Philippians 3:1-7

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more; circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:1-7 NIV

"Rejoice in the Lord." I love that Paul starts out this 3rd chapter of Phillipians with the reminder to rejoice in the Lord. After all, isn't it through rejoicing that we find the JOY that comes from the Lord?

Unfortunately, rejoicing in the Lord does not mean there are not dangers in this world that we encounter along the way. Sometimes it means we are tempted even more. Satan so loves to attack the most faithful. Paul continues by warning of these dangers -- "Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision". We must always beware of these influences in the world and stray as far from them as is possible. And, oh how hard this can be some days! Don't you find it hard to "walk IN the world, but not OF the world"? Some days it is such a balancing act. I find that if I should lose sight of the Lord for even the briefest of moments, that balancing act just becomes more and more precarious.

I choose to focus on the next part of the verse -- "for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh". Yes, because I am human there will be days when I have to fight harder than others to keep away the dogs and the evil workers. However, for me, I have found that if I can focus on worshiping the Spirit of God and glory in Christ that I don't lose my focus on the Lord quite so easily. And, yes, I do have days where I have to remind myself over and over and over that I must continue to worship God and that glory is found in Christ and I should put no confidence in the flesh. Seeking God is not always easy, but it is SO worth it!

Dear Lord, please help me to always remember that you are the one true God and that what I have in you cannot be found in this world. I know that putting my trust in the world will only cause me to lose sight of You. I pray I will always seek You to find my true confidence. Amen.