A THREEFOLD VICTORY"... fashioned like unto his glorious body..." (Philippians. 3:20-21)
The motto of America's Keswick states that it is a place and a ministry "where God speaks to hearts and transforms lives." Through the years thousands have come to Keswick with such a desire, a need and an expectation. Many have heard the message of hope and have expressed hope in the message. Some have asked - "What is the key to a transformed life? Is there such a thing as a victorious life?" Others have referred to "the formula" for such a changed and victorious life as "a secret."
For some the "victorious life" appears to be a mystery solved by only a few. Yet "victory" is the theme of our Bible and the provision of our Lord. Examine our verses for the day as an illustration.
"For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." (Phil. 3:20-21)
Here is a threefold victory. First, our Lord shall "change our vile body." We may have difficulty in acknowledging that our body is vile, that it is humiliated to the degree of such serious need. We may have difficulty in understanding that our Lord can in fact change such a body. We may call it a "key" but it is certainly no "secret," that acknowledging both our need and His provision are essential to victorious living.
Secondly, our Lord shall "fashion" our new body "...like unto His glorified body...." The design of our life belongs to Him. That must be our expectation and our willingness. We must cooperate but not dictate. When He begins to perfect the changes inherent in our redemption and along the lines of His design, we must give to Him our Will but not our opinion.
Thirdly, our Lord shall "subdue" our changed body - and "all things unto Himself." If we are to have victory now we acknowledge our de-crowning in submission to His subduing. That is grace on His part, yieldingness on ours, and victory in all. -- Robert L. Alderman is Minister-at-Large at Shenandoah Baptist and a member the Keswick Board of Reference
Scripture Reading: Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21
Great Quote: "We must, therefore, diligently observe that from the beginning God has sent into the world a two-fold word or message, the Law and the Gospel. These two messages must be rightly distinguished one from the other and properly understood, for besides the Scriptures there never has been a book written to this day, not even by a saint, in which these two messages, the Law and the Gospel, have been properly explained and distinguished, and yet so very much depends on such an explanation.
The Law is that word by which God teaches what we shall do, as for instance, the Ten Commandments... Now, the word Gospel...proclaims the blessed doctrine of life eternal by divine promise, and offers grace and forgiveness of sin: Therefore, works do not belong to the Gospel, as it is not a law; only faith belongs to it, as it is altogether a promise and an offer of divine grace. Whosoever now believes the Gospel will receive grace and the Holy Spirit. This will cause the heart to rejoice and find delight in God, and will enable the believer to keep the law cheerfully, without expecting reward, without fear of punishment, without seeking compensation, as the heart is perfectly satisfied with God's grace, by which the law has been fulfilled. But all these promises from the beginning are founded on Christ, so that God promises no one this grace except through Christ alone." Martin Luther, Sermon on Matthew 11
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