Today’s reading is Philippians 3.
In these verses Paul tells us he has a reason to boast based on his upbringing and status, but that he has counted it as a loss for the sake of Christ in Philippians 3:4-7. He later says that righteous does not come from him or the law but through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9).
Later he expands to say…
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:17-19
Today we see many churches and pastors bowing down to what culture says is ok and acceptable, rather than what the Word of God says. We see Satan twisting things so that churches and people think what’s good is bad and what’s bad is good. He tricks people into thinking truth and following God’s Word is not love, but hate. When Paul says “their god is their belly” in Philippians 3:19, he means they are only worried about satisfying the hunger of their worldly desires. They either don’t take time to worry about if it’s ok by God or they disguise what is wrong as love and call what is love hate.
So, let us be on the lookout. Whether we part of a non-denomination church or a denomination that has been around hundreds or years or whether the local church you are a part of has 40 people or 4,000 or whether it’s pastor has been there 4 weeks or 40 years….we must ask ourselves..
- Is this church and its leaders teaching us to follow what the Word of God truly says?
- Is this church and its leaders actually living out what they are teaching or is their walk different than their talk?
Let us pray that under mounting pressure to change and adapt to keep up with the times, we do not change and deviate from God’s Word and that we have the wisdom to recognize whenever we or our church and its leaders are tempted to do so.
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
