GROWING AS A DISCIPLE

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"Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith" (Ph. 3:1).

"I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things" (Ph 3:13-15).

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice … Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  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" (Ph 4:4-7).

"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Eph. 6:10).

Paul never got tired of underlining our total dependence on Jesus for everything. For example he tells us to rejoice in the Lord for this will safeguard our faith. The word "faith" doesn't actually appear in the Greek. The meaning is both broader and more specific. The ESV has simply: "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you". Rejoicing in the Lord is the safe place for us. Rejoicing in our "successes" in life and ministry is never a safe place for us. Thanking God for when we feel we got it right is totally appropriate, but rejoicing in our performance is thwart with dangers. 

The literal meaning of the Greek word translated "safe" helps us to understand what is being highlighted. The safe place is one where we are "not being tripped up". The devil is out to trip us up in any and every way he can. We are warned that he is the master of deception and the enemy of truth.

Those who rejoice in the Lord; those who are spiritually mature enough to forget the past (knowing it is all under the blood) and press on because of God's calling; those who are always full of the joy of the Lord; those who live in Christ Jesus; and those who are strong in the Lord, are not so easily tripped up. No wonder Paul never got tired of making these things crystal clear. 

 

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