Running to win – Phil 3:13-14

Bible Bites 4 Teens Posted on by

IMG_7592 runnerTrevor sprang into motion at the signal and was quickly in the lead on the 100 meter dash. Passing the crowd he heard a familiar voice cheering him on – was that Sharlene, the girl that dumped him two months ago? As he glanced back to see if it was Sharlene, Nathan flew past him and won the race.

Paul wrote about life as if it were a race. Do we have a life goal, or are we continually looking back or following every whim that comes along?

Read Philippians 3:13-14 “…No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but 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.”

When Paul says he has not achieved it he is referring to reaching perfection. The race wasn’t yet over, he was still growing in his relationship with Jesus.

What distractions and interruptions do we face in our lives today? Do we have life goals that keep getting shelved as we spend two more hours on Facebook or sending endless text messages to our friends?

I’m guilty. I tried to finish this post yesterday, but my mind wasn’t in it. I kept checking the stats to see how many people had looked at the post I had put up the day before on this (new) blog… and then there was Facebook… It was easier to write the first few blog posts because there were no stats to look at – but there I was trying to write about why we shouldn’t be looking back, yet that was exactly what kept me from finishing this post yesterday.

Dear Jesus, give us the desire and willpower to keep looking to you for guidance in choosing our life goals and for maintaining our focus on our relationship with you. Help us to resist looking back or from side to side at all the distractions that are available to us in today’s world.

Without arguing and complaining? Phil 2:14-15

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Amanda - avoiding grumbling and complaining

Are you kidding? The Bible says that? Ouch! That’s a toughie – no matter how old you are.

Read Philippians 2:14-15. “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (NLT)

I believe I first learned this verse from a translation that said “without murmuring and disputing.” Either way, you get the drift. I struggle with holding my tongue when I get upset over something my husband does (or doesn’t do). I’ve been trying to hold my tongue more lately, but it isn’t always easy.

How about when your teacher gives assignments over vacation or over a weekend? Or when you have to miss something you wanted to do because you didn’t complete a task at home… and your parents put their foot down? Or when your kid brother or sister won’t leave you alone? Or maybe a friend (or enemy) does something that sets you off?

This is not an easy verse to live up to; but again, we can look to Jesus as our example. Jesus shed sweat drops of blood as he prayed “Thy will be done,” but he didn’t murmur and complain to the Roman soldiers or when he was on the cross. God’s Word isn’t asking us to do something Jesus didn’t do, and we haven’t faced anything like he faced in his last three years on earth.

The Apostle Paul is another great example. Remember that he wrote the book of Philippians while in prison.

What is the reason we shouldn’t grumble and complain? …that we might shine like stars in this crooked and perverse generation. Could truer words be said about the direction morals are going in our country? Do we join the crowd in their downhill slide, or do we shine like lights with the hope of rescuing others around us? So much rests on your willingness to make good decisions while you are still young.

I got desperately stupid for five years in my younger years and nearly shipwrecked my life. Recovery has been long and difficult. I still face struggles that could have been avoided had I made better choices when I was young.

Lord Jesus, help us every day to make good choices. Help us to avoid grumbling and complaining when things don’t go our way. Give us a mega-serving of your Spirit so that we will have the strength to stand firm when others around us want to bring us down to their level.

Think of others above yourself – Phil 2:3-4

Bible Bites 4 Teens Posted on by

7191810_sI remember one morning in Sunday school during my freshman year in college when I commented on some kind of behavior (don’t remember what) as being selfish. One of the other students in the class quickly commented that he didn’t think there was anything wrong with being selfish. I couldn’t believe my ears, but at that time I didn’t know all that much about what the Bible said.

I knew about all the things Christians “didn’t do” – like smoking, drinking, cussing… the list might vary from church to church, but was being selfish on that list? This guy didn’t seem to think so. But somehow in my heart I knew he was wrong.

Reading Philippians 2:3-4 should put this matter to rest. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.” (NLT)

This isn’t what the world teaches us is it? “Look out for Number 1” is the battle cry of the self-centered person. Many will tear others down hoping to make themselves look better in comparison.

The Apostle Paul went on to elaborate on how Jesus lived his life. Read it yourself in Philippians 2:5-11.

We must look to Jesus daily if we are to be successful in putting others ahead of ourselves. If we will make it our business to look out for others, God himself will look out for us.

Father God, thank you for giving us Jesus as our savior and living example of how we should live. Give us willing spirits to follow Jesus’ lead, and help us to not give in to the ways of the world.

Image credit: designpics / 123RF Stock Photo

Paul deals with hardship – Phil 1:12-14

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Paul2As I mentioned yesterday, the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians from prison, yet the book echoes with joy from beginning to end. What made the difference in how he looked at life? Read Philippians 1:12-14 to find out. (As always you can click on the Bible passage and read the verses online.)

Paul realized that the very chains that held him captive in prison provided him with multiple opportunities to share the message of salvation to those around him. Furthermore, the people who Paul had preached to earlier on his missionary journeys knew that Paul was in prison. They knew that Paul would never give up preaching because his faith in God was greater than his fear of what man might do to him. Paul rejoiced to know that even his chains were helping him to spread the Gospel.

Perhaps you know of a person who often faces opposition or persecution, yet they keep their courage and joyfully continue to praise God. Does their faith help you to be strong? If so, please share his courage with the rest of us in a comment below.

Father God, help us to have the kind of faith that will help us stand for you even if we are persecuted for believing in you. May our strength that comes from you encourage others to believe in you.