What is your vantage point?

This Sunday I began preaching in the book of Philippians. I started with the first half of the first verse where Paul is introducing himself. Ironically, he does not use his title, his accomplishments, or his failures. He uses his position in Jesus. He identifies himself as a bond-servant in Christ.

What is amazing is that Paul is writing to the Philippians in prison while waiting to be executed yet he is full of joy, hope, and encouragement. Why? Because he is not a byproduct of his circumstances. He is a byproduct of his position in Jesus. You see we can view life through our circumstances or we view life through our identity in Jesus. For many of us, our perspective is limited to our current circumstances, past failures, or current struggles. But for Paul, his perspective was through the gospel.

The gospel is not receiving God into our lives and circumstances. On the contrary, the gospel is God receiving us into His life, His Kingdom, and His circumstances. When I am received into Jesus I may still face troubles and difficult circumstances but I am isolated from them because I am passing through my circumstances into God's eternal Kingdom! This is the gospel. This is where Paul's joy, hope, and peace in the midst of suffering is rooted. It is rooted not in my circumstances but in my identity in Jesus.

What is your vantage point? Are you so focused on your circumstances that you cannot see that you are in Jesus? Do you see yourself through your accomplishments, your failures, or your current situation? Or, do you see yourself as being connected to and in Jesus? Your vantage point will determine your attitude and joy in the middle of your circumstances.