Mari Ikeda
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Our True Citizenship Mari Ikeda
(Philippians 3:15-21)
A. A “mature” view of things? (15-16)
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
B. We are present in this world, but we don’t belong to it
1) Many people forget Jesus’ suffering and seek one’s own pleasure (17-19)
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
2) Let us not forget our citizenship is in heaven (20-21)
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
C. We need models to keep this view (15,17)
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Summary
To live with Jesus means that we make ourselves belong to Jesus and not to belong to this world while we still live in it. It also means not to forget our own weakness and the sad reality of this world, and to believe in the hope and glory in the future. It is indeed hard to keep this balance, but we should always have good models to follow.
For Discussion
1) Why do we fail to remember Jesus’ suffering?
2) Do you have a model whom you follow as an example to live with Jesus? How have they led your path so far?