Reflecting on Philippians 3

In November, I am celebrating by reading Philippians thirty times! This week I'm focusing on chapter three. What stands out in this chapter is Paul's reminder to hold on to Christ and Christ alone. Not to have "confidence" in "the flesh"--the formalities, the trappings of faith. He goes on to write that NOTHING in this life is more important than knowing Christ.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
(Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)

What do we learn? We have no righteousness of our own; it is not possible for us to gain our own righteousness through keeping the law--no matter how wonderful that law is. If we're to be found righteous at all, it is because we've received Christ's righteousness. And this righteousness comes through faith. Through this connection with Christ, we can expect to share in Christ's sufferings but also we can expect to share in Christ's future glory. I found it interesting how other translations chose to translate this verse:

My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11, HCSB)

I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV)

We also learn in this chapter that the Christian life should be lived in the present. But a present full of hope for the future glory of heaven.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
(Philippians 3:12-16 ESV)

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
(Philippians 3:20-21 ESV)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review: November 10-16

This week I read Philippians nine times! My monthly total, so far, is 37!

ESV

• Genesis 12-50
• Philippians (3)

HCSB

• Philippians (3)

NASB

• Philippians (2)

KJV

• Ecclesiastes 6-12
• Philippians (1)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Grace Transforming

Grace Transforming: Phil Ryken. 2012. Crossway. 120 pages.

I enjoyed this little book on grace. The book has eight chapters highlighting different aspects of grace. These chapters are: Grace's Humbling Necessity, Grace's Costly Provision, Grace's Justifying Righteousness, Grace's Sanctifying Power, Grace's Clarifying Perspective, Grace's Perpetual Abundance, Grace's Precious Testimony, and Grace's Endless Kindness. Together these eight chapters provide a big picture look at God's amazing grace, and how grace changes and transforms individual believers.

I appreciate this book. I liked the biblical focus, the use of Scriptures. I liked how reader-friendly it was. It's an accessible book, you don't have to be a serious student or theologian to understand the concepts discussed in this one. And since the focus is on grace, the gospel is central to this one. I think believers can always use more reminders of the gospel! The book focuses on how grace effects us here and now, but it also spends some time on future grace revealing how grace will continue to bless us in heaven.

Grace Transforming may not be the most exhaustive work on the subject of grace, but, it is a nice little book that challenges and encourages.

Favorite quotes:

Grace is our present need as well as our past experience. (14)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely wrote, "If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all." (19)

This is a good prayer for anyone to pray: "God, be mercy-seated to me, the sinner." (21)

By shedding his blood, Jesus Christ became the atoning sacrifice for my sins. His death is my substitute; his cross is my mercy seat; and the blood that he sprinkled on it is my salvation. To say that Jesus died for sinners is to say that his sacrifice accomplished what the blood on the mercy seat accomplished... Our mercy seat is the cross of Jesus Christ. (21-22)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: This Little Light

This Little Light of Mine. Shelagh McNicholas. 2013. Scholastic. 12 pages.

I'm always happy to post about faith-friendly children titles. This Little Light of Mine is a board book adaptation of a familiar song. While the text doesn't stay completely true to the original song (choosing instead to say "won't let no one blow it out"), most of it should feel familiar to readers. (I'm not sure the third section fits rhythmically in the song. It's hard to make "Everywhere I go" fit the same way as "This little light of mine." It just has too few syllables. I personally would have preferred the "Let it shine til Jesus comes.") As for the illustrations, the story they tell is about a little boy and a little girl helping another child find their lost dog; they also seem to be working together to build a dog house. The illustrations don't particular relate to the text of the song other than it shows that being a light in the world means being loving and kind to others.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Jesus, Author of Our Faith

Jesus, Author of Our Faith. A.W. Tozer. 1988. Christian Publications. 150 pages.

Earlier in the year, I reviewed Jesus, Our Man in Glory: Twelve Messages from the book of Hebrews. and Experiencing the Presence of God. Jesus, Author of Our Faith is (yet) another sermon collection that focuses on Hebrews. (That makes three Tozer books that share a common focus: Hebrews!!!) This collection seems to focus on Hebrews 11-13.

• Jesus, Author of Our Faith
• Enoch: Faith Takes Us to the Rapture
• Noah: Faith Does What God Asks
• Faith Answers When God Calls
• Faith Values the Pilgrim Journey
• Faith is Finding God for Ourselves
• Faith Has Eyes Only for Jesus
• Faith and Discipline Ready Us for Heaven
• Faith Is Not Given Us to Faith
• Faith's Manifesto: We Claim God Now!
• Faith Will Endure the Final Shaking
• Faith Rests on an Unchanging Jesus

This is a wonderful little book. I love reading Tozer because he's so zealous, so enthusiastic, so in-love with Christ, so diligent in the Word. And I do think he offers readers a chance to take their faith and beliefs seriously. Tozer can definitely be challenging and thought provoking because sometimes the message we NEED to hear isn't the message we WANT to hear. Or maybe we want the message to apply to others but not to ourselves. Tozer doesn't accept excuses, and he asks readers to think critically, which is a great thing.

Favorite quotes:

The Christian gospel always has been and must continue to be a gospel of alarm... The gospel message is a gospel of hope and good news to those who respond and believe. But the gospel message is starkly plain to those who do not believe. (34)

The greatest encouragement throughout the Bible is God's love for His lost race and the willingness of Christ, the eternal Son, to show forth that love in God's plan of redemption. The love of Jesus is so inclusive that it knows no boundaries. At the point where we stop caring and loving, Jesus is still there loving and caring. (144)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Memory Verse Suggestions from Proverbs

These are verses that I think would be worth meditating on and/or memorizing.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
(Proverbs 9:10 ESV)

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
(Proverbs 14:12 ESV)

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.
(Proverbs 16:2-3 ESV)

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
(Proverbs 16:6 ESV)

A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
(Proverbs 17:22 ESV)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
(Proverbs 18:10 ESV)

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
(Proverbs 30:5 ESV)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Good News from North Haven

The Good News From North Haven. Michael L. Lindvall. 1991. 176 pages.

I enjoyed this short story collection by Michael L. Lindvall. The book is set in the small town of North Haven, Minnesota. The stories are all told from the point of view of a local Presbyterian pastor. I thought he was a great choice as narrator because he was in a unique position to know just about everyone in town--and could perhaps with a little help from the Spirit--see the people with loving, grace-filled eyes. Not that he was a perfect character, he'd probably be the first to admit that he's a sinner, but because he tried even when it was difficult, even when he didn't want to, even when he really really didn't want to, to see the people through God's eyes. Each of stories offers a moral or lesson. And I suppose some readers who don't like lessons or who feel too manipulated by lessons may not appreciate this one. But. I do think it will work for plenty of readers. The first and last stories are Christmas-related. So it does capture 'a full year' of small town life.

The stories included in this one are:

• The Christmas Pageant
• The Little Things
• Merciful Snow
• The Ocarina Band
• The Affair
• The Motorcycle
• Learning to Dance
• A Strange Providence
• Reunion
• Lamont Wilcox's Boat
• Sherry Moves Home for a While
• Air-Conditioning
• The Treasure Hunt
• The Dreadful Omniscience of God
• The Jefferson Street Leaf War
• Hunting
• Rapture
• Christmas Baptism

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible