A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Living Up"

I am a basketball player. Or maybe I should say, I use to play basketball and now-a-days I work at being a basketball player. There is an old saying in sports circles, that as you grow older you should play smarter rather than harder. I still greatly enjoy getting on the court and playing with whoever will play with me. But I have found myself doing an interesting thing lately, especially when I am playing with younger people. I make excuses before we even begin playing. As we walk on the court to play, I tell my opponent about my age, about the fact that I once ruptured my Achilles tendon, and that I am not in shape like I used to be. I ask them to take it easy on the "ole man" as we play. I do it teasingly, but I do it.

I am not alone in this practice. All of us do it at times. I remember how often my children would remind me that they were not perfect when I was reprimanding them for something. We get the impression that the Christians in church at Philippi were doing this type of thing. In chapter three of Paul's letter to them, Paul uses himself as an example. He tells them that he is not yet absolutely perfect, or attained all that Christ has for him, but that he continually puts the past behind him and strains toward what is ahead of him in Christ Jesus. He makes it clear that Christians are being transformed in ever increasing measure into the likeness of Christ. We are a project under construction. Unfortunately, though, this fact is used by some Christians as an excuse for lethargic, slothful, or sinful living. You know, "I'm not perfect, just saved."

The problem in the church today is not a lack of knowledge. It is a lack of practice, of living out what we do know. We know we are to forgive, to be peacemakers, to go the extra mile, to speak only what is unbuilding to others, to be kind and compassionate, to pray, to give, to turn the other cheek, to ... But it's not about what we know. It's about what we do. We need to hear God's Word through Paul afresh, "Only let us live up to what we have attained." (Philippians 3:16) We are not "just saved." We are saved to the uttermost by the power of God. The same power that brought Jesus forth from the grave, brings us forth from our deadness in sin to life in Christ Jesus. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, to live holy. (Ephesians 2:1-10) We have the power to live up to what we know. We are, in Christ, able to have done with the old ways and live according to God's way - holiness.

Beloved, we must not allow our imperfections to be an excuse for our refusal to draw upon the divine provisions to live holy lives. Granted, God is not done with us yet. Our imperfections are no secret. Yet, they must not be an excuse. Failures, mistakes, shortcomings, need forgiveness and cleansing. But, as He who has begun the good work in us carries it on to competition, let us live up to what we have attained, each day being increasingly more like our Savior and Lord Jesus.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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