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: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame – who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
-Philippians 3:18-21(NKJV)
As I read these verses in Philippians today, I am reminded how short sighted I can be in my flesh and how easy it is to allow my belly to be my god. On many occasions I have found myself consumed by my appetite to serve my flesh over the true and living God; and in so doing, I have allowed my belly to become my god. I have made it more important to satisfy the immediate desires of my flesh: the fleeting taste of sweetness on my tongue, being lazy and self-absorbed, hiding out and avoiding the challenges ahead, getting my way and being right, winning, being liked and accepted. These are all earthly, temporary and fleeting by nature and yet, I have chosen each of these over my Lord and Savior in just the last week or so. I have allowed my belly, my appetites to rule over my life rather than surrendering it all to the one true God, and submitting to His will, His purpose for my life. I have voluntarily allowed myself to be in bondage to my flesh. I have set my mind on earthly things and have temporarily forgotten that my citizenship is in heaven, not here on this earth.
However, if our eyes are eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord, we are not concerned with the immediate gratification of our fleshly appetites, but instead our focus is on Him. We have a heavenly perspective, knowing that we can surrender all our appetites, our hungers, our desires, everything to Jesus and He will give us rest, He will give us peace. A heavenly, eternal perspective is one of complete surrender, trust, faith, submission and obedience; it is willingly and joyfully surrendering all, everything in our lives to Him; trusting that He will take it from us; having faith that He is on the throne and that His will is perfect; and willingly and joyfully submitting to what He calls us to in faithful obedience.
I look forward to the day when I will no longer be tempted by my flesh, but until that day, I will be eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for my citizenship is not on earth but in heaven. Where is your citizenship?
However, if our eyes are eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord, we are not concerned with the immediate gratification of our fleshly appetites, but instead our focus is on Him. We have a heavenly perspective, knowing that we can surrender all our appetites, our hungers, our desires, everything to Jesus and He will give us rest, He will give us peace. A heavenly, eternal perspective is one of complete surrender, trust, faith, submission and obedience; it is willingly and joyfully surrendering all, everything in our lives to Him; trusting that He will take it from us; having faith that He is on the throne and that His will is perfect; and willingly and joyfully submitting to what He calls us to in faithful obedience.
I look forward to the day when I will no longer be tempted by my flesh, but until that day, I will be eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for my citizenship is not on earth but in heaven. Where is your citizenship?
COACH'S CALL TO ACTION
- How have you allowed your belly to be your god?
- How would things change if you were living in a heavenly perspective, of salvation and eternity?
- What next? How will you apply this to your life today?
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