Philippians 3:16
“however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained”.
There are turtles and rabbits and many that are in between. We have different paces based on personality. The point is to keep going what ever that pace may be. This reminds me when Jacob and Esau met. It’s in Genesis 33, ‘Then Esau said, “Let’s journey on and go, and I will go ahead of you.” But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds that are nursing are a matter of concern to me. And if they are driven hard just one day, all the flocks will die. Please let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, at the pace of the cattle that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”’ Jacob is being Christlike here. He is protecting the young. He understands we have different paces.
Jesus implies this Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” He is talking about the load, but pace also applies.
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10. The Lord keeps us going at a pace that works. It’s not a one size fits all. It reminds me of devotions. I am the only one I know that keeps a journal. It works for me. Others have their own means of connecting with God. That’s ok as long as one is in the Word spending time with God.
God’s morals and ethics are the same for all. Those aren’t individualized.
God works in us in a way that fits who we are. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” We are His project. Like an artist creating a work. That’s what He does in our lives. What makes this interesting is that we aren’t static, but alive and moving. In that way, He is like our coach. Much of life is like practice. Some days are game days.
Luke 16:10 speaks of one of God’s principles, “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” It’s the law of use. As we listen to the coach, He uses us. We are to be loving and forgiving. We are to speak of Him to others. God works in us according to our gifts and He uses us accordingly.
I Corinthians 9:22 shows us Paul’s versatility, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” This is very Christlike. Jesus comes down to our level. He speaks our language.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” We are to raise kids in a biblical way. There is also a nuanced meaning here. I’ve heard it said another translation is “according to his way”. This means the parent knows their child and raises him accordingly. That is also christlike. That’s how God works with us, according to our style and personality.
Lord, thank You that You know us and work with us in that way fits us. We may be marathoners or sprinters, You know us and work accordingly.