1. Galatians 3:24: "The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ."
My thoughts: A lot of people complain about how restricting and limiting Biblical commands are, that it's really asking a lot to give up what God asks his followers to give up. This thinking misses the point. The purpose of the law is to help us create a lifestyle where more focus can be on God. The law isn't restricting, it's freeing; it gets the "self" out of the way so that Christ might be worshiped and enjoyed, a far greater pleasure than we can fathom chasing the cheap thrills we are asked to leave behind.
2. A paraphrase from a sermon by Scott Davis at our church regarding Philippians 3:
"We must move beyond event-based Christianity and instead run a life race (Paul's words: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God as called me heavenward. . ."). This is a race that must be run with tenacity.
Tenacity:
- stubborn or persistent
- holding together firmly (not easily pulled apart)
- from Latin: tough, holding fast
- marked by firmness of purpose
- a quality of being determined to do or achieve something
This is how to run this race of knowing Christ and becoming Christlike - like a lifelong marathon requiring tenacity.
3. "In terms of influence, the problem is not that most Christians aren't where they should be, but that they aren't what they should be where they are." - Os Guinness.
4. "The more of heaven there is in our lives, the less of earth we shall covet. The fear of God casts out the envy of men." - Charles Spurgeon
Amen to #2 - I just finished last night an eight-month study/journey with several other women in my church, and that was one of the big take-aways from the material. It's not about the mountaintop moments; it's about the day-to-day choices and actions in the cubicle, in the kitchen, in the classroom. Life is made of those mundane moments. And, apparently, of alliteration. :)
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