(Phil 1:21 KJV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

(Phil 1:21 TLB) For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying--well, that's better yet!

(Phil 1:9 KJV) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

(Phil 1:10 KJV) That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ;

(Phil 1:11 KJV) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

(Phil 1:9 TLB) My prayer for you is that you will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight,

(Phil 1:10 TLB) for I want you always to see clearly the difference between right and wrong, and to be inwardly clean, no one being able to criticize you from now until our Lord returns.

(Phil 1:11 TLB) May you always be doing those good, kind things that show you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord.

(Phil 2:13 KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

(Phil 2:14 KJV) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

(Phil 2:15 KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

(Phil 2:13 TLB) For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.

(Phil 2:14 TLB) In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing

(Phil 2:15 TLB) so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights,

The concept of spirituality varies among different Christian groups. In some circles, the highly vocal person who talks about religion constantly is thought to be very spiritual. Others accept noisy exuberance as a mark of spirituality. And yet, in some churches the person who prays first, longest and loudest is awarded the reputation of being the most spiritual person in the fellowship.

The truth is, of course, that none of these things is a measurement of true spirituality.

True spirituality manifests itself in certain dominant and controlling desires which influence an individual’s behavior. Theses desires are deep and powerful; they motivate and discipline.

The Apostle Paul writes to tell us of the intensity of such dedication.

(Rom 12:1 KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

(Rom 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(Rom 12:1 TLB) And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy--the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

(Rom 12:2 TLB) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.

(Mat 5:20 KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Rom 3:21 KJV) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

(Rom 3:22 KJV) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

(Rom 3:25 KJV) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

(Rom 3:26 KJV) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

(Rom 8:10 KJV) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

(1 Cor 1:30 KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

(2 Cor 5:21 KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(Phil 1:11 KJV) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

(Phil 3:9 KJV) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

(2 Pet 1:1 KJV) Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

(Phil 1:21 KJV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

(Col 3:17 KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

3. THE DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS TO CARRY HIS CROSS.

(Mat 10:38 KJV) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

(Mat 16:24 KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(Mark 10:21 KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

(Gal 6:14 KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

4. THE DESIRE TO DIE RIGHT RATHER THAN TO LIVE WRONG.

(1 Tim 6:12 TLB) Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you and that you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses.

(2 Tim 4:8 KJV) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

(2 Tim 4:8 TLB) In heaven a crown is waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And not just to me but to all those whose lives show that they are eagerly looking forward to his coming back again.

5. THE DESIRE TO SEE OTHERS ADVANCED EVEN IF IT IS AT HIS EXPENSE.

(1 Th 5:11 KJV) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

(1 Th 5:12 KJV) And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

(1 Th 5:13 KJV) And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

(1 Th 5:14 KJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

(1 Th 5:15 KJV) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

(1 Th 5:11 TLB) So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.

(1 Th 5:12 TLB) Dear brothers, honor the officers of your church who work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong.

(1 Th 5:13 TLB) Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because they are straining to help you. And remember, no quarreling among yourselves.

(1 Th 5:14 TLB) Dear brothers, warn those who are lazy, comfort those who are frightened, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone.

(1 Th 5:15 TLB) See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.

6. THE DESIRE TO MAKE ETERNITY JUDGMENTS INSTEAD OF TIME JUDGMENTS.

(1 Cor 2:9 KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(1 Cor 2:10 KJV) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(1 Cor 2:11 KJV) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

(1 Cor 2:12 KJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(1 Cor 2:13 KJV) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

(1 Cor 2:9 TLB) That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord.

(1 Cor 2:10 TLB) But we know about these things because God has sent his Spirit to tell us, and his Spirit searches out and shows us all of God's deepest secrets.

(1 Cor 2:11 TLB) No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself. And no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.

(1 Cor 2:12 TLB) And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of grace and blessing that God has given us.

(1 Cor 2:13 TLB) In telling you about these gifts we have even used the very words given to us by the Holy Spirit, not words that we as men might choose. So we use the Holy Spirit's words to explain the Holy Spirit's facts.

(Josh 24:15 KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

(Phil 2:5 KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

(Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

(Phil 2:7 KJV) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(Phil 2:8 KJV) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Phil 2:5 TLB) Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ,

(Phil 2:6 TLB) who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God,

(Phil 2:7 TLB) but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men.

(Phil 2:8 TLB) And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross.