Walk As You Have Seen Me Walk
God’s grace and peace be yours today as we share together the Word of God.
As we have now embarked on our new year 2025, the words of Paul give us a warning about our lives and the world in which we live. He speaks to us of following the example of those believers who live their lives faithfully following Jesus. While this is easy to say it is much harder to do.
Hear the encouragement and the warning from Paul,
Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. Philippians 3:17-19
Paul is not bragging in our text. He was a true believer who sought to live faithfully in his life. This meant that he trusted in God for everything and in the midst of everything which was happening and which he endured.
There were many times of celebration in the life of the Apostle Paul. He founded new churches all over the known world of his day. He witnessed countless miracles and even more conversions to Jesus. He lived in the assurance of God grace and provision for him, even when trying times came his way. Of all the people he encountered, there were doubtless few who suffered for the Gospel as he did. Yet, through it all, he lived trusting in Jesus and resting securely in His faithfulness.
This, again, is easy to say but difficult to do. When the world comes crashing down around you and it seems as if all is lost, where can we turn? To Whom can we flee when everything we have trusted in and hoped in throughout our life in this world is gone? Only God is forever and only God can sustain us when we find ourselves face down in the dirt.
I don’t want to speak out of turn here, but possibly this is what it takes to truly get our attention! When everything we have built our life around is gone and we have nothing left, it is then that we can find God. Not necessarily find Him but truly come to realize that He has always been with us and we have just been blind to His presence.
Paul tells us to follow my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. What would it have been like to have known Paul personally? To have heard his stories and lived life with him? The truth is you do! Not Paul, but countless others who are living life faithfully trusting in Jesus through the myriad changes of life this world brings against us. Do you want to understand grief when you are hurting? How many people do you know who have lost a best friend, a child, or even a spouse to death? When you are struggling to pay the bills and you have no money, how many other Christians were at one time in the same spot you find yourself today? Or what about the loss of a relationship? How many of God’s children have been broke hearted and have lived through the pain to move forward in life and discover the manifold blessings of God. Every circumstance of life we face is also being experienced by our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They are those who are like Paul to us. They have much to show us and teach us as we live each day trusting in God’s faithfulness.
Paul then gives a warning. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.
How many people have you witnessed who live their lives according to the pattern of this world but who are truly empty on the inside. It appears as if they are having fun and are happy go lucky, but on the inside, they are never at peace. They are always searching, always struggling to find something to satisfy them and bring them peace. The world offers many promises, and it cannot keep any of them because only the promises of God are true!
Sadly, Paul’s emphasis is that these individuals are often in the church. When this is the case, it often serves as a deception to people. There are people who use their religion for selfish purposes. If you have been in the church for any length of time, you have probably experienced this fact. Individuals such as these will have all the pretense of prosperity and happiness, but they are also always seeking some position or standing in the church which affords them the opportunity to be somebody in the eyes of others. The result of such individuals has been the disillusionment of many people and often friction and division in the church.
When we encounter such individuals, it is important that we see them for who they truly are and then begin to earnestly pray for their salvation. It almost sounds strange, doesn’t it? To pray for a person who is sitting in the pew every week! Yet, this is what Paul reveals is happening in the church of his day, and it definitely happens in the church today.
It is my prayer as we embark on this new year that each one of us becomes even more focused and diligent in our faith life. There is no substitute for a truly life transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We must make Him and keep Him the center of our lives on a continual basis. It is only then we will rest secure in our faith and show ourselves to be an example for others to follow! In this way we are truly just “Walking Each Other Home.”
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
As we have now embarked on our new year 2025, the words of Paul give us a warning about our lives and the world in which we live. He speaks to us of following the example of those believers who live their lives faithfully following Jesus. While this is easy to say it is much harder to do.
Hear the encouragement and the warning from Paul,
Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. Philippians 3:17-19
Paul is not bragging in our text. He was a true believer who sought to live faithfully in his life. This meant that he trusted in God for everything and in the midst of everything which was happening and which he endured.
There were many times of celebration in the life of the Apostle Paul. He founded new churches all over the known world of his day. He witnessed countless miracles and even more conversions to Jesus. He lived in the assurance of God grace and provision for him, even when trying times came his way. Of all the people he encountered, there were doubtless few who suffered for the Gospel as he did. Yet, through it all, he lived trusting in Jesus and resting securely in His faithfulness.
This, again, is easy to say but difficult to do. When the world comes crashing down around you and it seems as if all is lost, where can we turn? To Whom can we flee when everything we have trusted in and hoped in throughout our life in this world is gone? Only God is forever and only God can sustain us when we find ourselves face down in the dirt.
I don’t want to speak out of turn here, but possibly this is what it takes to truly get our attention! When everything we have built our life around is gone and we have nothing left, it is then that we can find God. Not necessarily find Him but truly come to realize that He has always been with us and we have just been blind to His presence.
Paul tells us to follow my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. What would it have been like to have known Paul personally? To have heard his stories and lived life with him? The truth is you do! Not Paul, but countless others who are living life faithfully trusting in Jesus through the myriad changes of life this world brings against us. Do you want to understand grief when you are hurting? How many people do you know who have lost a best friend, a child, or even a spouse to death? When you are struggling to pay the bills and you have no money, how many other Christians were at one time in the same spot you find yourself today? Or what about the loss of a relationship? How many of God’s children have been broke hearted and have lived through the pain to move forward in life and discover the manifold blessings of God. Every circumstance of life we face is also being experienced by our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They are those who are like Paul to us. They have much to show us and teach us as we live each day trusting in God’s faithfulness.
Paul then gives a warning. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.
How many people have you witnessed who live their lives according to the pattern of this world but who are truly empty on the inside. It appears as if they are having fun and are happy go lucky, but on the inside, they are never at peace. They are always searching, always struggling to find something to satisfy them and bring them peace. The world offers many promises, and it cannot keep any of them because only the promises of God are true!
Sadly, Paul’s emphasis is that these individuals are often in the church. When this is the case, it often serves as a deception to people. There are people who use their religion for selfish purposes. If you have been in the church for any length of time, you have probably experienced this fact. Individuals such as these will have all the pretense of prosperity and happiness, but they are also always seeking some position or standing in the church which affords them the opportunity to be somebody in the eyes of others. The result of such individuals has been the disillusionment of many people and often friction and division in the church.
When we encounter such individuals, it is important that we see them for who they truly are and then begin to earnestly pray for their salvation. It almost sounds strange, doesn’t it? To pray for a person who is sitting in the pew every week! Yet, this is what Paul reveals is happening in the church of his day, and it definitely happens in the church today.
It is my prayer as we embark on this new year that each one of us becomes even more focused and diligent in our faith life. There is no substitute for a truly life transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We must make Him and keep Him the center of our lives on a continual basis. It is only then we will rest secure in our faith and show ourselves to be an example for others to follow! In this way we are truly just “Walking Each Other Home.”
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
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