Friday, October 4, 2013

Citizens



Been a lot going on.  I've been trying to keep up with the needs of my family lately, and so have been absent here.  Still things coming down the pike- so thank you for understanding.  (I'm at that 'thankful to be so much better', but not ready to be up to the rigorous 'normal life'.)

I've lately been getting back into the Daily Bible- where you read through the Bible in a year.  I found DAB online and got the app on my phone- with it, I can listen or read the daily selection at almost any time, as often as I wish.  Nice feature!  (http://dailyaudiobible.com/)

This past week, there have been readings from Philippians.  Always much in there to soak in!  This week a couple things struck me. 

One was the phrase 'Citizens of Heaven'. 

Philippians 3:19-21  New Living Translation (NLT)

19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 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. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

What a great challenge- to keep in mind my true citizenship, and the eagerness for His return, for redemption...there is more to all this.  There is purpose to all this.  Even when things here are tough- in affect, I don't have to dwell on my present circumstance, but rather- remember my true dwelling place is with Him! 

The commentator of DAB yesterday was sharing his thoughts from a later passage in Philippians.  His thoughts were that the base of peace was joy.  I read it differently (although both are equally worthy).. I think that deep sense of peace, the kind we have in Christ Jesus, is the spring from which joy pours.   And how do we get there?   Paul give us his instructions in Phil 4:

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you

These are familiar words.  The commentator took verse 4 as the launch, that joy is the launch- I take it that Paul is setting up that about which he is going to explain.. In other words, he starts with joy, and then explains how to get joy (instead of starting with joy and getting the rest;make sense?)

How do we become full of joy in the LORD?
a) let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do
b)Remember, the Lord is coming soon
c)don't worry- instead pray- about everything- Tell God what you need, and THANK HIM
d) THANK HIM for all He has done
e) fix you thoughts on what is: TRUE    HONORABLE    RIGHT   PURE   LOVELY  ADMIRABLE
f) think about things that are EXCELLENT and WORTHY of PRAISE

THEN, the GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU!

Look again at verses 7 & 9-  then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds our understanding- this peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus!.... As we keep putting into practice all we are learning from Paul, Peace comes!

Oh what joy!   To me, joy comes out of these foundations.  I just have a difficult time starting out with joy- Joy is an emotion that must have a base from which to flow...and these verses give us that base... Ultimately- Peace with with God through practicing those things which we are implored to do.  Especially giving thanks, for all He has done.

It is fall. It is harvest time.  What have you sown?  What are you reaping?  In Christ, each new day brings a new planting season.  In these verses, Paul gives us many a good seed to plant into good soil, and to water, to grow....

Bless you-

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