of the Ascension of our Lord
Posted on May 28, 2022 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
St. Paul speaks of his conduct as a pattern for our behavior. In our day, biblical patterns for behavior have largely been lost and the true Gospel of the forgiveness of sins is often turned into a false Gospel of license to sin. If nothing really counts as sin, then there is no need for forgiveness, and therefore there is no need for Jesus to die on the cross. Thus, regrettably, the compromised churches of our day have become “enemies of the cross of Christ” because they render it moot. Likewise, Paul aptly pictures the leaders of such churches as “belly-servers,” since all appears to be done for the paycheck, rather than to please God.
Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven.” So also, Jesus tells us in John 17 we are “in the world,” but “not of the world.” The compromised churches follow the pattern of the world. But the true Church on earth is the voice of God to the culture, speaking the holy Word which stands over and against the sins of this world, ready to proclaim the true Gospel of forgiveness, but only when appropriate.
Instead of focusing on earthly matters, such as cultural standards of beauty and success, we look to Christ above who is our hope. We stay focused on the fact that our life is in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven.
Prayer: 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.
