His Name Is Jesus by Phil Wickham
When we think of a model, we think of someone who dresses a certain way in order to impress or attract people. Companies use models in their marketing to get people to buy their product. Many types of businesses use this models to represent their business and increase their market share or sales. If we see something that we like, they get our interest and have a chance to sell us something. However, if we don’t like something, we don’t have any interest in the person and product.
There are tons of dating websites available now. I have never been on one but I have heard that some people lie about who they are, what they do and they don’t even have a real picture of themselves on the dating site. If a person is interested in someone that they see on one of these sites; they will talk, then arrange to meet. What happens though, if this really is not the person that you read about and talked to? We no longer want to spend time with them, do we? That person deceived us as to who they are. A key point that I see in this passage today is that each and every one of us must be who we say that we are.
As for the model mentioned earlier, what if the company she represents is Vera Wang, for instance? What if the clothes she is modeling is really sold by Walmart? I might be deceived. If I purchased the item believing it is a Vera Wang with the tag on it showing $100; then I stop by Walmart and see that exact item for $5, I would be very upset and disappointed. I would, obviously, take the first item back because the advertisement did not represent the item truthfully. I’m not going to pay $100 for a shirt that is really only $5. By this point, I probably wouldn’t even like it anymore and certainly wouldn’t want to wear it serving as a billboard for a product for this company that doesn’t do honest business. I won’t provide them return business either.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:15-21
Paul starts verse 15 telling those of us who are mature in our faith how we should (and shouldn’t) model Christ before the world. Let’s take a look at some key points:
Even if we don’t agree, God will make His Word clear to you
Let us live though according to what we already learned
Get together church!
Follow the example that I gave you
Follow this model to watch those who live the way that we do
I’m really sad to tell you again that many live as enemies, hating and having no respect for what Christ did for them on the cross
The direction that these enemies are headed is towards destruction, they worship what satisfies them and they glorify shame
Their mind is set on the world
But, those of us whose our heart is set in heaven,
Are excited as we wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of His power, He controls everything. He is going to change our earthly body into a glorious body like His.
So church, what kind of model do we follow and what kind of model are we?
The model that we learned from believers like Paul, Timothy, Peter, James, and of course Jesus. They were mature in their faith, an example to us today
A heart set in heaven where we are anxious to see Jesus and to be like Him for all eternity. His power controls everything and will change our body to be like His glorious body.
Or
Those who live as enemies of Christ and His church. They hate Christ and have no respect for Him and what He did for them on the cross.
The direction they are headed is destruction. They worship what satisfies them and they glorify shame.
Their mind is set on the world and what it offers, not on Christ.
Find The Right Model
What kind of model are we looking for? A mentor? Someone who demonstrates a godly way to live and someone who is wise that we can learn from? I find that in our culture, so many people look for someone popular and famous to worship. It is hard to find a person who we respect enough and who we want to spend time with them and learn from them. It is not hard to find someone whose “style”we like. We always can find a music group, a band or an artist of some type that we love. But do we really love them and do they love us back?
I think that even in the church we find people that we identify with and want to hang out and grow with; but they don’t always even want to give us time to teach us or disciple and mentor us. Isn’t that what Jesus said though in the end of His physical life, to “go and make disciples?” Jesus means it, yet it is often hard to find someone who wants to give of themselves to help us. Our lives are busy and we don’t always see the point in investing and giving our time to help or follow someone we know to grow and follow Christ more.
Discipleship
I really love a discipleship program called Directions that I went through and am now leading a friend through. My husband is working through it with a friend as well and it has really made a difference in the lives of these friends.
God will make His Word clear to you! If we disagree, let the Lord work in the heart of those who we know and try to help, but they may not see His Word as we do. Pray for them, but have a humble attitude.
Live what you learn. Take it to heart and be serious! Don’t push aside what you learned in the past and decide that His Word no longer matters or applies in your life. Rather, make Him and His Word your priority to follow.
So, brothers and sisters in Christ, set your hearts on eternity with Christ. Look forward to His coming. Don’t follow a progressive thought and lifestyle where we push God, His teaching and His people aside. If you don’t know Him yet as your Lord and Savior, please let me know so that I may help you, then find a mature believer nearby who can mentor you as you follow Christ more.
Go Deeper
What does maturity look like in the church now?
Be who you say you are and represent the one that you say you belong to
Follow Jesus’ model as Paul and others did, then let others see you follow and teach them to follow.
Discipleship is what is lacking in so many churches where popular musicians “perform” and call it “worship” and pasties are hired who can excite a crowd with their oratory skills. But one-one discipleship will truly grow a church into maturity.
We don’t have to be experts in Greek and Hebrew, nor trained theologians, but just lovers of Jesus and His word.
“Each one reach one,” and the world will know we are Hus because of our love for one another.
❤️&🙏, c.a.