When Jesus was made alive, we were made alive together with Him. None of us were born at that time in history, yet we were all made alive together with Him. When Jesus was raised, we were raised together with Him and seated together in the heavenly places in Christ. So that, in the ages ahead, God could show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).
The prize is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
A lifetime discovery with ages to come in the riches of His grace and in the Father’s abundant kindness in Christ Jesus. Who wouldn’t want that? Surprisingly, many. You see, it requires letting go of our righteousness and trusting only in Christ’s righteousness through faith. Changing our values from self to Christ, to His providing and not our flesh, and even losing our gains to gain Christ. I like to say, “Jesus, You are worth it all. And that’s good, because You have cost me all to gain You.”
A better place inside Christ.
Inside of Christ is everything we will ever need. He is our all-sufficiency, and our all in all. We don’t need the other stuff we have lost, because He is the fulfillment of lost hope, promises delayed, and opportunities missed or stolen. He provides everything for us in the riches of His grace. What do we need? Faith in Christ allows Christ to become what we need in Himself. Christ is our gain, within our loss.
Jesus is everything.
Forget what is behind, and reach forward to those things which are ahead, toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). We are moving from spectators, beyond participants, to become His ministers.
IN CHRIST UPDATE: During these next three weeks, we are practicing dwelling inside of Christ and using our limitations (our governor asking for no congregational singing) as an invitation (our Father inviting us to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord). To accomplish this, we plan to use Psalms and scriptures read as declarations with music. Everyone will now be their own heart’s worship leader with us all together in one theme. Our midweek conversations will also center on dwelling in Christ, followed by worship in Christ. Please wear your mask if you come to worship on site.
