Our hope, as we press forward unto the goal, is that Jesus will be magnified in our hearts and soul. In Philippians, Paul invites believers to understand the numerous blessings that Jesus has in store for those who love and desire Him. He encouraged us to "Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life."
Further, Paul writes in Philippians, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Why? Because the peace of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds.
In fact Jesus will make your joy complete. (Philippians 2:2)
But not every one desires the grace and freedom that Jesus wants to bestow upon us. Some prefer to remain under the law -- in bondage to men's rules and traditions -- rather than seeking Jesus who by His blood has purchased our sins once and for all.
For example, in Mark 7, the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem criticized Jesus' disciples. Indeed, seeing some of His disciples eating food with hands that were unclean, that is unwashed, the Pharisees and teachers criticized them.
The reason for this is that the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they came from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions too, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.
So the Pharisees and teachers of the law ask Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with unclean hands?" He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written, "These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Jesus told them, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the tradition of men." And He said unto them, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions. For Moses said, "Honour your father and your mother. Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: "Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban (that is a gift devoted to God) then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus, you nullify the Word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Then Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to me everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean."
Think about this. Nothing that enters a man from the outside can make that man unclean. Because what enters from the outside doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach and then out of his body. In other words, in this specific example, Jesus was declaring all foods clean. His concern however as He elaborated later to the disciples is that the unclean comes from the inside. In other words, what comes out of a man's mouth is the unclean because what comes forth from the mouth is what men hold dear in their hearts. The innermost thoughts and desires of men and women -- these constitute sin if we choose not to desire Jesus.
This is why we press on toward the goal, that we may be found in Jesus, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is obtained through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that we might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.
Therefore, like Paul, press on and take hold of His promises for which Christ Jesus took hold of for you and I. Forget what is behind. Crave what lies ahead. Desire Jesus and stand firm in His Word. Stand in the offering plate.
