For Those Desiring a Deep Christian Faith...
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2022 Meditations
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 5
      • May 8
      • May 13
      • May 15
      • May 17
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 6
      • April 8
      • April 12
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 18
      • April 20
      • April 22
      • April 24
      • April 26
      • April 28
      • April 30
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 3
      • March 6
      • March 9
      • March 11
      • March 13
      • March 15
      • March 17
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February 2022 Meditatons
    • 2021 Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template

May 13

“Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:16, ESV)
Picture
As the Apostle Paul traveled from area to area in ancient Greece, he crossed paths with many people.  He preached the gospel, taught about Christ Jesus, and founded churches.   For a number of years, he kept in touch with church leaders, missionaries, elders, and deacons.  He prayed for the unsaved, encouraged the faint-hearted, and laid hands on many for healing or the reception of the Holy Spirit.  Being in close contact with so many in ancient Greece, Paul saw some who grew closer and closer to God in Christ.  He saw the faith of others falter and give out.  He also saw some who turned violent against Almighty God, even to the point of splitting their church!  

Among those who were saved, Paul had little respect for back-sliders.  Those whose faith waned with time were seen by Paul as rejecting Jesus.  Hoping to stop any in the church in Philippi from backsliding in their faith, Paul wrote the scripture for today as both a word of encouragement and a warning:  “let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:16).  Not wanting any of the faithful to regress back into sinful ways, Paul offered these words to the Philippian Christians.   He hoped and prayed they would never revert to their former godless living.   Paul saw no hope for those who chose to follow God only to give up on that faith a while later.   Even John of Patmos, who wrote Revelation, wrote that it was better for a man to have never believed than to let his faith grow cold (Revelation 3:1-3).  Both Paul and John believed Christians who slid back into permanently sinful ways were lost souls.

Max Lucado hated cleaning closets.  Before he was married, he shoved all too many things in his closets.  When a guest was coming over, the threw dirty clothes into his closet.  When he didn’t feel like cleaning, he would throw the mess into the closet, promising himself to get to it later.  He never really got back to cleaning his closets.   Then, he got married.  His wife, Denalyn, urged him to keep the closets clean.  She encouraged him to use the closets for storage and not as a repository for messes!  

While joking about his messiness with closets, Lucado wrote the following humorous tidbit:  “Most of my life I’ve been a closet slob.… Then I got married.…  I enrolled in a twelve-step program for slobs. (“My name is Max, I hate to vacuum.”) A physical therapist helped me rediscover the muscles used for hanging shirts.… My nose was reintroduced to the fragrance of Pine Sol.…

Then came the moment of truth. Denalyn went out of town for a week. Initially I reverted to the old man. I figured I’d be a slob for six days and clean on the seventh. But something strange happened, a curious discomfort. I couldn’t relax with dirty dishes in the sink.

What had happened to me? Simple. I’d been exposed to a higher standard.

Isn’t that what has happened with us? … Before Christ, our lives were out of control, sloppy, and indulgent. We didn’t even know we were slobs until we met him.… Suddenly we find ourselves wanting to do good. Go back to the old mess? Are you kidding?” 
(p. 153, Grace for the Moment).

Be careful that you do not fall back into old sinful habits after becoming close to Christ.  When life gets messy, don’t fall back on sinful ways.  When you don’t get your way, don’t revert into a self-defeating mentality.  If you fail at something, don’t sink back into that old depression that gripped you so tightly in the past.   When you are faced with an old temptation, don’t let yourself fall under its spell.
​
“Hold true to what you have attained.” (Philippians 3:16).   Keep faithful to God.  Keep your eyes on the Heavenly prize.  Let your focus remain on Christ.  You were called to a higher standard.  Let your life exhibit your deep love of Christ!
 

click here to view other may Daily Meditations
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Daily Meditation
  • Past Daily Meditations
    • 2022 Meditations
    • May Meditations >
      • May 2
      • May 5
      • May 8
      • May 13
      • May 15
      • May 17
    • April Meditations >
      • April 2
      • April 4
      • April 6
      • April 8
      • April 12
      • April 14
      • April 16
      • April 18
      • April 20
      • April 22
      • April 24
      • April 26
      • April 28
      • April 30
    • March Meditations >
      • March 1
      • March 3
      • March 6
      • March 9
      • March 11
      • March 13
      • March 15
      • March 17
      • March 21
      • March 23
      • March 25
      • March 27
      • March 29
      • March 31
    • February 2022 Meditatons
    • 2021 Meditations >
      • January 2021 Meditations
      • February 2021 Meditations
      • March 2021 Meditations
      • April 2021 Meditations
      • May 2021 Meditations
      • June 2021 Meditations
      • July 2021 Meditations
      • August 2021 Meditations
      • September 2021 Meditations
      • October 2021 Meditations
      • November 2021 Meditations
      • December 2021 Meditations
    • 2020 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2020 Archive
      • February 2020 Archive
      • March 2020 Archive
      • April 2020 Archive
      • May 2020 Archive
      • June 2020 Archive
      • July 2020 Archive
      • August 2020 Archive
      • September 2020 Archive
      • October 2020 Archive
      • November 2020 Archive
      • December 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2019 Archive
      • February 2019 Archive
      • March 2019 Archive
      • April 2019 Archive
      • May 2019 Archive
      • June 2019 Archive
      • July 2019 Archive
      • August 2019 Archive
      • September 2019 Archive
      • October 2019 Archive
      • November 2019 Archive
      • December 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Daily Meditations >
      • December 2018 Archive
      • November 2018 Archive
      • October 2018 Archive
      • September 2018 Archive
      • August 2018 Archive
      • July 2018 Archive
      • June 2018 Archive
      • May 2018 Archive
      • April 2018 Archive
      • March 2018 Archive
      • February 2018 Archive
      • January 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Daily Meditations >
      • January 2017 Archive
      • February 2017 Archive
      • March 2017 Archive
      • April 2017 Archive
      • May 2017 Archive
      • June 2017 Archive
      • July 2017 Archive
      • August 2017 Archive
      • September 2017 Archive
      • October 2017 Archive
      • November 2017 Archive
      • December 2017 Archive
  • Special Bible Studies
    • Do you hold a grudge?
    • Amazing Grace!
    • Spiritual Warfare
    • Stubborn?
    • Emotional Black Holes
    • Unanswered prayers?
    • Have you compromised your faith?
    • Life in the pits...
    • Is your life in a rut?
    • Let God Ease Your Burdens!
    • Danger of Success
    • Feeling alone
    • Are you broken-hearted?
    • Feel vulnerable?
    • Is God pushing you?
    • Do you lack faith
    • Being Tested
    • Your Place in Heaven
    • Does your past haunt you?
    • Is worldliness creeping into your life?
    • What is acceptable worship?
    • Angry?
    • Spiritual Radar
    • Can you be obedient to God?
    • Courage in the Face of Trials
    • Does Hell Exist
    • A Sin of Omission
    • When Life Gets Crazy
    • When God is Silent
    • Weakness
    • On Death and Dying
    • Feeling Guilty for no Reason?
    • Satans Games
    • Death and Eternal Life
    • Depression
    • Family Problems
    • False Guilt
    • Food Issues
    • A Lack of Forgiveness
    • Frustration
    • Jealousy or Envy
    • Life out of Balance
    • Lying to Yourself or Others
    • Getting Married
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Prayer Life
    • Repentance
    • Sharing the Faith
    • Socialism
    • Stressed out
    • Impatience
    • Too Hard on Yourself
  • Uplifting Video for the Day
  • Videos for Reflection
    • Videos for Reflection 2
    • Videos for Reflection 3
    • Videos for Reflection 4
    • Videos for Reflection 5
    • Videos for Reflection 6
    • Videos for Reflection 7
    • Videos for Reflection 8
    • Videos for Reflection 9
    • Videos for Reflection 10
    • Videos for Reflection 11
    • Videos for Reflection 12
    • Videos for Reflection 13
    • Videos for Reflection 14
    • Videos for Reflection 15
    • Videos for Reflection 16
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Standing up for God
    • Jatya
    • Archbishop Mouche
    • Pastor Andrew Brunson
    • Our Coptic Christian Friends
    • Petr Jasek
  • Bible Challenge Gateway
  • Faith Issues in the Modern World
    • Christians Attacked by ISIS in Mozambique
    • The Pope Changes Lord's Prayer
    • Museum of the Bible Washington DC USA
    • Persecution at All-Time High
    • Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Christian Church
    • Attack by Muslim terrorists against Egyptian Church
    • Underground Christians in China
    • More Persecution of Chinese Christians
    • The Growing Church in Iran
    • Christian Parenting Failing God
  • Video Studies
    • Video Bible Study Introduction
    • Prayer in the Bible
    • Faith Hebrews 11
  • Walls of Inspiration
    • Wall of Inspiration 1
    • Wall of Inspiration 2
    • Wall of Inspiration 3
    • Wall of Inspiration 4
    • Wall of Inspiration 5
    • Wall of Inspiration 6
    • Wall of Inspiration 7
    • Wall of Inspiration 8
    • Wall of Inspiration 9
    • Wall of Inspiration 10
    • Wall of Inspiration 11
    • Wall of Inspiration 12
    • Wall of Inspiration 13
    • Wall of Inspiration 14
    • Wall of Inspiration 15
    • Wall of Inspiration 16
    • Wall of Inspiration 17
    • Wall of Inspiration 18
    • Wall of Inspiration 19
    • Wall of Inspiration 20
    • Wall of Inspiration 21
  • Bible Helps
  • Stories of God's Power
  • Comments
  • Bible Challenge Badge Earners
  • Yearly Meditations Template