Tracy's Blog

To read the entire passage, click here. This section starts in the middle of an exhortation. In verse 10-11, Paul has just laid out his life's goal: to know Christ so intimately that he shares both in Christ's sufferings and resurrection (Phil 3:10-11). He then goes on to soberly admit to where he is at right now - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal" (3:12a). Paul stated earlier in Chapter 3 that he used to have lots of confidence for having "arrived" spiritually by his own fleshy effort (see 3:4-6). Now, as he focuses on true spirituality ("we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus" 3:3), he faces that he is not at his destination. But this doesn't discourage him one bit. In fact, the goal/prize ahead of him thrusts him forward toward what is to come. "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (3:12b) Jesus has done His part. Paul is in...

To read the passage, please click here. I used to be afraid of the Apostle Paul. I thought, "Wow, I'm so glad I didn't live in the same time as him. I would be completely intimidated by him if we ever met." It's passages like the one we are reading today that formed the foundation for my fear. "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more" (verse 4b). He then goes on to list how perfect and pure he is because of his birth, religious ceremony, law keeping, and zealous actions for God (vs 5). This guy is hard core.... and he knows it. How could anyone compare to his life? to his pursuit of God? Comparison with Paul is irrelevant (as was my fear of him) for Paul found out that all his striving wouldn't get him what he needed and longed for most. In the Apostle Paul's life and writing, we find the gospel's promise of "the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith" (vs 11b) breaking into our ...

Emotions are such an important part of our lives. Sometimes I get confused and begin to think that holiness is unemotional. Or that the holy person only experiences love and peace, never any sorrow or stress. This isn't so! We've already acknowledge that the book of Philippians is Paul's happiest letter but it is filled with more than joy. A whole range of emotions are expressed in it. Just look at this week's passage and list the emotions expressed there. Philippians 2:19-30 Hope, cheered, confident, longs for, distressed, sorrow upon sorrow, eager, anxiety, joy... These are some of the emotions I see in this passage. They are heights and depths of feeling based on life circumstances within the community of faith. I've talked to many Christians who have struggled to integrate their emotional life and their faith. Although this passage may not give us direct instruction on how to do that, it encourages us to believe it is possible to be fully alive in Christ and ful...

To read the passage, click here . What stood out to me as I prepared to write this blog was the connection between reverence for God and personal holiness. Paul starts this section with a "Therefore". When I first started studying the Bible as a university student, I remember someone saying, "When you see a therefore in the Bible, you need to ask what it is there for." This "therefore" links the elevation and worship of Jesus as Lord with the life of the Philippian believers. Their conduct is to be an outflow of their reference for Christ. Paul encourages them as "dear friends" who "have always obeyed" to "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling"( 2:12). For a book marked with outburst of joy and thanksgiving, these words seem almost out of place. Fear and trembling? Why? The text goes on to say, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (2:13). Now I f...