Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 4
Tuesday


PRESSING ON

READ:
Philippians 1:12-18;
3:8-11
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That I may know Him
and the power of
His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His
sufferings.
__Philippians 3:10
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At a Christian men's conference, I talked with a longtime friend who has encouraged and mentored me for many years. With him were two young men from China, new in their faith and deeply grateful for this man's faithful friendship and spiritual help. My friend Clyde, nearing 80 years of age, glowed with enthusiasm as he said, "I've never been more excited about knowing and loving Christ than I am today."

Paul's letter to the Philippians reveals a heart and purpose that never diminished with time: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Phil 3:10). From the root of Paul's relationship with Jesus came the fruit of his undiminished fervor that others be guided to faith in Him. He rejoiced to share the gospel and was encouraged that others became bolder because of him (1:12-14).

If our goal is merely service for the lord, we may burn out somewhere along the line. But if our purpose, like Paul's and Clyde's and many others, is to know Christ and love Him, we'll find that He will give us the strength to make Him known to others. Let us joyfully press on in the strength God gives! __David McCasland

```````````Father God, I want to know You in all Your fullness and```````````
````````````to love You completely. I believe that relationship``````````````
```````````````with You is the basis for my service for You.`````````````````
``````````````Help me not to serve out of my own strength.````````````````
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Learn from Christ then make HIm known.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 1:12-18; 3:8-11********************

Philippians I
12 But I want you to know,
brethren, that the things
which happened to me have
actually turned out for the
furtherance of the gospel,

13 so that it has become
evident to the whole palace
guard, and to all the rest, that
my chains are in Christ;

14 and most of the brethren in
the Lord, having become
confident by my chains, are
much more bold to speak the
Word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach
Christ even from envy and
strife, and some also from
goodwill: 16 The former
preach Christ from selfish
ambition, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to
my chains; 17 but the latter
out of love, knowing that I
am appointed for the defense
of the gospel. 18 What then?
Only that in every way,
whether in pretense or in
truth, Christ is preached; and
in this I rejoice, yes, and will
rejoice.

Philippians 3
8 Yet indeed I also count all
things loss for the excellence
of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain
Christ 9 and be found in Him
...; 10 that I may know Him
and the power of His
resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His
death, 11 if, by any means, I
may attain to the resurrection
from the dead.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Paul's letter to the Philippians paints an interesting contrast in ideas.
It describes the trials of his imprisonment, yet also his great joy in
Christ. Such contrasts contribute to the richness of this epistle