(Php 3:20)  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”   We look for the Savior! Every believer is to spiritually have his or her face turned towards heaven today, looking for the Lord Jesus to come for us! We need not be concerned about what tomorrow may bring, for the Lord’s hand is upon His children should that day even come. Today is the day we are to anticipate and live for Him to come! Glory!

(Php 3:20)  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”  Whenever we see the word “conversation”, most times we think “manner of life”. That is correct. It means that because it speaks of being part of a community, a group of people. The truly saved are not of the community of God’s children. We are to live as such, children of light among children of darkness. This is for the purpose of drawing them to the Savior. Can a unsaved person distinguish you as different from themselves?  I hope you will take a look at www.thirstingsouls.com for sermons, Bible teaching, and special music.

(Php 3:18) “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”   Notice it is the unsaved, and in this case, false brethren, who “mind earthly things”. In other words, their heart is upon the “things” of this earth. We have been admonished to, (Col_3:2)  “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. Jesus told us (Mat 6:19) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,…. (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…. (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Could it be that the reason we are not actively looking forward to our heavenly home and are clinging to this earth is because we “mind earthly things”? 

(Php 3:18) “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”   How can you identify these wolves in sheep’s clothing? Two things are vital: firstly, to be sure you are saved. Be sure you have repented of your sins, asking forgiveness through the blood of Jesus; put your faith in Him alone for your salvation, asking Him for the gift of everlasting life. Many have done the second part (asking) without the first (repenting). It is your sin that needs to be dealt with. I know, I did the second without the first and was still lost. Then,  secondly, protect yourself through a growing knowledge of God’s Word.

(Php 3:17)  “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”  Praise God for the completed Bible, the very Word of God from beginning to end. We can follow the walk of Paul by reading the Epistles over and over and over again! It is possible through the power of the Spirit of God within the saved, to be better men and women than we are today; to be conformed more and more into the image of Christ as we endure this life.

(Php 3:16)  “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”   How can this be attained? In reality it is easy: put aside what you think and embrace what the Bible says. Such statements as, “I know what the Bible says but I think” should never be a part of the speech of a Born Again Child of God. God is God and the standard for holy living is given by Him without consulting man in any way. “Who art thou, o man, that repliest against God?” (Rom 9:20)  

(Php 3:15) “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”   The Holy Spirit reveals to the saved their shortcomings as well as how their thinking might be wrong. As James pictures it, it is a mirror upon the soul. Don’t look away in pride or hurt; instead embrace humbly what is revealed, asking the Lord to aid you in improving (looking better).

(Php 3:15) “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”  You can equate the word “perfect” with “saved”, for to be saved to have completely all we need, clothed in Christ’s perfection. So, as a saved person we are to (v13) forget the past and reach forward in mind and heart to all the things the Lord has bestowed upon us in eternity!  

DAILY DROP OF WATER (Php 3:13)  “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”  It seems very few of professing believers in our churches get this far in their Christian walk. They are satisfied with the knowledge their soul is secure in Christ so sit back enjoying the ride towards heaven. Paul knew he was in the Lord’s hands, but still lived each day as one who sought to achieve, as the next verse says, (Php 3:14) “I  press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”   

(Php 3:12) “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”  The key to this verse are the words, “….I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”  There is a sweet little girl in our church whom I have befriended. When she sees me, she runs to me and gives me a hug (that’s Christ apprehending us). I immediately hug her back (that’s “…but I follow after, if that I may apprehend…” ). Paul is saying, “I hug the Lord back. I’m not there yet, but the Lord has hold of me and I seek to hold, to hug Him back !”