Read Philippians 3:17-4:1

Wednesday

Read Philippians 3:17-4:1

17 Keep on imitating me, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you. 18 I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ's death on the cross. 19 They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. 20 We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 21 He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

4 So then, my friends, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you!—this, dear friends, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord.

Good News Translation (GNT)
Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society

Think

Paul has harsh words to say in verse 18-19: “they are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires.” In this case the Good News Bible uses hell where other Bibles would use ‘Destroyed’ - the Greek word ‘apoleia’ means ruined / broken / worn out. We all know that to live for Earthly things wears us down - but to live for God - builds us up.

Pray

Lord I wear myself out for things that will themselves wear out - teach me to build myself up in relationship with you.