The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 4:17,
"Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account."
As Paul thanked the folks in Philippi for sending him aid in his imprisonment in Rome, he tells them how good it was for them to share this help in his troubles, verse 14. However, he carefully points out that it was not primarily a desire for their gifts he had interest in, that in fact he had learned to be content in whatever his circumstances, but that out of his love for them he desired what might be "credited to your account."
That account is an account with God. This brings to mind we all have an account with God. Each and every one of us have an account with God. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. We all will give an account to God and we all have an account with God. As their Creator, all people must give an account of their lives which he has given them and each have an account with him in his court. In a summary statement Paul says, "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." Romans 14:12.
It doesn't matter if someone believes in God or not, it matters not if someone is Catholic or Protestant, Christian or Jew. It doesn't matter if one is an Animist, Buddhist, Confucian or Zoroastrian. We all must give an account to God and we all have an account with him. Republican, Democrat, Progressive or Libertarian, we all have an account with God. Union or management, beer drinker, pot smoker or teetotaler, we all have an account with God.
Even in just the things we say we will give an account. Jesus said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:35-37.
In a very sobering statement about the law, Paul says, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God." Romans 3:19. The law of Moses will condemn all, save those who have taken refuge through faith in the Savior. Likewise Paul points out, "To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law." Romans 5:13. Nevertheless, we will all be condemned by God's law because when we break it, it is charged against our account with God.
In speaking of the pagans Peter says, "They will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." 1 Peter 4:5. We all have an account with God and there is no escaping it. All people everywhere. The good news is good indeed because it declares that our account with God can be credited with an amazing deposit: the very righteousness of Jesus Christ! Whatever might be in our account with God, it will be entirely overwritten by this amazing standing we can have, a righteous standing. Of the gospel Paul says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
This good news is that we can have the right standing Jesus Christ has with God the Father! What an amazing thing! All by our embrace of Jesus Christ in faith! Do you know of any offer better than this?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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