A Heart Like Paul

     I have to say, I forgot how much I truly loved this book.  I read it here and there a few verses when I am led to it.  I have only read the whole Bible once through but I have not in a long time.  Reading this book in the New American Standard Bible was good.  I like how there are no numbers and how it just flows togther oh so perfectly. 
     There are many parts that I am in love with in Philippians.  Paul's thirteen letters are all some of my favorite writings in the Bible.  But when I was reading this through a few times it is hard for my mind to pick out the parts where I thought there was figurative language.  But I guess I see some places even though I am sure there are several.  That is why I really enjoy going over this in class and breaking it down as a team and classroom.  Because I feel as though I am able to hear the hearts of others and their opinions and relate to them.  I even listen and hear how they think and it helps me shape and challenge my thinking patterns also.
     One part I can see figurative language is when it says, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me."  It does not make much sense to me what Paul is saying at the end, but when it says, "but also to suffer for His sake," I understand we are supposed to suffer for him, and there are people in the world who have died for Christ, been beaten, arms chopped off for just holding the bible and others that I know of.  But we will never be able to truly suffer just as Christ suffered on the Cross.  Another one would be, "Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers..." I think this is figurative speaking.  I don't think that Paul actually means real dogs but means false prophets and false teachings of the Gospel.  Furthermore, another figurative language in this book might perhaps be, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." I am not sure how to explain this one but I think that it could be figurative.  But I guess it is saying, to live is Christ, because that means Paul would be able to be Christ on earth for a longer period of time so that he may continue God's work.  Paul also says that it would be better he lived because it would be better for the people that he lived.  And then to die is gain because to die means he would be in heaven with his Father and that is far better than being down here on earth.