Guide My Day Oh Lord With Daily Devotions

MONDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2023

TEXT: Philippians 3:12-21

12: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST NEEDS MORE MODELS

The first century Christians were very lucky to have models worthy of emulation. The apostles were an excellent model to the early church. They were neither perfect nor super human beings but they were good examples to the entire church.

It's not easy for a church leader, a teacher, a parent or a political leader to say, "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..." (Philippians 3:17). Paul said the same thing to the Corinthian church: "I urge you to imitate me" (1 Cor. 4:16).

Paul urged his young mentoree and associate to "... set an example for believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). This is a big challenge to present-day pastors and leaders, parents and teachers, the political class and political appointees, church elders and church members, students and children, etc.

QUESTION: Am l a good model for other people to emulate?

PRAYER: Dear Father, I have seen my nakedness with respect to my inability to be a model for other people to follow. Help me to be a good model, in Jesus name. Amen.