SCRIPTURE: 
“All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” (Philippians 2:15-17, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself how does Paul want the Philippians to live?
1. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.
2. If on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
3. Only let us live up to what we have already attained!
4. Join with others in following my example.
5. Take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

I asked myself what does 'take such a view of things' refer to?
As I looked at these verses, “take such a view of things” reminded me of what I learned yesterday about, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NIV)

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of Philippians 2:15-17?
This was very significant for me because it made me realize that as followers of Christ, it is possible that we can keep dwelling in the past and not pressing towards the goal which God called us in Christ Jesus but the comfort is in knowing that the Lord will make it clear to us that there is no point dwelling on the past but to move on. Also, if we go our own way, the Lord can treat us to the right direction though we have been tricked by Satan. Satan will trick us into living in the past while Jesus wants to treat us in the present and into the future.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I need to live in the present taking it as a present from the Lord and strive in His power to 'win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!' I need to join with others to follow the Apostle Paul's example and the examples of those that have been living according to the biblical pattern. I can do that when I reflect on the prize I will receive in Christ but also reflect on what I have already attained in Christ!

^"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6, NLT)

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING T.R.E.A.T:
Yesterday, Lydia from Living Acts of Oakland International Fellowship shared a wonderful note with me regarding Heaven and why I should be excited about Heaven too. I can get excited about Heaven, because I can have a wonderful treat then but also now because Jesus is my treat now and will be my treat forever as I rest in Him. Jesus will help me live the life here on earth as a Christian because of what He did for me, what He represents, and what He will do for me.  It is exciting to know that I don't have to dwell in the past and the mistakes I have made but rest in Jesus to keep moving forward with the plans He has for me. For I know my Redeemer lives and I can 'win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.'

As many of you know, there are areas of my past that have not gone well but even in those areas, I believe restoration and redemption has come His Way. If it be the Lord's will, even of the things I have lost because of my shortcomings, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can fulfill those dreams His way and by His power not necessarily giving me back the same positions, but using me to serve His way and for His purposes through His power in areas of my passion. Thank you Jesus! I need to take the treat of God's pardon, purpose, promises, power, and peace as mentioned in the 'Handbook of Christian Maturity' by Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and act upon them in Christ!

I know Jesus will help me to follow the example of the Apostle Paul to forget the things of the past, not dwelling in them to the point that I get paralyzed and cannot be used of the Lord in the present and for the future. Jesus will help you too because "Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will finish it to completion!' (Philippians 1:6)

Pastor Hugo reminds me that Ephesians 2:8-9 is so important that addresses Salvation by Grace through Faith but not to forget that GOOD WORKS have a tremendous place in the Kingdom of God BUT not on our own self-effort but total dependence on God alone. Any good work seen as good by Father God will be because of His work in my life in Christ. Thank you Father God. I was also reminded that sometimes people get stuck on Ephesians 2:8-9 alone and forget James 2 or especially Ephesians 2:10 and that I should not forget Ephesians 2:10 too.

Pastor Hugo made me see that even striving to win the prize for which God called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus is possible because of the treat of Christ and His intervention as I yield to Him.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)

I ask you now dear friends, what do you do with the T.R.E.A.T given you?
Dear friends, you and I have been given a treat in Christ. Because of Christ, we can have a biblical pattern of living where we do not dwell in the past anymore but in confidence can move ahead in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. He has already given us a prize that we have attained in Christ because of what Christ already did for us. And we can be confident of the riches in grace, He will continue to provide for us and the ultimate prize of seeing Jesus face to face, when we die as we live our lives here for Him in His presence through His pardon, power, promises, purpose, and peace! Praise the Lord!

Friend, there are so many patterns we can live our life after. But not all the patterns have the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ. If there is any approval we need, it should be of the Lord Jesus Christ. If what we do is approved of the Lord, then we should continue in it regardless of those around us who live after their own patterns.

Living a pattern for the Lord is not easy but I know as we seek the Lord, His Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us. When we mess up, the Lord will be there to pick us up and help us get back on the biblical pattern as we turn to Him.

It is so sad when we let our peers and those around us dictate our pattern of living if it is not according to Scripture. Paul was asking the Philippians to imitate biblical pattern of living. We can do that to as we find our pattern of living in Christ.

Will you accept the treat Jesus has for you?
Each of us was separated from God because we all missed the mark. We messed up and became a prisoner to sin.  Jesus wants to free you by His grace and give you a life of Sanctification because of His Justification and Pontification for your Redemption.

What if you were to die tonight, would you know for sure where you would be?

If God asks you why should I let you into Heaven, what would be your response?

If your response is all the good that you have done, what about that one wrong thing you did?

God in His Holiness cannot allow sin to enter his presence because this type of virus can be very contagious. There is no extra extra positives neutralize the negatives. Ninety good deeds in your mind will not take away the one bad deed you did from God's mind. So, God cannot let you into Heaven because of that.

What is the alternative?
It would be to let you be in a place where people with that virus continue to reside: Hell.

Then how can anyone be saved?
It is Salvation through God’s grace by faith offered to you and me through Christ’s cleansing blood and the power of His resurrection. When you claim the antidote, you will be covered with it. Now when God sees you, He will see Christ’s cleansing blood covering you and washing away all your sins. Because Christ washes away and forgives all your sins, you have entrance into Heaven because Christ's righteousness is imputed to you as Pastor Ed reminds me.

Isn’t that exciting?
I know it is for me!

Don’t you want that my friend?
You can know that you are saved and belong to the Holy One.

I want to share with you a poem the Lord helped me write in the first-person as if the Lord is speaking to you to treat you and me.

Treat of the Savior
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Love to see you in my presence, I am the Holy One
Love you so much, for you I gave my only begotten Son
Believing in Him you will have Eternal Life.
Being delivered from the deadly power of sin’s strife
No matter what the sin virus has done
With my antidote, in life, you can victoriously run
My Son went to the cross to produce it
As His hands and feet, with 3 nails, were pierced with
And his body, for you, was bruised & broken by every hit 
Now for humanity His cleansing blood flowed bit by bit
He died and came back to life to save you from Hell’s pit
Heaven and Hell are real and it is no myth
In Heaven, at my Right Hand, my Son does sit
Jesus is His Name!
For your redemption, He came.
To save you from Hell’s flame
And to give your life a new aim
His antidote of blood can rescue you from sin’s deadly game
But you gotta make a choice whether Satan or Jesus, you pick
Remember all of Satan’s ways are a trick
Jesus wants to deliver you from the sin that makes you so sick
Won’t you accept His free gift of Grace?
Letting His Spirit help you overcome the virus you face?
His grace is what sets you free to win life’s race
His precious cleansing blood will  deliver you from sin’s ways
It is by grace you are saved through faith
Not of any works that you should boast, Jesus saith
You coming to me, Satan does hate
Because Satan is all evil to this date
Upon me He does not want you to wait
For He knows I can deliver you from Hell’s place
And set you on Heaven’s base
Come to me my child
No matter how your life has been wild
For I am gentle and mild
You, with love, joy, & peace I want to treat
And One day in Heaven personally greet
I want to receive you with the power of my love
Giving you Holy Spirit that came upon me like a dove
Sin separated you from me
But my blood was shed to set you free
So together we can once again be
Life with me you gotta experience and see
Though trials and tribulations come, I will be your Key
Whether you are a child, adult, or teen
No matter how your life has been
I want to take you by my side
In my presence, you can abide
For you I came back to life after I died
My love for you is so deep, high, and wide
You are special and precious in my sight
I want to help you in life with all my might
Helping you do what is right
To escape sin’s destructive bite
Now Satan’s ways you can fight
And come into the beautiful Light!
Amen!

May you allow the Lord Jesus Christ to treat you and help you in your pattern of living! Amen!

“Trust Redeemer Everyday Accepting Treat!” (T.R.E.A.T)/"What do you do with the T.R.E.A.T given you?"

If you want to receive God’s gift of Eternal life won’t you pray this prayer and mean it in your heart:

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I am covered with this deadly virus known as sin. It infects my life so much and dictates how I live my life. As the deaths in the LA Fitness Center killings, earthquakes, floods, etc remind me, none of us can be sure how long we will live. When I die I want to be with you in Heaven and need your help. I am so sorry for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins as I repent of my sins to you. I accept the antidote of your cleansing blood to wash away my sins. I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you were raised from the dead to give Eternal Life to those who turn to you. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior. Fill me please with your Holy Spirit giving me new life. I thank you Jesus. I want to know you well and I choose to get to know you more and more Lord. Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for saving me. Please hear my prayers. Thank you for speaking to me through the poem too! Thank you Lord you have heard my prayers and answered me. On this day, I give my life to you and surrender all that I am to you. Help me live this life for you. Thank you Jesus! Thank you for loving me so much. Jesus, there are so many patterns of living we are faced with but not all patterns of living pleases you and glorifies you. Forgive us Lord for the times we have gone our own way and done our own things. We have not always loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved others as you would have us love them. We are sorry Lord and ask you for your help in our lives. Thank you Jesus for loving us so much and dying for our sins! Thank you for coming back to life to save us. We come to you now and give ourselves to you and ask you to be the Lord of our life! Give us the willingness and strength to live for you that can only be done through Your power. I thank you Lord when our pattern of living deviates from how you want us to live, you will make us aware of how we have been thinking differently than how you would have us think. Help us to imitate the commandments from your Word. For we trust you and believe in you. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! Thank you for being in our life this day! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!