Tag Archives: Mary

JOHN’S GOSPEL… THE LAZARUS EVENT – 18

Bible Study, , ,

John’s gospel, the story another opportuty, reached its pinnacle in John 11. John was the only one who recorded the “Lazarus event”, a miracle so great that it, finally and forever as far as John was concerned, confirmed the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.

Let’s trace the events, one by one.

The Bethany home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus became an oasis for Jesus, a familiar place where He visited often, was always welcome, and felt at home. The sisters and He became good friends, although the brother, Lazarus, didn’t seem to feature much in the story.

Martha, the eldest and the busiest, always made sure that the company was well fed. Mary, probably the next in line, was the pensive one, sensitive and emotional. She ignored protocol to be close to Jesus when He used the time in their home to teach His disciples, sitting at His feet in the company of men!

And Lazarus? Where was he? Despite their friendship, did he have issues with Jesus? Why was he specifically described as one that Jesus loved and yet, he was never in the company when Jesus visited? Somehow, it seems, Jesus loved the ones who weren’t sure about Him…even like the rich young ruler.

John 11:1, 3 NLT
[1] “A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha…
[3] So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

There must have been some connection between Jesus and Lazarus, a friendship on the quiet despite their differences, that prompted the comment, “Your dear friend,”…

Jesus had withdrawn from public view because the Pharisees were after His blood, and He knew that it was not yet His time.

John 10:39-40 NLT
[39] “Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. [40] He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.”

So, when Lazarusc fell ill, Jesus was out of town. A frantic message to Him took days to reach Him. Then He waited a few more days before responding. What was going on here? It’s almost as though Jesus had His ear to the ground, waiting for a signal from the Father before He made a move. He dawdled long enough for the inevitable to happen. Lazarus died and was buried…and the He made His move.

But, for the sisters, Jesus didn’t come!

Imagine the disappointment, the disillusionment, the devastation these sisters felt! The Jesus whom, they thought, loved them, whom they trusted, believed in, and worshipped as Lord, had failed them! He didn’t even send them a message, “I’m coming…” Just silence!

Despite appearances, Jesus was right on track. Always listening for the inward voice of the Father, He understood that this was another opportunity. He must act at each precise moment for the greatest impact of the “Lazarus event”.

John 11:4 NLT
[4] But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

John 11:5-7, 11 NLT
[5] So, although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, [6] he stayed where he was for the next two days. [7] Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”…
[11] Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

His disciples were puzzled. Why did act so strangely, never in a hurry, His actions decisive and precise, even in a crisis? If Lazarus was dead, why go back into danger?

John 11:14-15 NLT
[14] So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

Slowly, piece by piece, the picture in the puzzle was taking shape. Jesus’ deliberate delay prepared the scene for the greatest miracle they would ever witness. If ever they had doubts about the identity of their rabbi, this miracle would catapult them beyond doubt.

So, in this story and its various players, each one had opinions about Jesus, and each one responded differently to His mysterious behaviour…until it all came together in one unforgettable miracle too public, too visible, and too undeniable to ignore, that clinched the deal for all concerned.

Jesus knew what He was doing. This miracle formed the final great divide between faith and unbelief and their consequences. Some chose faith, and with it, eternal life. Others chose unbelief, and drove them to do the worst they could do…eliminate the one who stood in their way.

John 11:53 NLT
[53] “So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.”…

THINGS THAT DAVID SAID – 10

Devotion, ,

THE “ONE THING”?

We’ve thought about David’s “one thing” in our previous meditation. Let’s think about this one thing a little longer.

David was not the only one in Scripture who had “one thing” in mind, one direction, one course, one goal, one desire above all others. There was also Mary, there was Paul, who both expressed in words or actions, the one thing they wanted most of all.

Every day, we are faced with choices. In fact, life is about making a constant stream of choices…this, not that…here, not there…now, not then! So many choices that we are mostly not even aware that we are making them!

This ability to choose is an integral part of being human. God built self-determination into humans when He created the first man, and didn’t withdraw it when he rebelled. However, now we have the added responsibility of choosing between good and evil, and a natural bent towards choosing the wrong way which we are to overcome by continually making right choices and following through on them.

Without a clear directive on one thing that keeps us on course, like Mary’s sister, Martha, “many things”, many conflicting considerations will cause trouble in our choices and land us in the “worried and upset” zone.

Let’s examine Mary’s “one thing” against Martha’s “many things”.

Luke 10:41-42 NIV
[41] “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha’s troubled mind, in the midst of her serving the Lord with a meal, became entangled in a “not fair” conflict. Can you hear her whining tone? “It’s not fair, Lord! Why can Mary sit here while I have to work so hard in the kitchen, alone?”

Martha had a lesson to learn. She needed a “one thing” to keep her on track, like her sister, even if her one thing was to worship and serve Jesus in the kitchen! Here’s the thing that would keep her track! Not even the passing of Lazarus should dim her confidence in the Lord of resurrection. “It will be okay, Martha. I’m here, and that’s all that matters!”

Martha needed to recalculate. She had lost her “one thing” in the busyness of her “many things”.

John 11:25-26 NIV
[25] “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

And what of Mary? The test of her passion for the life lessons Jesus taught and which she chose to hear above all else, came to the surface when crisis hit. How did she handle her crisis? She lost track in the cross currents of her passions.

Lazarus, her beloved brother was dead, and it was Jesus’ fault. He didn’t come when they called Him.

Mary’s current situation temporarily cancelled her “one thing”. She was so disillusioned that, when Jesus eventually arrived at Bethany, she refused to meet Him until He called her. Her first words to Him were an explosion of rebuke and anger, the exact words Martha used but with a very different tone.

Jesus wept at her response. The meaning of the Greek word is straightforward. Jesus shed tears. Why? Was it because death had claimed Lazarus? Was it because Mary was broken-hearted over her loss? Was He weeping in sympathy with her? I think not!

I think Jesus wept for Mary because her pain had cancelled her trust in Him. His weeping was a sign of His frustration over her unbelief. Not even her “one thing” at His feet, listening to His teaching, had protected her from the raw experience of her brother’s death. Lazarus’ death was crunch time and Mary failed the test. She didn’t wait for Jesus to finish what He started.

Why did Jesus allow this to happen? Was it a “good thing” because both Mary and Martha learned life lessons they would never forget? Martha learned that her fussing and fuming over “many things” paled into nothing compared with Jesus’ disclosure and confirmation by raising Lazaris to life. He was who He said He was! She needed only one thing, and Mary had discovered it..

Mary learned that Jesus was utterly trustworthy, even when circumstances appeared irreversible. A dead Lazarus, stinking in his decay, was no obstacle to the Son of God. Mary’s response returned her to her “one thing”, back at His feet, but now in worship.

John 12:1-3 NIV
[1] “Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. [3] Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

She had learned her lesson well.

Like Mary, David’s “one thing” kept him focused on his desire for the presence of God in his turbulent life. To dwell in the sanctuary was not a cop-out from the realities of life. Rather, it was a desire to carry the awareness of God’s presence wherever he went and whatever his circumstances were, to turn his whole life into a sanctuary of worship.

So, when life was tranquil, David’s thoughts were on God, His goodness, mercy, and glory. He dwelt on these attributes in song after song. When life was dangerous and unpredictable, he turned to the Lord for comfort and protection.

Was David’s longing for God’s presence, his “one thing”, satisfied? Most definitely, yes! His history and his psalms bear witness to his experience.

So, I ask myself, “What is my “one thing” that will hold me together and keep me on track when the chips are down? What is my goal in all my choices, even those that seem inconseqential in my daily life?

Is my life directed toward this one thing, this goal that keeps me alive until it is accomplished or will be in the life to come? Only I can decide. Only I can choose and stick to my one thing until my final breath. I must, like Paul, choose and act.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
[13] “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

AUGUST – WOMEN’S MONTH

Bible Study, ,

Women all over South Africa are the subject of praise and celebration in this month. “Women’s Month“ is a big deal on TV, for example, to highlight their importance in the eyes of the public.

Why should an entire month be dedicated to women? Does it mean that society finally recognises the worth and role of wives and mothers in our world. It’s an anomaly since there is a phenomenon called GBV that is eating away at the female population in our country. So why have a women’s month when there is little real evidence that many husbands and boyfriends honour and respect their women? Why is it necessary for women to dangle their importance under the noses of men, and push for quotas in government and business? Does it mean that they must highlight something that doesn’t really exist to make it happen?

I know I speak in generalisations. However, the evidence is there that society’s treatment of their women needs attention.

Religion can be a powerful indicator of some of the world’s attitude. There are nations controlled by a single religious system that treat women as nothing more than possessions to be used and abused at will.

Despite what men think of their women by the way they treat them, there is one man who showed the world their worth by setting them free from the shackles of their own culture.

Jesus rises above all other men who ever lived by elevating the women He encountered and all women since, to the position and role God intended at creation. Helper, taken, not from man’s foot or his head, but from man’s side! Partner, not possession! Honoured, not abused! Treated with compassion and respect, not with cruelty or contempt! Every story of His encounter with women peels another layer off the burden their culture and religion placed on them.

In the gospel record, Jesus gave three Mary’s the “thumbs up” by deliberately removing from them their cultural taboos.

The name, Mary, has deep meaning and significance for three Mary’s in the gospel record. Written into their lives is some part of the meaning of their name.

“Meaning:Star of the sea; Bitterness; Beloved; Wished for a child. The quintessential girl’s name, Mary, is of Latin and Greek origins and means “drop of the sea,” “bitterness,” “beloved,” and “wished for a child.” The old-world name is the anglicized version of Maria, originating from the Hebrew Miriam or Mariam.”

The first Mary is Jesus’ own mother. Although Jesus had to untie the mother-bond in His public ministry He, nevertheless, never failed to honour the woman who brought Him into the world. At her request, for example, He stepped in to help a family out of an embarrassing situation when the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana in Galilee. Again, moments before He died, He gave her into the care of a beloved disciple, John.

Jesus, by His example, elevated motherhood to the level of a divine calling. He honoured Mary as His mother. He endorsed the Father’s choice of Mary to be the mother of His Son in His earthly role as a man.

The second Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Magadala, that Mary, was the object of Jesus’ compassion. She was enslaved, probably through a sinful lifestyle, by seven demons who tormented her day and night. We are not told her details but, somehow, somewhere, she encountered Jesus. He saw her plight and drove the devils out of her, setting her free to become a faithful follower and the first witness to His resurrection.

It was Luke, the Gentile, who often records stories that reveal Jesus’ attitude to women.

Luke 8:1-2 NLT
[1] “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, [2] along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons… “

Why did Jesus chose to reveal Himself to this Mary first after He rose from the dead? Was it because women, in Jewish culture, were not trusted to give evidence in court? What a slap in the face for that idea!

Luke 24:1, 3, 9-11 NLT
[1] “But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared….
[3] So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus….
[9] So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. [11] But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.”

The third Mary, Mary of Bethany, was part of a trio of siblings who lived together in a small village outside Jerusalem. How did this Mary manage to break another cultural taboo with Jesus’ approval?

Jesus often visited this home, perhaps as a refuge from the clamouring public and the incessantly hostile religious leaders. Here He was welcome and His times of teaching valued.

On one occasion, the familiar group of Jesus and the Twelve turned up for a respite. Martha, the busy one, set about preparing a meal for their guests. Mary settled down at Jesus’ feet, among the disciples, to listen to Jesus, an unheard of and unacceptable action in Jewish culture. When Martha tried to call her away to help in the kitchen, Jesus rebuked her and affirmed Mary’s break with protocol.

Once again, Luke tells the story…

Luke 10:40-42 NLT
[40] “But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” [41] But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! [42] There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This same Mary, distraught by her brother’s death and disillusioned by Jesus’ failure to arrive in time to save him, had to learn to let Jesus finish what He started before she mistrusted and judged Him. The outcome…

John 12:1-8 NLT
[1] “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. [2] A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. [3] Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. [4] But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, [5] “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” [6] Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. [7] Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. [8] You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Where was Mary of Bethany in this event? At Jesus feet in worship and adoration acceptable to Him! Her story is forever recorded in God’s Word!

Three Mary’s, living proof of what
Jesus thought and how He treated women.

We don’t need a “Women’s Month“ to remind us of God’s intention for women in His scheme of things. If humans would only read and heed God’s Word, women would receive the respect and honour He gave us at creation.

Women need to step down from their “high horse” of feminism and step up to their place of partnership with men God gave us to share in the role of managing the earth in all its departments, for His glory.

When men and women step outside of God’s order, chaos reigns. When men and women honour God’s order, harmony prevails.

MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS

Bible Study, ,

Luke 1:26-30 NLT
[26] “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, [27] to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. [28] Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” [29]
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. [30] “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!”

The Bible tells us very little about Mary’s credentials. We know only that she was a young village girl, probably a teenager, no details given about her parents or her life,
that she was engaged to Joseph, whose genealogy is provided, that she was a chaste young girl, and that God had a special purpose for her.

God had singled her out from among all the young virgins in Israel to be the earthly mother of
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. This child she would bear was to take the role of the Son of God for a special purpose.

To be truly man, God’s Son would need to begin His life on earth inside the womb of an earthly mother. He would be supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit but He would develop and grow as a normal foetus and come into the world through the normal process of birth.

Did Mary understand the enormity of the task ahead of her? Her young body must take the strain of pregnancy and childbirth. She must also carry the stigma of “unmarried mother” despite her innocence. In a small village community, she would be ridiculed and ostracised except for her loyal husband’s protection.

Did all these considerations race through her mind at Gabriel’s announcement? Only one question, “How will this happen?” Gabriel’s explanation was mind-boggling. Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit! Would she know how and when this would happen? What does it feel like to be pregnant, and that without human involvement?

Satisfied with the angel’s unembellshed intervention, no if’s or but’s, Mary bowed in submission to her Lord.

What was it in Mary’s life and character that earned God’s favour? Since Scripture does not expand on this, we can only speculate from the evidence we have in the Word.

Luke 1:38 NLT
[38] “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”

Trust, submission, worship! Great qualities that find favour with God! Peter expands on the attitude of a woman that gives Him pleasure.

1 Peter 3:3-5 NLT
[3]”Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. [4] You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. [5] This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.”

Mary must surely have displayed these qualities in her young life to have found favour with God.

As we trace Mary’s story through the gospel record, she emerges as a normal Jewish mother with an unusual son who baffled her at times, who caused her great delight in His growing up years for love, submission, and His obedience to His parents. He not only honed her trust in Israel’s God, but also frustrated her with His insights and understanding of the things of God way beyond her own. Young as Jesus was, He was often her mentor and model.

Mary had to face a challenge far greater than any other mother on earth. She knew who Jesus was, the Son of God, born of her own body. She could never doubt that truth but, Jesus was also her earthly son. How was she to relate to Him, and how was she to transition in her relationship to Him from her son to her Lord?

His earthly ministry confused her. Although they grew up with Him, His brothers rejected His claims. She and her offspring thought He was crazy. They tried to intervene to save Him from His own madness, but He cut all ties with them and their responsibility to Him by identifying His true family as all those who believed in Him.

Matthew 12:46-50 NLT
[46] “As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. [47] Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” [48] Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” [49] Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. [50] Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

Mary trusted Jesus. At the wedding in Cana, when they ran out of wine, she encouraged the servants to do what He said, regardless of how strange His instruction might be. They did just that and water became wine at His word!

Mary was warned that her unique role would bring her great heartache! Simeon prophesied this part of her maternal role soon after His birth. She would process more emotional pain than many other mothers.

Our pain as mothers is often connected to the waywardness of our children. Mary suffered the terrible anguish of losing her Son because of His obedience to His heavenly Father.

John 19:25-27 NLT
[25] “Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” [27] And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

Comforted by Jesus’ care for her with His final breaths, she carried forever in her heart the thoughtfulness of a perfect son.

The crowning moment came when Mary finally transitioned from mother of her son, Jesus, to worshipper of Jesus, Son of God and Lord.

Mary’s memories were indelible. They would be with her until the end of her days. Mary’s place in history can never erased. She will forever be remembered as the mother of the earthly Man but, she will never be anything else…not the mother of God, not our intercessor, not immaculately conceived, not divinely protected from sin…just Mary, the village maid who was favoured to bear a son who would be the Saviour of sinners.

THREE A’S TO ACHIEVE ONE THING

Christian Life, ,

People in the world run after different goals in life but all their goals move towards one thing…money. We can probably sum up their goals by two aspirations, to be wealthy, successful, or both.

How does the world measure up to the Bible’s ideal?

We must always look for God’s way outside of money and success which are part of this world and it’s philosophy and ideals
… temporal, temporary, and transient.

‭1 John 2:15-17 NLT‬
[15] “Do not love this world or the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. [16] For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. [17]And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

There is another side to life, here and now, that few find because these aspirations belong to those who view their lives from a different perspective. Those who live only for this life give no thought to the next. Those who live for God use this life to prepare for the next.

‭Psalms 27:8 NIV‬
[8] “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

  1. David’s Aspiration – to be in His presence in the temple.

David longed to be permanently in God’s presence, to see His beauty and experience the wonder of being with Him.

‭Psalms 27:4 NLT‬
[4] “The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”

David was tired of being a fugitive, always dodging King Saul’s murderous intention. In God’s presence he would be safe, out of reach though not out of sight. There he would be free to contemplate the wonders of the God he worshiped without having constantly to look over his shoulder for danger.

  1. Mary’s Action – to be in His presence at His feet.

Mary, out of all who fellowshipped with Jesus, chose an action that set her apart from all others. She was, as a woman, barred her from sitting among the men. Her place was with Martha in the kitchen.

But…

‭Luke 10:38-39 NLT‬
[38] “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. [39] Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.”

Martha was incensed. Why didn’t Jesus rebuke Mary and send her to the place where she belonged? Didn’t she know that her culture forbade her to be with the men?

Yet, Jesus commended her action…

‭Luke 10:41-42 NLT‬
[41] “But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! [42] There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary chose one thing, above all else, in her disregard for protocol. Her action confirmed her intent, to be at His feet, in His presence, listening and learning from the Master Rabbi…

And Jesus approved.

  1. Paul’s Ambition – to be with Him and in Him forever.

Paul’s ambition takes us to the heart of the ‘one thing’. Setting aside all other goals as earthly and irrelevant, Paul set his sights on one thing.

‭Philippians 3:13-14 NLT‬
[13] “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, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Paul had much on his mind as he worked hard to fulfill his calling. Taking the good news of Jesus to a pagan world was no easy task. He had to contend with vicious opposition as well as with churches full of people raised in paganism with its ungodly ways. His role was to teach them the way of truth.

In and above all these concerns was the ‘one thing’ that motivated and guided all Paul’s actions and reactions. This ‘one thing’ was a prize so valuable that it kept him on track through every experience, good and bad. He never let the goal out of his sight, no matter what happened to him in a world opposed to God and His Word.

When he wobbled, God’s grace steadied him.

‭2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV‬
[9] “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Paul knew he would always be striving towards the goal in this life.

‭Philippians 3:13-14 NLT‬
[13] “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, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Every struggle was an opportunity to gain ground on his way to the prize.

He set aside earthly, religious, and personal achievements as nothing compared with what awaited him at the end of his journey.

‭Philippians 3:7-9 NLT‬
[7″I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. [8] Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ [9] and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”

‭2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT‬
[6]”As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

‭What was the ‘crown of righteousness’ towards which Paul struggled with determined purpose? He used different ways to describe his goal, but they all lead to one thing. We could say he meant ‘crowned with the righteousness’ he had received from Christ by faith when he had abandoned his own righteousness by trying to keep the law. Christ’s righteousness gave him right standing with God and access to the grace that gave him the power to do the right thing.

John puts the same goal simply…

‭‭1 John 3:2 NLT‬
[2]” Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

This goal towards which God’s children are moving, consciously or unconsciously, requires that we do one thing.

‭1 John 3:3 NLT‬
[3]”And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”

So, God is at work in us. As we work with Him, trusting Him in the ‘all things’ that He is working for our good, something is happening inside.

‭Romans 8:28-29 NLT‬
[28]”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

It’s this goal, becoming like Jesus, the only goal worth pursuing with all our energy, that will achieve man’s chief end, “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” (Westminster Catechism)