Title Toward the Sign/Philippians 3:10-16
There are several similar words in today's text. These are the goals, goals, hopes, prizes of the calling, things in front, and things I hope for (「New Standard Version」, 「Joint Translations and Revised Versions」. Words have different shapes, but they mean the same thing.
First, Paul talks about what I want, that is, his hope. (verses 10-11)
① Believe in Christ
② Realizing the power of the resurrection of Christ
③ Sharing suffering with Christ
④ to die like Christ
⑤ Resurrection from the dead
This can be summarized in five points.
But Paul does not say that all these five things have been accomplished. As I said at the outset, this is what Paul wants, so living this way is Paul's hope.
So, in verse 12, I am not saying that this hope has already been and fully fulfilled. This is Paul's human agony. A person can be humble, but at some point he can become arrogant, seem to be overflowing with love, but he can become so evil that he does not understand. It is human to fall when it is dry and to fall when it is achieved.
Previous goals were my goals. I bless you in the name of the Lord that the goal we were running toward today will turn toward God's goal.
But that's it. Is this goal clear? Did you know the place and left when he said to Abraham, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you’? Rather, they passed through the land of Canaan, where they were to live, and sadly, the Bible records that they “goed down to the south.” It would have been better if God said, ‘Enter the land of Canaan, the land I am showing you’.
If so, should I run away from this path that I don't know clearly and where I can't see the target? From Paul we see why.
The reason is that Jesus took me captive.
The purpose of holding me was to make me run like that. Just as our fathers ran forward for their wives and children, we have been caught by God, so we run only for him. It is a joy to run for the reward of God's above calling.
But still, worries remain.
You know what it feels like to go down an unknown road and there are no road signs. What the heck is this the right way? After a little while, if it doesn't come out, I'm starting to get anxious. ‘Should I go a little further or turn the car?’ A conflict begins in my mind. Today's text speaks to those of us who have these questions and anxious hearts. “If you have a different opinion on a matter, God will surely teach you that as well” (verse 15, Joint Translation). If we are going the wrong way, God must lead us to the right path. If our hearts today are our attitude toward Christ, God will protect us. so
In any case, whatever stage we have reached, we will do it (verse 16).
Invisible Signs But soon we will see signs of faith.
I wish you a precious evening when you see the sign of faith that says ‘I am with you’.