Day 40 - A Glorious Promise to the Sower

Philippians 4:19-23 (NLT) 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. 21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household. 23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The Philippians stood by Paul and gave again and again to supply his needs. When they did not have the opportunity, they remained willing, and when the next opportunity arose, while Paul was in prison in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus with another gift and to help Paul with anything he might need. All this while they themselves were facing persecution, hardship, deep poverty, and challenges from Judaizers and idolaters.

Paul writes a letter of joy and gratitude, but he ends it by offering them something greater than any physical gift: the gift of pronouncing a blessing. As the Old Testament priest would speak a blessing over the Israelites, Paul speaks a blessing over the Philippians. The Lord told Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the Israelites.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NIV) 22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Notice again verse 27: “‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’” The blessing was to put God’s name on the Israelites; it is called identity. This blessing that is pronounced on you identifies you as mine. My people! Because you are Mine, I will bless you. The blessing has a two-fold application. They are the children of the Lord, and God blesses His children. Notice again what Paul writes: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT). The same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs. My God supplies for me and for you, Philippians. He is reminding them of God’s faithfulness while thanking them for theirs. Paul is telling them My God is your God, my Father is your Father, and He will bless you from His glorious riches.

You have taken care of my needs, and that is a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases the Lord. As you sow, Philippians, you will reap. I am just reminding you that just as the Old Testament priests placed God’s Name on the Israelites, I am invoking God’s blessing on you. I love how Paul says, “My God, your needs, God’s riches given to us, in Christ Jesus.” Giving brings our hearts together and reminds us that we are in this together and that our supply comes from our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Lord.

I have always wondered why giving and serving seem to be the two areas that have the greatest resistance. We can talk about studying the Bible, prayer, loving your neighbor, etc., and nobody questions the speaker's motives or gets upset. But talk about money and serving, and suddenly people get very defensive! Why? Both money and serving are things you can’t fake. You can’t pretend to give or pretend to serve. Money reveals what you love most, and serving reveals what you value most. You can tell people you pray, but no one really knows whether you do. You can tell people you read and study the Word, but no one will really know, except you! With giving, people will know whether you are generous or not, whether you tithe or not. You can’t fake what you spend your money on, and obviously, anyone can see if you serve. Therefore, we get defensive because what we love and what we prioritize are clearly on display!

Jesus said: “You cannot serve both God and money...” (Matthew 6:24 NIV). He also made it clear that His kingdom is built on service, and greatness in His kingdom can only come by serving others! This is where we become experts at making excuses. “I don’t give because I don’t make enough.” “I don’t tithe because it’s Old Testament...” “God knows my heart...” “I am too busy to serve.” “I will pray so I can find people to help serve.” “I do my serving at home.” “When things slow down, I will help.” If you truly don’t want to do something, any excuse will suffice.

“Remember this––you can’t serve God and Money, but you can serve God with money.”
– Selwyn Hughes

That’s why Paul tells the church in Philippi that their gift is a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God! I want to please my Father, even if it means making sacrifices. I want to be prayerful about how I spend my money and what I give my time and attention to. Giving and serving are not things I have to do; they are things I get to do. All we have, God gave us. Even the talents and skills we use to earn money are a gift from our Father! The fact that God allows us to be alive should spur us on to use our time for His glory.

“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”
– A.W. Tozer

Throughout the Book of Philippians, joy is evident. Two other things are evident as well. People helped Paul. They served with him in preaching the good news. He mentions several of them, including Euodia and Syntyche, the two women who were fighting. He also mentions Clement and Epaphroditus, who served to the point of exhaustion and almost to the point of death. Throughout Philippians, we have seen that Paul writes about us having the same mind or attitude as Jesus. Jesus is our greatest example of serving; He took the lowest position and gave the greatest gift: His life, the ultimate sacrifice.

If you truly want to experience God’s amazing, unending, overflowing joy, generosity and service are nonnegotiable. You cannot grow your faith without becoming a giver and a servant. Philippians 3:19 (NLT) applies only to those willing to be generous like the Philippian church: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley

When will you make Jesus Lord of your bank account? When will you make Jesus Lord of your calendar? The day you do, you will find He is more than able to multiply your seed, provide for all you need, and redeem the time! What are you waiting for?

Acts 20:35b (NLT) You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for instilling a generous mindset in me. I believe that as I sow, I will reap a generous harvest that will result in thanksgiving. Lord, I want to use my resources and time to build Your kingdom; reveal the right opportunities to me. Everything I have, I received from You, and I can only give to You what is already Yours! Help me faithfully manage all that passes through my hands. Let Your kingdom purposes be my primary concern. I trust You to establish my family in faith as I build Your House. Help my fellow believers. Give us a heart to serve, even when there is no immediate reward. Remind all of us that we serve You when we serve others. Jesus, help me follow the example You set in giving and serving! Remind me when I grow tired and weary that You give grace to the humble and strength to the weak. Lord, thank You that what You started in me, You will finish! Let revival flood this city, this state, this nation, and our world! All the glory, all the honor, and all the praise belong to You... I pray all of this in the Name above every other name, the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!”

Day 39 - To Give or Not to Give

Philippians 4:15-18 (NLT) 15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. 18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Paul expresses deep gratitude for the support he received from the Philippian church. He is very specific in his gratitude, making an incredible statement not only about the Philippians but also about other churches. He writes: “You Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help… No other church did this” (Phillipians 4:15 NLT). What a statement made by one of the most influential leaders of all time. It is hard to fathom that Paul the Apostle, who wrote so much of the New Testament, had so few who would financially support him. Paul is not bemoaning this lack of support because he just told them that his trust is in Christ and that he has learned contentment in all things. But he knows what happens when people are generous in the way of Christ.

In this letter of gratitude, we see two distinct truths. Some people understand the power of a generous life, and others don’t. For those who do, their gifts refresh others and honor the Lord. Let’s look at those who don’t and ask why so few supported Paul, since he says, “No other church did this.” We find some clues in his letters to the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 9:3-7 (NLT) 3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

Paul is addressing a challenge to his apostolic authority in the church at Corinth. We also see this in his second letter to the Corinthians, where he discusses the so-called super-apostles who were preaching a different Jesus. He admonishes the Corinthians for putting up with this nonsense: “You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed” (2 Corinthians 11:4 NLT). Despite the false apostles’ claim that Paul is inferior to them, he makes it clear that his labor among them was not for personal gain but for the privilege of preaching Christ to them. Even if it meant working to support himself while he was with them, he willingly did so for their sake, not because he couldn’t claim his rights as an apostle, but simply because he did not want to be a stumbling block to them.

1 Corinthians 9:11-12 (NLT) 11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

Paul is willing to forgo his right to be supported by the people he preaches to, in this instance, because of their immaturity. He would rather take the support he received from other churches to continue his ministry in Corinth than take anything from them. 

2 Corinthians 11:7-11 (NLT) 7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.  

We can see why Paul has such affection for the Philippians and how they have supported him throughout his ministry. He used some of the support sent by the Macedonian churches, of which the Philippians were a part, to plant the church in Corinth. He remained in Corinth for almost two years and, during that time, even worked as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla to support himself rather than asking the Corinthians for support. 

Acts 18:1-3 (NLT) 1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

The Corinthian church lacked spiritual maturity, not opportunity. They did not lack ability, which Paul addresses in chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians: “If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported?” (1 Corinthians 9:12a NLT). The church in Corinth was a mixture of rich and poor. Paul even addressed this issue in their gatherings and at the Lord’s Supper: “21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor?” (1 Corinthians 11:21-22a NLT).

The Corinthians lacked generosity, not because they lacked opportunity or ability, but because they lacked spiritual maturity.

This makes his statement to the Philippians even more powerful: “15 You Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once” (Philippians 4:15-16 NLT). The Philippians represent the second group: those who give generously despite what they might be facing. This is something we must not miss: the Book of Philippians is known as the letter of joy. We know Paul wrote this letter and emphasized the joy of the Lord. Joy and rejoicing are mentioned eighteen times. This letter is in response to the church's generosity in Philippi. We cannot separate joy and generosity. The Corinthians lacked generosity because they lacked spiritual maturity. The Philippian church overflowed in generosity because they understood that God loves a cheerful giver. Yes, I know that was written to the Corinthians, but the context of that verse is Paul using the Macedonian churches as examples of joy and generosity. 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NLT) 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

No wonder Paul writes that the Philippians’ gift supplied his needs and is also a sweet-smelling sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. The Philippians did not give because they were rich, nor because they had wonderful circumstances or could afford to give. Their joy was in Christ despite what they were going through, and that joy in Jesus overflowed into rich generosity. Joyful people are generous, and generous people are joyful. Joy and generosity are inseparable. 

“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”
– A.W. Tozer

Which group are you in? Are you like the Corinthians, who lacked maturity and therefore generosity, or like the Philippians, who, despite circumstances not conducive to generosity, had abundant joy that led to great generosity, met others’ needs, and blessed the Father’s heart! One group struggles to be generous, while the other overflows with generosity. One group does not meet anyone else’s needs, while the other takes every opportunity to meet others’ needs. To the church in Corinth, Paul writes a letter of correction, addressing division and even unheard-of sin, to the point that he has to hand someone over for the destruction of the body so that their soul can be saved. Yet to the Philippians, he writes with tender love, compassion, and great joy!

Both are loved! Yet one group lacks the maturity to be generous and therefore misses out on the great joy that accompanies generosity. The other makes their love active and gives beyond their ability, producing even greater joy. What is the difference? The difference is that the generous group gave themselves to the Lord first and to others. When you belong to the Lord, giving and sharing is your banner, not getting and keeping.

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”
– Billy Graham

To give or not to give? It all depends on who you belong to.

Prayer:

• Pray for a heart of generosity and service. Ask for forgiveness for where you lacked generosity and made excuses for not serving.
• Ask the Lord to help you be the answer to someone else’s prayer by responding to a need, so He might be glorified.
• Pray for a spirit of generosity to be unleashed at The Rock and for us to be known for our generosity and service.
• Don’t just pray about generosity; become generous. Pray for an increase in the resources you receive, but start where you are, not where you hope to be. Remember, if you cannot be trusted with little, you won’t be trusted with more.

Day 38 - Content or Discontent: Which Tent Is Yours?
Philippians 4:10-14 (NLT) 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

As Paul nears the end of his letter to the church in Philippi, he thanks them again for their support. He praises the Lord for their concern for him, knowing they have always had him on their hearts, even when they have not always had the opportunity to show it. Nevertheless, he practices what he preaches by thanking the Lord for what they have done and are doing, as he has encouraged them to bring their needs to God and to give thanks to the Lord. Paul knows that gratitude for both the big and small things helps us stay grounded in the power of contentment.

Yes, there is power in contentment, but it is not self-manufactured or self-produced; it is a work of the Holy Spirit within the human heart, which tends to be ungrateful and discontented. This contentment that Paul talks about is learned. It cannot be bestowed, endowed, or imparted by someone else’s prayer or faith. It must be learned through the school of perspective, faithfulness, gratitude, and trust. This contentment is worked into our lives as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is learned in days of abundance and in days of lack. It is learned in plenty and in little. If you are bristling at these words, it is highly likely that your tent is still pitched toward discontentment rather than contentment.

In the culture we are surrounded by, contentment almost seems like a curse word. In fact, very few people seem to be content. We are all bombarded by a culture of continuous dissatisfaction. You know you want to sing that great spiritual song by The Rolling Stones: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” It was written in 1965, and its sentiment is even more applicable today! How is your contentment?

Before you answer that, however, you need to know that there are things we should not be content with. I call it a satisfied dissatisfaction! It means we are grateful for where we are, but we have not arrived yet. In our spiritual growth, we should always strive to go deeper. In our emotional maturity, we should always strive to grow healthier. In our knowledge and wisdom, we should always strive to grow wiser. In our love for Jesus and others, we should always strive to grow stronger in our love. In these things, we need not be content, because that hinders and stifles our growth. Paul is not talking about contentment in these kinds of things. He is talking specifically about stuff!

We work all our lives to earn money so we can buy stuff, save stuff, store stuff, use stuff, fight over stuff, wish we had stuff, look at others’ stuff, and sell some of our stuff. In the end, we will take no stuff with us, and we will be stuffed in a box! All of our stuff we will leave behind. The stuff we stress over, the stuff we have to have, all of it will be left behind. Yet our culture measures people’s value by how much stuff they accumulate and possess. You can let this worldly culture prescribe how you live, or you can learn the secret that Paul learned.

“Discontent keeps a man from enjoying what he doth possess. A drop or two of vinegar will sour a whole glass of wine. Comfort depends upon contentment. It is not trouble that troubles, but discontent. It is not the water without the ship but the water that gets within the leak which sinks it. It is not outward afflictions that can make the life of a Christian sad; a contented mind would sail above these waters. But when there is a leak of discontent open and trouble gets into the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks.”
– Thomas Watson

First and foremost, recognize that contentment is learned; it does not come naturally to us. We are born natural “wanters” and the more we see, the more we want. We have to learn the secret to living in every situation of life, whether we have a lot of stuff, a little bit of stuff, or even no stuff. How can we live a fully satisfied life even when we don’t have what the world says we have to have? Here’s the secret: “JESUS.” We find our contentment in HIM!

How can we be content whether we have a little, a lot, or nothing? How can we be satisfied whether our stomachs are empty or full? We lean on the strength that only Christ Jesus our Lord can provide.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT) says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” The word Paul uses for content in verse 11 is the Greek word autarkēs. This word was a great word in Greek and Roman ethics and means: “sufficient or adequate in one’s self; entirely self-sufficient or contented with one’s lot.” The Stoics believed that self-sufficiency was the highest aim in ethics. They believed that a person must be completely free from all things and all people, through a certain state of mind. They proposed that a person be freed from all desire and emotion, to the point where they don’t care what happens to themselves or to someone else. To obtain this, according to the Stoics, you must do it through a deliberate act of the will. They trusted in their own self-sufficiency. Paul, however, is not self-reliant; he is Christ-dependent.

I know we use Philippians 4:13 and quote it for everything, and Jesus surely helps and strengthens us. But this verse is not a blanket statement to cover deficiencies in areas where God has not called us. The context of this verse is contentment. Paul wants the Philippians to understand that he is not advocating a Stoic response to life; he is advocating that they lean into Christ Jesus, who will enable them to learn the secret of living in any and all circumstances. We cannot do it on our own, no matter how great our willpower or self-denial. We must be empowered by Christ Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit’s strength, we can live content in all circumstances.

When you find your wants rising, press into Jesus. He will give you the strength you need! How can we do this in practice? Make every purchase decision a prayerful one. Pray that the Lord will meet your needs. Learn the difference between what you need and what you want!

Many of us want something so badly that it becomes something we need, even if we didn’t need it in the first place. Learn to be grateful for what you do have, and do not focus on what you don’t. Enjoy what the Lord has provided for you. Like the church in Philippi, have a heart and concern for other people’s welfare. The secret to breaking a spirit of wanting is a spirit of generosity! Here is the beauty of giving things away. The only things you keep for eternity are what you have given away, invested in building God’s kingdom, and done for others.

“Spiritual things truly satisfy! The more that heaven is in us—the less earth that will content us. He who has once tasted the love of God, his thirst is much quenched towards earthly things. The joys of God's Spirit are heart-filling and heart-cheering joys; he who has these, has heaven begun in him!”
– Thomas Watson

Decide today that for the rest of your life, you will find your contentment in King Jesus. That you will ask Him for the strength to face any and all circumstances. Whether you have a lot or a little, your value is not in how much or how little you possess but in who possesses you...

Prayer:
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a heart sensitive to others’ needs.
Ask the Lord to help you identify the root of your discontent. Pray honestly and be willing to change your behavior when necessary.
Pray for the needs of your fellow believers, especially those in developing nations. Pray for the poor and ask the Lord to make you a conduit of blessing.

Pray:
“Father, teach me so that I will find my contentment in You. Jesus, give me the strength whether my bank account is full or empty. Help me distinguish between what I need and what I want. I place my life before You and ask for the power to live in true contentment and satisfaction. Thank You that my value is not determined by my valuables but by the reality that I am Yours! I belong to You and draw my strength from You. Help me say no to myself when needed and graciously accept when I am overwhelmingly blessed. I pray with the deepest gratitude as I see how wonderfully You have blessed my life. Thank You for letting me enjoy what You have blessed me with! And now, Father, all I have, I have received from You, and it belongs to You! I am fully satisfied in You, through You and by You! May the rest of my life be lived only for You! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!”

Day 37 - This Is How You Do It! – Part 2

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT) 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Paul gave the Philippians four principles to live by so their lives could be filled with harmony, love, and God’s peace. These include joy and rejoicing, consideration with accountability, praying instead of worrying, and living in constant gratitude. He now adds a final point. He wants them to fix their thoughts on the right things, or, put another way, to think about what they are thinking about. But not only that, he gives them the recipe or the menu for a healthy thought life. Many of us take our thought life for granted; we pay little attention to what we are thinking about. Paul wants to make sure the Philippians think right so they can put into practice what they have learned. Their thought life will be reflected in their daily practices. 

Where is your mind at? What are you fixated on? What are you constantly thinking about? Have you ever thought about what you are thinking about? Why are thoughts so important? Because thoughts are not harmless. We are shaped by thoughts, whether someone else’s or our own. As the saying goes: “Wherever the mind goes, the man follows.”

Thoughts occupy mental real estate. They shape our behavior and control our emotions. If you don’t believe that, you are at best naive or at worst deceived. The predominant thoughts in my mind will become the belief system in my heart, which will be the operating system of my life. What I constantly think about in my head will shape what I filter (meditate on) in my heart and will determine the habits in my life! I love how the Message Bible says in Matthew 5:8: “You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

My thoughts will stir my desires and emotions, and I will decide to follow them. If we focus only on the negative in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversations, becomes negative. I challenge you to think about what you’re thinking about! You might feel discouraged and even depressed, wondering what caused it. Yet if you examine your thought life, you’ll find you’re feeding the negative emotions you’re feeling. Negative thoughts fuel discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions.

Why do you do what you always do? It is because you think the way you always think… A new life can only be shaped by a renewed mind; a renewed mind only comes about by new thoughts. That’s why we are encouraged to renew our minds in Romans 12:2a (NIV): “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Someone once quoted: “As you wander on through life, brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.”  

Too many people focus on what’s not there and what’s not right. That means that our thoughts largely determine our destiny. Our thoughts also determine our happiness. What’s the conclusion then? We can’t have a positive life and a negative mind. A negative mind filled with negative thoughts produces negative emotions. Negative emotions produce negative words, and negative words produce poor choices, which produce unhealthy habits! There is a better way to live than one filled with negative emotions, feelings, and responses. Instead, we can fix our minds on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. God’s way is always better for you. Being full of grace and faith sure beats being filled with anxiety and worry!

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Paul gives us the menu for a healthy thought life: Truth is the very foundation on which we build our lives. Truth is God’s domain; the lie is enemy territory. Adam’s downfall was that he suppressed God’s truth and believed the devil’s lie. We must discern what is true, hold fast to it, and think about it. In John 17, Jesus prays for the disciples: “‘16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth’” (John 17:16-17 NLT). We must recognize that God's Word is truth and fill our minds with it, for it is the only way to overcome the enemy's lies. 

We set our minds on the truth of God’s Word and on what is honorable. In our culture, honor has left the building. We might know the definition of honor, but few live it out. We strive to be venerable, serious about our commitments, and people of our word. Paul says to fix our thoughts on what is honorable, what is integrous, and what is right or just. Our thoughts are focused on living right before the Lord and before others. We are not consumed by what others might do; we are first and foremost focused on what is right for us to do, just before the Lord and right before others. Our thoughts are also pure, free of contamination. There are so many spiritual pollutants around us that pollute our hearts and minds that we sometimes don’t even realize how impure our thoughts are.

We accept, listen to, and watch things we think are harmless, but they are actively reshaping our minds to conform to the culture and way of thinking of the world. Deception is not overt; it is subtle. It would not be called deception if it weren’t deceiving us. Some things are in complete opposition to a Christ-like way of thinking, yet we become comfortable with them. Because just like the frog in the pot, the heat is slowly being turned up, and before you know it, we are so comfortable with impure thoughts and unholy practices that we don’t even realize we are being boiled alive!

Our thoughts must also be set on what is lovely. Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about somebody else’s calamity and getting a wry sense of pleasure from it? (Be honest.) This is just the opposite. Paul wants the Philippians and us to have a winsome mindset, thinking lovely thoughts. Not ones of criticism, judgment, and condemnation, but thoughts that stir up God’s love. The more we think about things that are lovely, the greater our capacity for grace, sympathy, compassion, kindness, and patience will be, and that will inspire love. That leads to thoughts of admiration or good report, thoughts that are predictors of a good future, thoughts acceptable in God’s hearing. It is so obvious that Paul does not want the Philippians to be stuck in a cesspool of ugly and unholy thinking.

He brings in two more qualities to ponder. Think of anything excellent or praiseworthy. This excellence can take many forms. It can be the excellence of a field producing a great crop, an animal with physical excellence, or a tool used well. It can also be the excellence of a person doing something great. I have always admired people with skills I don’t possess, such as building something, being artistic and creative, or even simply building a straight wall. Seeing it in others is excellent and praiseworthy. We give honor where honor is due. We think of ways to honor others rather than criticize them. When our thoughts are fixed on this way of thinking, it absolutely changes everything!

Right after Paul tells us to fix our minds on all these things, he tells us to put into practice what we have learned. If that does not show us that our thoughts affect our actions, nothing will. I love how He finishes verse 9: “Then the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9b NLT). When we think right, we will do right, and the God of peace will be right by our side! Not only will we have peace, but we will have the presence of the God of peace!

How can we fix our thinking? First, we must challenge our thinking. Ask the question: Why am I thinking this way? Second, we must change our thinking. Ask: What am I allowing into my thought life? Third, we must consecrate our thinking. Ask: How much of God’s Word do I think about?

This is not a matter of mind over matter; it is saying that my mind and what it lingers on matter. A changed life is only possible with a renewed mind. Will you make a decision today to renew your mind and fill it with what is good and honorable, so that your life may reflect it? 

Let’s get busy thinking new, renewed thoughts centered on the Word of God. The possibilities are endless...

Prayer:

• Pray and ask the Lord to give you the discipline to build a consistent, healthy pattern of thinking in your life.
• Ask the Lord to give you a discerning mind so that you may be able to identify, displace, and expel wrong, unhealthy, negative, and toxic thoughts.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a sound, well-balanced, fearless, and loving mind.
• Pray Psalm 19:7-14 (TLB) (Adapted)

Heavenly Father, I thank You that Your laws are perfect. They protect us, make us wise, and give us joy and light. 9 Your laws are pure, eternal, just. 10 They are more desirable than gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. 11 For they warn us away from harm and give success to those who obey them. 12 But how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime.14 May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!

Day 36 - This Is How You Do It! – Part 1

Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT) 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Paul does not simply point out the challenges facing the church in Philippi; he so eloquently weaves the solution into the challenges through the Holy Spirit. He knows there are things in the church that need to be addressed. He doesn’t dance around the issues or even the names of those responsible. He encourages the church to get along, specifically Euodia and Syntyche. He mentions people by name who have been a blessing: Timothy, Epaphroditus, Clement, and maybe Syzygus. He warns against and exposes both extremes of wrong and even dangerous teachings, such as mixing grace and law, or using freedom as a cover for evil desires.

He warns, encourages, appeals, corrects, and instructs. He urges them to be like Christ and even to follow his example. For Paul, love is not at stake; his love for the church is evident, and his gratitude is constant. What is evident about this apostle of Jesus is that he deeply cares for the Philippians and carries them constantly on his heart. Paul does not instruct them as if he were the lecturer and they were the students. His instructions are more like those of a father to his children, teaching them about God’s faithfulness (Isa. 38:19b ESV: "the father makes known to the children your faithfulness"). He calls them his crown and joy, like a grandfather with his grandchildren (Prov. 17:6 ASV: "Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers").

Paul instructs them on what to do, how to do it, and the motive for it, which is the love of Christ. How do you do all of this? How do you continue being faithful and fruitful for God’s kingdom? What does it look like when there is unity in community as we work out our differences? With what attitude should we face adversity and trials? 
This is how you do it!

First and foremost, let Jesus be the source and reason for your joy. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT). Find and keep your joy in Christ. When Christ is our joy, our joy cannot change because He is forever seated on the throne. When He is the reason and motivation for our joy, our joy will always be full. Just in case you missed it, rejoice!

“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”  
– S. D. Gordon

Secondly, be considerate in all you do, keeping your eye on the Lord’s return. “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:5 NLT). This is consideration with accountability, consideration that keeps the Lord’s coming in view. We are considerate because we know we all have to give an account. This is not acting right because we fear punishment; this is doing what is right because we have the greatest model to follow, Christ. Our joy comes from Him, and our consideration is because of Him.

The third distinct quality to live out and to be a representative of the heavenly kingdom is not to worry but to pray: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6a NLT). You can worry, or you can pray. Paul says, "Pray!" There is nothing worth worrying about, because worrying cannot solve or alleviate any problem; it only makes it worse. Worry is punishment; it is faith in the wrong direction. Worry is the artist who paints only the storm, never the sunshine. Worry is like an unseen, internal termite that gnaws away our confidence in God. Worry gives no hope, tells no truth, and is never content. Worry is the constant negative of an unknown future. Paul says that joyful living is not only not worrying, but taking those worries in prayer to the only One who can change the predicted future of a worried heart. You can worry, or you can pray. Paul recommends praying! 

The fourth principle for living joyfully and fruitfully is to “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Phillipians 4:6b NLT). It is a prayer with an addendum. Instead of worrying, pray. Tell the Lord what you need, but when you pray, let gratitude be the banner of your prayer. One of the first things we, as parents, try to instill in our children is gratitude. When they ask for something, we teach, “Say please,” and when they receive something, we teach, “Say thank you.” Please and thank you are as foundational to raising respectful little humans as gratitude itself. How much more should we be grateful for all that the Lord has done for us! Gratitude shapes our perspective, shifting it from what is wrong to what is right. The world is filled with pain, yet God is still good. Life may be unfair and marked by partiality, but God is just. We might not always be able to rejoice over what we are experiencing, but we can surely rejoice over what we have received because of Christ.

Prayer and petition should always be accompanied by gratitude. Our gratitude is not contingent on perfect circumstances or a perfect record of answered prayer; it is grounded in who our Father is and in what we have already received through Jesus Christ, namely eternal life and becoming a son or daughter of God. We have already received more than we could ever say thank you for, so we can ask with confidence and thank the Lord with deep joy and reverence. The result or fruit of rejoicing, being considerate, and not worrying but praying with a heart of gratitude produces something no money in the world can ever buy: God’s peace. 

Philippians 4:7 (NLT) Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

A peace beyond natural understanding. This is not a moment of peace in a chaotic world. This is not a reprieve that ends when you have to worry again. This is not a temporary station in life; it is a permanent dwelling. This peace is neither mine nor yours; it is the very peace of God. God’s peace is not a tranquil feeling or a fleeting moment of escape. It is a strong army, a garrison around your heart and mind. It takes captive thoughts of anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief, and the “ifs” in your heart and mind. When anxiety prophesies doom and destruction and haunts us like a blazing fire, peace pours out the water of the Word to extinguish the blaze. This peace comes as a result of your union with Christ Jesus. Draw close to Him, and peace will be your guard.

Like a father to his children, Paul writes to the Philippians, inspired by the Holy Spirit, through the reed pen onto the papyrus, straight into their hearts: “This is how you live together in harmony and love one another joyfully. Always be full of the joy of Jesus. Repeat as necessary. Knowing that the Lord is coming, let consideration be evident to all. Worry is useless; prayer is essential. Choose prayer over worry by trusting God with all your needs and thanking Him for all He has done. Then peace will guard you as you abide in Christ, your Lord.”

“There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God's favor to them in life, through death and on forever.” 
– J.I. Packer

Our joy comes from Jesus, our consideration is because of Jesus, we take our worries to Jesus, and we are forever grateful for Jesus. Living in these four attitudes of the heart gives us the power to endure and to live every day joyfully, whether it is a good day or a hard day, because Jesus is our source of peace. Paul would say: “This is how you do it!”

Prayer:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of Jesus.
• Take a moment to reflect on your level of consideration and pray honestly about what needs to change. “Lord, give me a considerate mind and heart that will place others before myself and honor You.”
• Bring all your worries and anxieties and place them before the Lord. Pray about any need you have and thank the Lord for His goodness and grace.

Day 35 - Getting Along with Others

Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT) 2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Throughout his letter to the Philippians, Paul appeals to humility, grace, preferring others, working together with one heart and purpose, and to tenderness and compassion. He wants the church in Philippi not just to work together but to be in wholehearted agreement, not by a grin-and-bear-it mentality but by Christlike humility, with tenderness and compassion. Simply put, Paul wants them to love one another as Jesus loves them. He wants the love of Christ to be evident in how they relate to one another. Enter the scene, Euodia and Syntyche, two women who worked side by side with Paul in telling others the Good News. Paul appeals to them to have the mind of Christ and to agree. Some scholars think this might be a general encouragement to agree, but many think there was a dispute between these two women. What is undisputed is that these two ladies played a significant role in the church in Philippi. We know from Acts 16:13 that when Paul and Silas first preached in Philippi, they went outside the city and spoke to some women who were gathered at the riverbank. 

Acts 16:13 (NLT) On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.

We don’t know whether or not Euodia and Syntyche were part of that group of women, but we do know they helped Paul greatly. Paul appeals either to a specific individual who worked with him or to the church’s collective partnership to help these women settle their disagreement. The Greek word for “partner” is Syzygus, which can mean an associate, comrade, or fellow laborer, or it can be a person's name. It is an interesting thought; however, the most important point is that Paul appeals to both of these ladies and others to help bring unity to the church. 

“Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.”
– Andrew Murray

The appeal is to get along because they all belong to the Lord. When followers of Christ fight, everybody loses. How would you like your name to be mentioned in the Bible, not for anything good, but for an argument you were having with a fellow believer? I personally think that one of the saddest things in our churches today is this culture of disposability. I don’t agree, so I leave and break relationships! Remember this truth about relationships: Relationships are the only eternal thing. The people you try to dismiss and avoid this side of eternity will be unavoidable in eternity. Do you think your Heavenly Father is going to divide heaven into different parts for different people? Do you think He is going to put people from different denominations in different areas of heaven? If you do, think again!

“Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears, lions, or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect: that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.”  
– Charles Spurgeon

Where do you think people who are serving the Lord will go when they die? I did not say where you wish for them to go. They are obviously going to go to heaven, and so are you. Don’t you think it will be a good thing to learn to get along this side of eternity? It is natural to disagree; it is supernatural to forgive and reconcile.

“Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.” 
– Rick Warren 

Why is it so important to get along? Because God’s work suffers when we don’t. Consider how conflict with others saps our energy, melts our resolve, and weakens our witness. It also drains our joy and disturbs our peace. It limits our potential and wastes Kingdom opportunities. Why do we continue to allow conflict to separate us and think the Lord Jesus approves of it?

The root of conflict is selfishness. Why do we fight? Why do we argue? Why don't we get along? Because I want what I want, and you want what you want. We both insist on the "Burger King Philosophy": Have it my way. Paul pleads with these two co-workers in Christ to work out their disagreements. He reminds them that both had worked hard and helped him greatly in spreading the good news. Why should we work out our differences? Because we belong to the Lord! Jesus does not fight with Jesus.

Think about this: even the devil knows that a divided kingdom is a falling one. Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 12:25-26 (NCV), “25 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, ‘Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. 26 And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue.’”

What’s the remedy? First, always be full of joy! Joyful people rarely pick fights, but miserable people do. Second, be considerate in all you do. Not just in words or in your heart, but your consideration must be evident to all. That means thinking of others before yourself. Don’t think less of yourself; think less about yourself! Why? Because the Lord is coming. We will have to give an account of how we treated one another. No father celebrates when his children don’t get along, and God is our Father. Third, instead of worrying, pray. Worry causes anxiety, and anxiety leads us to act out of fear. There is a better way. Ask your Heavenly Father. Instead of looking to people to meet your needs, pray and tell God what you need. Then His peace will guard your heart and mind as you keep in step with Christ’s nature and character.

We all have to do the hard work of getting along. Some people are easier to get along with than others. Nevertheless, if we say we are mature, we must be considerate like Jesus. In your relationships, choose joy, choose consideration, and choose prayer, and you will have peace! Who do you need to forgive, and who do you need to reconcile with? When will you?

Prayer:

• Pray that the Lord will deliver you from a selfish spirit.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a considerate heart and help you develop a healthy mindset toward others.
• Pray and release any person toward whom you hold ill will. Ask the Lord to help you build a healthy pattern of relating to others.

Pray: 
“Father, thank you for loving me unconditionally, even when I don’t deserve it. Help me to think about others the way You do. Let me see others the way You see them. Forgive me for being inconsiderate and selfish, and for expecting others to meet needs only You can. I choose not to worry but to trust You with all my needs, including all my relationships. Help my fellow Rock family work together to build Your kingdom and to have healthy, growing relationships. Keep us from foolish and useless disagreements and arguments. Remind us that, in the end, all that matters is how we loved You and loved others. I pray that Your peace will guard my heart and mind as I choose to walk in forgiveness daily and practice consideration in all I do. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!”

Day 34 - Stay True, Stand Firm!

Philippians 4:1 (NLT) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

On the heels of these great statements about citizenship and the glorious return of Jesus, which will completely transform the whole world, including our own bodies, Paul encourages the Philippians to remain true to the Lord or to be firm in the Lord. Knowing who we belong to and what future awaits us should be the very reason for our strengthened confidence. It bears repeating that the affection is evident in Paul’s writing to the Philippians. He wants them to continue what was started through the work of the Holy Spirit. He wants them to one day stand before the Lord and be found faithful.

To stand firm or true connotes being able to stand under judgment or to be approved. It is the same word we find in Romans 14:4 (NIV): “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand” (emphasis added). The message remains the same whether Paul writes to the Philippians, Romans, Corinthians, or Thessalonians. He desires that all of them be found faithful one day. But each is responsible for what they do with what they have received. That’s why he says: “To his own master, he stands or falls.” Leave the judgment to the Lord. You work on your own faithfulness and obedience. 

To stand strong can also describe soldiers in battle as the enemy bears down on them. For believers, the only way to remain strong is to stay in the Lord: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV). The crushing of the enemy of our faith is not the result of our strength but of our humble submission to the Lord. We don’t overcome in our strength, we overcome in the Lord’s strength. We humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, resist the devil, and then he flees. We don’t resist, and the devil flees; we submit to God, and only once we have submitted is strength released for victory. To the Romans, Paul writes in Romans 16:20 (ESV): “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

As C.S. Lewis so succinctly put it: “On the back of Satan's neck is a nail-scarred footprint.”

The tone with which Paul addresses the Philippians is not one of waving his finger in their faces and saying, “You’d better do this.” Absolutely not! He appeals to them as a father would to his children. We saw in verse 18 of the previous chapter that he writes with tears streaming down his cheeks about those whose conduct shows they are enemies of the cross. He affectionately calls the Philippians “my brothers,” showing a relationship: my dear friends, or more closely, my beloved. He states, “I love you and long to see you.” Paul longs for them, wanting to see them and wanting them to remain true to the Lord and firm in their relationship with Christ Jesus.

He calls them his joy and his crown. The word Paul uses for crown is not one you would associate with royalty or kingship. It is more like the crown a winning athlete would receive in the games or the crown a guest would wear at a banquet or celebration. It’s as if Paul is saying: “Picture this, guys. We are all one day sitting at the banqueting table at the celebration of the wedding supper of the Lamb. I am there, you are there, and my joy and my crown would be that we all finish well. That you guys did not get sidetracked by foolish, empty philosophies or self-effort to please the Lord, but you stood firm, stayed faithful, and now we are all experiencing the joy of finishing well!”

Love motivates Paul. He does not want to labor in vain or build with the wrong materials. He seeks to be effective for God’s kingdom and obedient to the heavenly calling he received. Paul has a passion for Christ and the Philippian church. This love motivates and encourages him, fueled by a heart that simply wants to obey Christ. He writes to the Thessalonians, “It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 3:8 NLT). When others stand firm for the Lord, it fuels Paul to keep pressing on despite the opposition and difficulty he faces wherever he goes. What fuels your obedience? Will you be found faithful? Do you get excited when others grow in their faith? Do you have the love and passion to connect with others in community so you can help them grow in their faith, or is it all about you?

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Each of us has been given a responsibility to bear for God’s kingdom. We do not all have the same gifts, responsibilities, or even the same opportunities. No believer is called to do nothing. We are all called to do something. What is your something? Have you considered, asked, pondered, or sought the Lord? What or who will be your crown when you are seated at the great marriage feast of the Lamb? 

“The Scripture promises rewards for our service as a motivation for faithful ministry. And for the Christian, at least, this promise is true and guaranteed regardless of the apparent success or rewards received here in time. Sometimes it appears that doing what is right goes without obvious blessing or reward. Faithful service may not lead to recognition, a promotion, or the raise one counted on—maybe not even a thank you. And often, faithfulness, especially when it is to Christ and biblical principles, can lead to persecution. But as Christians, we must never allow the absence of immediate reward or blessing to deter us from steadfast faithfulness… Scripture promises that if we continue to be faithful to the Lord, we will eventually receive rewards for our efforts. If not in this life, definitely in the life to come (1 Cor. 15:58).”
– J. Hampton Keathley

Stay true to the Lord, stay connected in community, do what the Lord asks, and let Him lead you.

Prayer:
(1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 NLT)
“9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. 11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”

Day 33 - Heavenly Minded

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT) 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

For the second time in Paul’s letter, he reminds the Philippians of where their citizenship lies. In chapter 1, verse 27, he writes: “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (NLT). He reminds them of their heavenly citizenship and the eager anticipation they should have as they await Jesus' return. Jesus will not only transform our weak mortal bodies into glorious bodies like His own, but He will also bring everything under His control! Paul gives the Philippians a clear picture on which they can hang their hope. They don’t have to give in to the same low living that allows the flesh to dominate, that makes idols of earthly desires, or that lets appetites govern their lives.

In both instances of mentioning their heavenly citizenship, he connects it with their daily conduct of living out the Good News they preach. Paul is saying that because you are citizens of heaven, where Jesus is in charge, you need to show not only by your proclamation that you belong to Christ but also in your daily lives. Your lifestyle must back up what your mouth so boldly proclaims. Unlike those who are looking for ways to justify ungodly ways of living, you press into the truth of Who you belong to and live lives that honor Christ. 

He is telling the Philippians, "You of all people should understand what citizenship truly means: You are living in a Roman colony, and it is evident in the practices, governance, language spoken, morals observed, and even the clothes they wear. It is distinctively Roman, with allegiance to Caesar as lord. So don’t forget who you represent, but also don’t forget the promise that comes with your citizenship. Just as a citizen of a country has certain privileges, you need to remember yours.”

It is easy to forget, amid the maelstrom of the day and the chaos of the age in which we live, that we belong to the Heavenly Kingdom, where Christ is King. We see people changing the gospel of Christ into a gospel of convenience. Where truth is sacrificed on the altar of self-idolatry. Where we create a god in our image and likeness, instead of being formed into His likeness. Where God’s Word goes from command to suggestion. We literally twist Scripture like a twice-turned pretzel to fit what we believe, instead of simply believing what God clearly said.

Oh, that we would cling to the cross! Hold fast to our confession of faith and pursue righteousness amid a crooked and perverse generation. That we would be reminded by the Holy Spirit that we are Christ’s ambassadors, representing the Gospel of reconciliation to a world that needs God’s grace and truth more than ever. This transformative power will not operate in a spirit of compromise or appeasement. We must be willing to stand out, speak up, and live out our citizenship. We cannot give in to the hatred we might face. Jesus said, “18 ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you’” (John 15:18-19 NIV). As citizens of heaven, we live by the law of love, and we let Jesus have the last word. Just like Christ, no matter how much hatred we receive, our only response is, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

"A Christian is an odd mixture. He reads the Bible, believes it, and obeys it. The world hates him because he is not like them, yet he loves them and tells them about Jesus. He is an alien here, looking for a city whose builder and maker is God." 
– A.W. Tozer

It is because we know that we represent our Heavenly Father and His kingdom that we can love as He loves and forgive as He forgives. That strength is not born of our own will or accord but of full reliance on the Holy Spirit to empower us to live out the principles of our Father’s kingdom. We know it is the only way transformation can and will happen. 

"If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great English philanthropists who abolished the slave trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven."
– C.S. Lewis

Because our minds are fixed on our heavenly citizenship, we have a hope that cannot disappoint. We are waiting for the return of Christ Jesus, our Lord. When He returns, He will place all things under His rule and reign, and all that we have contended for will finally be evident to all. The hope we have in Christ reaches far beyond anything we can imagine, think, or even dream. When Christ returns, our broken, lowly bodies, subject to pain, decay, sickness, and ultimately death, will be gloriously transformed into the same resurrected body as Jesus’.

"Believers are currently citizens of heaven not to return there but to be agents of heavenly civilization on earth, anticipating Jesus' return."
– N.T. Wright

The life we have received, the kingdom to which we belong, and the citizenship granted to us through Christ’s death and resurrection are not shallow, faint, feeble, or fickle. They are glorious and victorious. So we set our minds on the heavenly kingdom and our heavenly citizenship, because remembering who we represent draws on the power evident in His kingdom. Knowing this reality frees us to live for God’s glory and fills us with a constant hope for what is to come.

As Eugene Peterson writes in the Message Paraphrase of Romans 8:15-21: “15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! 18-21 That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.”

So don’t let the enemy of your faith make you short-sighted, and don’t let tough times harden your heart. There is glory in your future, glory you cannot even imagine. Keep your eyes on Jesus, His Word in your heart, His message on your lips, and with joyful anticipation, look up, for your redemption is closer than you think!

Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, thank You that I am a citizen of heaven, a member of Your family, adopted into Your household, and given a brand-new life and a hope for the future that transcends today’s difficulties. Help me to represent Your kingdom well and to share the Good News of Your grace. Whatever You want me to do and with whomever You want me to share, give me the courage to speak boldly and to dismiss any fear of man from my heart. With joyful anticipation, I look forward to the day when Christ will return and transform all of creation for His glory! Come, Jesus, come! Amen!

Day 32 Be Careful Who You Follow!

Philippians 3:17-19 (NLT) 17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

Throughout his letter to the Philippians, we sense Paul’s caring heart toward the church in Philippi. As with all the churches, Paul desires that they grow to maturity in Christ. He warns them not to be diluted by mixing the law with the grace of God. As the apostle who planted the church in Philippi, he felt the responsibility as a father in the faith to watch over and instruct them, even though he was not with them.

He strongly urged them to follow the example of Christ Jesus and even held up Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of what it means to be faithful and fruitful in God’s kingdom. Paul tells them to pattern their lives after him and to learn from those who follow that example. This is not a statement of arrogance but of true humility. Paul knows he is following Jesus’ example. He writes something very similar to the church in Corinth: “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT). He is not simply bragging about living right, he is exposing false philosophies that are trying to creep into the church.

Just as at the beginning of this chapter, where we see his warning about the Judaizers, he warns the Philippians to be careful about whom they listen to. That is why he holds himself up as the example to be followed and imitated. He calls them enemies of the cross, headed for destruction, whose god is their appetite or belly. These people are locked into this life, seeking whatever pleasure they can, no matter how shameful. They do this even at the expense of the cross. They use their liberty in Christ as a cover for their fleshly lusts. We are not exactly sure who they were, whether they were apostate itinerant teachers or so-called nominal believers. However, as Paul writes this warning to the Philippians, he has tears in his eyes because these people are enemies of the cross and headed for ultimate destruction.

The warning is clear: Be careful whom you follow. With tears, Paul warns the believers in Philippi, "Don’t fall for philosophies void of God’s power to save, that deny the reality of the cross, that call good evil and evil good, that exchange the image of God for idols.” We would do well to heed that same warning in the society we live in, where everything goes. Watch out for ideas and philosophies that are more interested in appeasing the flesh than in nailing it to the cross.

“A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to 'accept' Christ without forsaking the world.”
– A. W. Tozer

Who are the people you pattern your life after? Who are the people you emulate? These are crucial questions that need to be answered. But an even more important question to ask is this: “If people pattern their lives after mine, what would it look like?” Before you protest and say the words of that famous theologian, Charles Barkley, “I am not a role model.” Think again. Can you tell people to emulate your faith? If someone were to follow you, up close and personal for a couple of months, would they be able to see from your lifestyle what a Christ follower should be?

If people prayed like you pray, studied God’s Word like you do, related to others like you do, served like you serve, cared for others like you do, connected with fellow believers like you do, did their jobs like you do yours, talked about others like you talk about others, gave like you give, and shared their faith like you do, would it express a vibrant faith worthy to follow, or a faith that, at best, is anemic and void of power? What does your conduct show? You might think, wait a minute, this is a bit harsh! Not at all. Someone must love you enough to tell you the truth. To follow Christ means to be all in. Jesus is worthy of all our devotion, not some of it.

“Most people want Jesus as a consultant rather than a King, and He does not come that way.” 
– Timothy Keller

The longer you vacillate between being a passionate or a passive follower of Jesus, the harder it becomes to express your faith. Remember, your conduct shows what and who you truly love. But we must be careful not to rely on our conduct to bring about God’s righteousness. Our conduct is a response to what Jesus has done for us, and it causes us to want to do what is right! Religion is based on doing or not doing certain things, like I don’t eat this or do that, yet it is passive and heartless. But a relationship with Jesus is founded in His love, based on His love, and lived out through His love.

That passionate love will be evident in our conduct. We are not controlled by our appetites. We recognize the difference between good and evil, and we don’t just think of temporary things. So when others observe our lives, they see a true reflection of Jesus. Our lives are patterned after the resurrected Christ, and our focus is on pleasing Him. We eagerly look forward to His return, but that does not immobilize us into inaction. On the contrary, we love, we serve, we give, we relate, we connect, we influence, all to build His kingdom! We stay true to Jesus!

“If you have the smile of God, what does it matter if you have the frown of men?”
– Leonard Ravenhill

Will you consider your conduct and reflect on what needs to change? We all influence people. Whether that influence is positive or negative depends on us. Do you love Jesus enough to give Him your all? Then let it be seen in your daily walk and habits.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 

Prayer:

• Pray that your conduct be pleasing to the Lord.
• Ask the Lord to help you reflect honestly, without justifying or lying to yourself. Ask for forgiveness where necessary.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with God’s love and that you will be rooted and grounded in His love.

Pray: 
“Father, thank you for godly examples we can follow. I pray for my fellow believers that we would live lives others can emulate. I pray that we would be examples of faith, faithfulness, service, and, above all, love. Keep us faithfully serving You, and help us demonstrate through our conduct that You are our Lord in all areas of our lives. We want to live a life of passionate faith because You are worthy of our complete devotion. In Jesus' Name! Amen.”

Day 31 – Training Towards Maturity

Philippians 3:15-16 (NLT) 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Like a skilled craftsman or an expert builder, Paul is putting the pieces together for the Philippians. This letter of gratitude for their generosity and love becomes an instruction manual for joyful living. The key to it all is embracing the attitude and mind of Christ Jesus, through which all actions flow, resulting in the maturity necessary for spiritual progress. Paul wants the Philippians to understand that maturity is not a destination to reach but a process to embrace.

Knowing that we are saved by grace, not by human effort, is the starting point. Following Jesus means leaning on what He has done for us rather than on our own efforts to obey the law. All our self-effort is nothing but garbage to be tossed aside, and we boast only in knowing Christ Jesus. In fact, knowing Jesus is our greatest desire, our highest hope, our deepest pursuit, and our most passionate longing. We want to know Christ, not from a superficial “I am going to heaven, now I can do what I want” attitude, but with the cry of our heart to know Him in the power of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering.

We know we are not there yet, however, we press on, reach, lay hold of, and pursue that mark of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Jesus laid hold of us for a purpose, and now we lay hold of Him so that we may obey what He has asked of us. WE CALL THAT MATURITY! It enables us to hold on to the progress we have made, rather than taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps backward. We steadily make progress, keep the ground we have gained, and refuse to be trapped in an unending cycle of regret. We press, we focus, we forget, we look, we reach, and we keep moving forward.

Paul writes: “Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things” (Phillipians 3:15a NLT). Maturity means recognizing what is good and beneficial for our spiritual progress and what hinders it. We don’t want to remain infants, we want to grow to maturity. And we know that means we are willing to embrace God’s process and persevere through trials and tests, regardless of how we feel. Maturity is not a feeling, a sudden revelation, or even an act of operating in a greater gift. It is the acceptance of responsibility for what the Lord requires of us. 

“Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. Some people mature into an understanding of God’s will more quickly than others because they obey more readily; they more readily sacrifice the life of nature to the will of God.”
– Oswald Chambers

Maturity means we can handle solid food and digest the hard truth. We can live in the healthy tension between truth and grace without compromising the truth of God’s Word or short-circuiting the tenderness of God’s grace. Maturity knows what to embrace and what to reject because our spiritual senses have been trained to distinguish good from evil. 

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NIV) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Maturity knows that without grace, truth can be perceived as brutality, but without truth, grace can become hypocrisy. Maturity seeks God’s will, not man’s idea of God’s will. Maturity is being willing to change or admit when wrong. Paul writes: “If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you” (Phillipians 3:15b NLT). One of the greatest qualities of a mature follower of Jesus is the willingness to wait for God’s timing and to trust in the midst of great testing. Mature followers of Christ do not follow Jesus because life is always good, just, and full of blessings. They know that they are in a process, and that process could include hard, challenging days. They know the world they live in is broken, but Christ has made them whole, and one day all of creation will be made whole through the power of His resurrection. They persevere because they know that even persevering in difficulty is working towards their maturity. 

James 1:4 (NIV) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

“Everything you go through as a Christian is a training exercise behind which God has a divine purpose. He did not save you so that you could cruise into paradise on a luxury liner; He saved you to prepare you to be of use in His kingdom. The moment you were born again, He enrolled you in His school of suffering. And every affliction, every trial, is another lesson in the curriculum.”
– David Wilkerson

Maturity is the ability to keep things in the right perspective. To hold on to what is good, to reject what is evil, to grow from the challenges, and to move beyond yesterday. To look through the lens of God’s mercy and, in humility, embrace a new direction without undoing what we have been taught in the past. To build God’s kingdom together with other like-minded, mature followers of Jesus, with our eyes on the reward, which is Christ Himself.

Maturity in Christ helps us hold on to the progress we have made, as shown in our willingness to choose joy despite our circumstances. The most mature among us are the most joyful. As Paul encourages us, “So let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things” (Philippians 3:15a NLT). If you disagree, just ask the Lord. He will make it plain.

Prayer:
Adapted from Psalm 131 (ISV) and Psalm 141:1-5a (ISV):
Psalm 131 (ISV) 1 Lord, my heart is not arrogant, nor do I look haughty. I do not aspire to great things, nor concern myself with things beyond my ability. 2 Instead, I have composed and quieted myself like a weaned child with its mother; I am like a weaned child. 3 I place my hope in the Lord, both now and forever.

Psalm 141:1-5a (ISV) 1 Lord, I call to you, be quick to listen to me when I cry out! 2 Let my prayer be like incense offered before you, and my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice. 3 Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door to my lips. 4 Don’t let my heart turn toward evil or involve itself in wicked activities with men who practice iniquity. Let me not feast on their delicacies. 5 Let one who is righteous strike me; It is an act of gracious love. Let him rebuke me, because it is oil for my head; do not let my head refuse it.

Your Word says, “An open rebuke is better than unspoken love. Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy, but kisses from an enemy speak volumes” (Proverbs 27:5-6). I incline my ear to hear, my heart to understand, and my feet to walk in Your ways. Thank You for leading me to maturity so that I may discern by Your Spirit and through Your Word what is good, pleasant, and pleasing to You.

Help me continue to grow in Your grace and to be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Day 30 – Not There Yet

Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT) 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 

The joy of knowing Christ far exceeds any other joy. For Paul, nothing can compare to knowing, following, and even suffering for Jesus. Paul makes it clear to the Philippian church that this is a constant, ongoing process of growing in Christ. He is not there yet. He has not reached complete maturity or perfection. He is not done. These words should be both humbling and inspiring for us. If Paul the apostle was still pushing toward the mark of maturity, then we have a ways to go.

Paul says, “I am not there yet, but I do know how I am going to get there.” He uses a beautiful picture of pressing on to possess that mark of maturity. He is trying to lay hold of it in the same way that Jesus laid hold of Him. Jesus grasped him, laid hold of him, and overtook him. Paul is saying that Jesus took possession of him, and now he wants to possess that for which Christ took possession of him. Jesus stopped him in his tracks. 

Acts 9:3-6 (NIV) 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

When Jesus apprehended Paul, He did not just knock him off his horse and leave him. He gave Paul instructions to go into the city and to find out what he must do. That is why, later, when appearing before King Agrippa, he was recounting his experience on the road to Damascus. 

Acts 26:16–18 (NIV) “16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” 

From Paul’s first encounter with Jesus to the present, as he writes the letter to the Philippians, it is clear that he knows what he is called to do. He knows he is not finished yet, but he is pressing toward the finish line. Like a runner near the finish, he is giving it all he has to reach the place he was called to walk in when Jesus laid hold of him. Each of us has been apprehended by Christ for a specific purpose. We must lay hold of that for which we have been apprehended.

“God has so ordered, that in pressing on in duty we shall find the truest, richest comfort for ourselves. Sitting down to brood over our sorrows, the darkness deepens about us and creeps into our heart, and our strength changes to weakness. But, if we turn away from the gloom, and take up the tasks and duties to which God calls us, the light will come again, and we shall grow stronger.”
– Lettie Cowman

There are several action steps we see in these verses. We press toward the mark of perfection, we focus on forgetting the past, we look to what lies ahead, we run to receive the prize, and we hold on to the progress we have made! We haven’t arrived at perfection yet, but we continue to reach for it. This is not perfectionism from a human standpoint, it is being made perfect by Jesus. How does He do that? He places us in situations that require us to embrace His character and let His nature shine through.

We do that by forgetting the past. You cannot move forward by looking backward! Some people are haunted by their past and try to navigate life by looking in the rearview mirror while driving forward. That’s why they continually run into things and run over people. You have to look in the direction you want to go instead of the direction you came from. Our past should serve as a learning point, not a reference point. We should learn from the mistakes we have made in the past, or even from the good things we have done, but we should never get stuck in the past.

This applies to both the good and the bad. Some people have a great history, so they longingly look back on the “good old days” and wish to repeat them. The problem with that is that it robs us of a hopeful future. You cannot find hope in your past; you can only find hope in your future. In the same way, others are stuck in the regret of the past. If only “I didn’t do that,” “if this had not happened,” or “that had not taken place,” then things would be better. It happened! You did it, or you didn’t do it. Whatever your regrets of the past, they cannot be undone. But here’s what you can do: Focus all your energy on forgetting and looking to your future, not your past.

Then start running toward that heavenly prize. The past is a weight that hinders us from running with endurance. The farther you want to go, the lighter you need to be. The Bible, in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, talks about laying aside the weight that so easily hinders us and stripping down so we can run! Marathon runners do not try to wear as much as possible; they try to wear as little as possible. In Ancient Greek times, they ran with a loincloth or even naked. I am not suggesting you do the same. I do, however, recommend that you remove all emotional hindrances from your present or past to move into your God-ordained future.

What are you holding onto that you need to let go of? What are your thoughts focused on—your past or your future? The prize is waiting for you, keep running...

Prayer:

• Pray and ask the Lord Jesus to supernaturally enable you to focus on forgetting the past, good or bad. Then let it go...
• Ask the Lord to forgive you of anything that hinders you from embracing the future He has for you. 
• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you endurance for your race.

Pray: 
“Father, thank you for helping me not to dwell on the past, nor to sit in the present, but enable me to press towards my future in You. Give me eyes to see the prize that you have laid up for me. Where I fail to see your plan, make it plain to me. Restore my hope for the future and help me hold on to the progress I have made. Thank You for Your grace, which enables me to keep pressing on! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Day 29 – Knowing Christ

Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT) 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

It is abundantly clear what Paul considered garbage and what he considered the most valuable thing in his life. Compared to everything else, the knowledge of Christ was Paul’s greatest pursuit, more than anything he had accomplished or dedicated himself to before knowing Christ. Once Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed. The reality of the risen Christ completely altered the trajectory of the man who had been one of the church’s main persecutors. He went from breathing threats and hunting down men and women to being persecuted for the sake of Christ.

Acts 9:1-2 (NIV) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Paul’s encounter with Jesus, while he was actively pursuing his murderous agenda, shows the complete transformation of this Pharisee of Pharisees. From murdering Christians to preaching the Good News of the very One he persecuted, he demonstrates the glorious transformation only Jesus can bring. Paul met Jesus, and everything changed! He is unshakable in his declaration and devotion to make knowing Christ Jesus his primary pursuit in life! He states clearly, “I want to know Christ” (Philippians 3:10a NLT). This was not general knowledge of Jesus or mere mental assent to knowing Him, but an intimate, personal knowledge. I love the language Paul uses in verse 8, “…the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NLT).  He is clear not only in his love but also in his submission to Jesus.

It is clear from the language Paul uses that he is not merely seeking to grasp knowledge of Christ intellectually but wants to know him in a deep, personal way. He wants to experience Jesus in the power of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering. These two truths seem to stand at opposite ends of the spectrum of a Christ-like life. The power of the resurrection speaks of victory over death! Paul knows that without the resurrection, all preaching is useless. What gives the Good News its power is that Christ has risen from the dead! 

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NIV) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

The resurrection power works daily in our lives because the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. The Holy Spirit quickens us in every way to glorify Jesus by breaking patterns in our lives that need to be broken, and it also promises a future resurrection for our mortal bodies. Paul states: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11 NIV). Paul recognizes that we all need to experience the power of resurrected living in our daily lives, and he presses into the reality of that truth. He wants to know Jesus in the power of His resurrection, knowing we all will be raised one day just as Jesus was. 

1 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV) By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

Paul also recognizes that we not only share in Christ’s resurrection but also in the fellowship of His suffering. I know, I know, we love the power of the resurrection, but we cringe at the thought of suffering. Let me remind you that suffering always precedes the resurrection. The suffering Paul refers to is not merely what we face in the world, as he clearly states that he is speaking of Christ’s suffering. He is not talking about what Jesus suffered on the cross for us, because Christ suffered once for our redemption, and we could not pay that price. We receive what Jesus did by faith. There is, however, a fellowship of His suffering. Whatever it takes, we must give up everything that would keep us from doing the perfect will of God! We see a glimpse of that in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (NIV): “8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

What does all this mean for us? What or who is your primary pursuit? What have you counted as garbage so you may gain the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus? Our lives can be so crowded with things we deem important that they hinder us from pursuing what truly matters. If a “to-do list” is the first thing that comes to your mind right now, I want you to dig a little deeper. We hear people talk about having your priorities in order: God, family, church, etc., but Paul is not talking about sorting out our priorities; he is talking about knowing Jesus! Knowing Jesus in the power of resurrected life and the power to endure suffering.

When Christ is your devotion, your pursuit, and your passion, and everything else is but garbage, then and only then will you experience the power of resurrected living and the strength to endure suffering. When you know Jesus, you have power; the power to see that His resurrection power always triumphs over pain, fear, death, brokenness, sickness, emotional turmoil, relational conflict, financial strain, and anything and everything that is hurtful! 

“Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.”
– Thomas à Kempis

Are you willing to make Jesus your passion, your pursuit, your life? That means coming to the place where Christ alone is enough—where He is everything, even more than life itself. Are you willing to love Him more than all others? It means loving Christ above all others. More than family! More than husband, wife, children, brother, or sister. To love them all, yet inwardly give them up to Him as a sacrifice to your great love for Christ Jesus, your Lord!

Do that, and you will break through to the glory of His resurrection power and conform to His death.

Prayer:

• Pray that you will be able to see the difference between knowing about Christ and truly knowing Him.
• Ask the Lord to help you establish a consistent daily habit of prayer and of fellowship with Jesus.
• Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to grant you a passionate, vibrant, life-giving love and devotion to God’s will in your life. Pray this: “Lord, I desire your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.”
• Pray to walk in the power of His resurrection and to be willing to share in His suffering.

Day 28 – Jesus Is More Than Enough!

Philippians 3:5-9 (NLT) 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Throughout Paul's ministry, we see a persistent push from those who wanted to mix the law with grace. The Judaizers were legalistic Jewish Christians who constantly harassed the new churches Paul planted by traveling to these Gentile converts and demanding that they follow the Old Testament law, especially circumcision, to be truly saved. We saw in verse 2 that Paul called them dogs, evildoers, and mutilators. Strong and harsh words, because they were trying to add to God’s grace.

In Galatians, we sense Paul’s frustration when he writes the following in chapter three: “1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”  (Galatians 3:1-6 NIV).

We see in several letters that Paul addresses these issues and sternly warns the Galatian church by asking them several pertinent questions. Paul asks, “Who has bewitched you?”—meaning, who has pulled the wool over your eyes? “What kind of spell are you guys falling for? I clearly preached Christ, and Him crucified to you. So what now? Did you receive the Holy Spirit by believing or by the works of the law? Are you guys really that dumb?” (My words, not Paul’s.) The word means unintelligent, unwise, or brutish, so “dumb” is not that far off. Paul says, "You started in the Spirit, are you now going to finish in the flesh? Was everything you have been through for nothing? Is what the Lord is doing among you by His Spirit or by the law?” I can go on, but I think we get the point, and I am sure the Galatians did as well.

Although the Philippians are dealing with a similar issue, Paul addresses it quite differently than he did with the church in Galatia. Instead of rebuking them and calling them bewitched, as he did with the Galatians, he lays out his own heritage, or spiritual pedigree, if you will, for the Philippians. It is as if people coming into the church, or those who might be coming, are challenging Paul’s credentials to speak about the law. This again shows the special relationship Paul had with them. It is like kids comparing how great their dads are, with the Judaizer claiming their pedigree, and Paul saying to his children in the Lord, "Check this out. If they think they have bragging rights, listen to this!”

Paul gives an incredible factual testimony of his own heritage and Jewish pedigree: “5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault” (Phillipians 3:5-6 NLT).

“Take that, you mutilators. Who’s the top dog now?” But then he says something so radical, so profound and earth-shatteringly transformative: “7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (Phillipians 3:7-9 NLT).

What would make a man call his family heritage, cultural heritage, national heritage, racial heritage, religious heritage, and moral heritage worthless? Not just worthless, but garbage! Everything else is garbage.  Everything else is worthless. Compared to what? Compared to knowing Jesus! Here’s a sobering thought: “Whatever you think is more important than Jesus, you are wrong!”

Nothing should be elevated, pursued, or revered more than Christ. Not your family background, your culture, your nationality, your race, or your religious background is more important than Jesus. When you place all of these things next to Christ and compare them, you will find they are garbage, refuse, rubbish, or dung! The word could also mean sweepings, suggesting it is all just dirt swept together and tossed aside because it is worthless. Paul is saying that all the things I could brag about, and that others brag about, are simply a bunch of dirt collected together and tossed out. Compared to Jesus, these things are worthless.

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all he has. It is the pearl of great price by which the merchant will sell all his goods.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When Christ is Lord of your life, and you have placed your faith in Him, you realize that Christ is more than enough.

Prayer:
Pray that you would not forsake meeting with your brothers and sisters in Christ to serve, honor, and glorify Jesus! Pursuing Christ in community strengthens our resolve in pursuing Jesus.
Ask the Lord to show you whether you have placed anything above following Jesus. Repent if necessary. Refuse to justify any wrong priority.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you complete clarity so that you will not find yourself trusting in your own efforts but in the grace of Christ. Don’t allow yourself to be bewitched like the Galatians.
Take a moment to worship Jesus as Lord of your life, and thank Him that He is more than enough.

Day 27 – Grace, Not Human Effort

Philippians 3:2-4 (NLT)  2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

In these verses, we see why Paul encourages the Philippians to walk in joy to safeguard their faith. Paul moves from rejoicing to protecting. It seems the Philippians are facing a challenge similar to that of several other churches, namely the infiltration of Jewish believers who insisted that new believers must uphold both the Jewish law and follow Christ.

Paul uses strong language for those who insist that in order to be saved, the Gentile believers need to be circumcised as well. He calls them three things: dogs, evildoers, and mutilators. Don’t think of dogs the way our culture thinks and treats dogs. I have a dog named Daisy, and she is nothing but a gift. The best dog on the planet, a little stubborn, but that is about the only negative thing that could be said of her. Paul is not referring to a Daisy-type pet dog. In ancient times, dogs were more like scavenging strays, roaming the streets and digging through garbage. They would snarl and growl at people and were seen as a nuisance rather than a blessing. 

In today’s culture, we might lovingly and in jest call someone “Big Dog!” In the Bible, calling someone a dog was a great insult. When David faced Goliath, Goliath said: “‘Am I a dog,’ he roared at David, ‘that you come at me with a stick?’ And he cursed David by the names of his gods” (1 Samuel 17:43 NLT). Goliath was obviously not impressed; unfortunately for him, he became dog meat. When David was pursued by King Saul, we see him, in a self-deprecating way, call himself not just a dog but a dead dog: “‘Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?’” (1 Samuel 24:14 NLT). 

In Matthew 7:6 (NIV), Jesus said: “‘Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.’”

Needless to say, when Paul calls these Judaizers dogs, it is not meant as a compliment. They are not on Paul’s favorite people’s list. Why such strong words? Salvation rests on what Christ has done for us, not on our own human effort. We place no confidence in human effort. To insist that we are saved through any means other than the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is to add human effort to grace. We are saved by grace through faith, and that is not of ourselves; it is a gift of God, so that none of us can boast! We who worship God by His Spirit are those who are actually circumcised because circumcision is no longer something of the flesh but of the Spirit.

That is what Paul wrote to the church in Rome and said: “28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 NIV). 

Even in his letter to the church in Galatians, he admonishes them not to be sidetracked by those who insist on following Jesus and obeying the law. He calls it a bewitching. It sounds good and pious and even noble, but at its root, it is nothing but self-effort to try to gain righteousness. Righteousness that can only be given through the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ alone. Your and my salvation is not dependent on us; it has been brought about by the Holy Spirit applying Christ’s sacrifice to our lives. No one will be in heaven one day because they were good. We will all be there because of the free gift of grace.

“If you want God's grace, all you need is need, all you need is nothing. But that kind of spiritual humility is hard to muster. We come to God saying, ‘Look at all I've done,’ or maybe ‘Look at all I've suffered.’ God, however, wants us to look to him - to just wash.”
– Timothy Keller

What are you relying on? Your own human effort to serve God, or the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to live in the grace of God? If we can only remember that it is not about us, life will become so much less complicated. We complicate life when we put our trust in our own human effort instead of in what Jesus has done for us. No matter how strong your religious upbringing, your religious devotion, or your religious pedigree from your parents or grandparents, none of it can compare to what was done for you rather than what you did for yourself.

Grace frees us from our own expectations as well as from how we expect others to act. Grace is not just forgiveness but also empowerment. When grace invades our lives, human effort loses its appeal. When grace walks in, judgment walks out. We become both recipients and dispensers of God’s grace. Freely we have received, freely we give. Just as we have received God’s grace, we now desire it for others. We don’t trust in our own efforts, nor do we want others to trust in their efforts to receive God’s grace. We simply want them to receive it as we did, free from our gracious and loving Heavenly Father!

“One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as ‘those evil people’ or ‘those poor people who need our help.’ Nor must we search for signs of ‘loveworthiness.’ Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.”
– Phillip Yancey

That should give us great confidence and make us overflow with joy and gratitude. We worship God by the Spirit, and we place no confidence in our accomplishments. Even if they were great, our trust is not in human effort. Our trust is in what Jesus accomplished for us! 

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!” Thank God for His amazing grace.

Prayer:

• Take a moment to praise the Lord for saving you. Praise Him for giving you a future in Him, regardless of your present circumstances. Praise Him right now as loudly as you can!
• Thank the Lord that your confidence is not in what you have done but in what He has done for you through Christ Jesus.
• Pray for your heart to overflow with gratitude, joy, and confidence!
• Pray that you would become a dispenser of God’s grace to others, sharing what God’s grace has done in your life so that others may experience His grace for themselves.

Day 26 – Joy is Serious Business

Philippians 3:1 (NLT) Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

Philippians is known as the Book of Joy. The words "joy" and "rejoicing" appear at least 18 times in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, underscoring the theme of finding joy in Christ despite external circumstances. The theme is clear: there’s joy in knowing, serving, obeying, and suffering for Christ. There’s joy in patterning our lives after Christ. There’s joy in the proclamation of the Good News of Christ!

There’s joy in prison, in persecution, in freedom, in living, in dying, in serving others, and in loving others. There’s joy in relating to others God’s way, through selfless acts of service and unity. There’s joy in preferring others with humility and in having the same mind as Christ Jesus. There’s joy in contentment, in prayer, in thanksgiving, and in generosity. This joy that Paul refers to is not self-manufactured through a grin-and-bear-it mentality. It is not forced, coerced, or based on feelings. Neither is it based solely on the good things in life, perfect circumstances, or even on all our prayers being answered the way we want them to be.

This joy is present in the midst of (to borrow Paul’s words) “whatever happens.” Paul has been exhorting the church in Philippi from the outset of the letter about the challenges he and they face. He made it clear that he is counting on their prayers. Whether he is freed from prison or faces execution, he has joy in being fruitful and an even greater joy in departing and being with Christ. The joy that Paul refers to is not a natural joy, or simply being a positively joyful person who sees the glass half full. It is, in fact, an indestructible joy rooted in the reality of Christ Jesus. It is a joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is a joy found in the very presence of God. It is a characteristic of God’s kingdom, as Paul writes in Romans 14:17 (NIV), “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

This joy is indestructible, unchanging, everlasting, always enduring, never fading, ever present, and it overcomes all circumstances. Paul, when he writes to the church in Corinth, refers to the joy of the churches in Macedonia, including the Philippians, the Bereans, and the Thessalonians: “1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2 NLT). They are being tested by many troubles. They are struggling with poverty. However, they are also filled with abundant joy, and that joy is the cause of rich generosity. 

For the churches in Macedonia, great trouble brings great joy. Great poverty brings great generosity. This joy can be found only in Christ, not in life's circumstances. This joy reflects genuine faith, not a superficial spirituality that is happy or joyful only when all my prayers are answered the way I want and all my circumstances are good and pleasant. Jesus is the only One who can give us this joy because He shows us that, despite the cross, He looked to the joy set before Him.

“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”  
– S. D. Gordon

Paul tells the Philippians that it doesn’t matter what happens; they have Christ’s indestructible and unchanging joy. He urges them to rejoice and doubles down, saying, “I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith” (Philippians 3:1b NLT). Like a parent, he repeats what he deems important. According to Paul, joy is important, so he repeats his message saying he will not grow tired of repeating it to them! He repeats the message as a safeguard for their faith. Joy is not simply a feeling, an experience, or a moment of euphoria in victory. It is a Christ-like attitude in all circumstances, including difficult ones. Joy is the very quality of Christ that demonstrates our trust in Him. Joy safeguards our faith because it is our strength and helps us endure whatever testing we face. Joy is knowing that we will receive the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls. “8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV).

“There is no virtue in the Christian life which is not made radiant with joy; there is no circumstance and no occasion which is not illuminated with joy. A joyless life is not a Christian life, for joy is one constant recipe for Christian living.”
– William Barclay

We must understand that joy is serious business. Joy is our protection, our safeguard, and our reflection of heaven’s quality. It is our portion and power, our victory and deliverance, and our freedom and a declaration that hell has no part in us. Hell is the absence of God’s presence and the void of all joy. As Christ followers, we are ambassadors and citizens of heaven, so we represent heaven’s qualities. As C. S. Lewis said: “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

We can have joy because Jesus has overcome. In John 16, Jesus speaks about what lies ahead of Him and tells the disciples that they will experience great sorrow and grief, but that their sorrow and grief will be turned into wonderful joy. He illustrates this by comparing it to a woman in labor, whose anguish gives way to joy the moment her child is born, because she has brought a new life into the world. 

John 16:22 (NLT) So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

No one can rob us of the joy we have in Christ, because this joy rests fully on the Resurrected Christ. Therefore, because of our new life in Christ, joy is guaranteed as we hold onto what He has done for us. We have joy not because life is always joyful and good, but because our joy is found in Him and through Him. This joy protects us and helps us navigate the challenges of any day.

We are serious about being the most joyful people on the planet. Joy is heaven’s business; it is full in our Heavenly Father’s presence. Don’t be robbed of what belongs to you. Rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say rejoice!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You that I belong to the most joyful kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. Thank You, Jesus, that You endured the cross for the joy set before You, despising the shame, and restored me to the Father. Thank You for the privilege of entering Your presence, where joy is full and complete. I rejoice today despite any circumstances or challenges I might face. 

Jesus, help me adopt the same mindset as the churches in Macedonia. Even amid great trouble, they possessed great joy. Even in great poverty, they practiced great generosity. Let me have the same generous mindset in all things, and above all, walk in your joy. Holy Spirit, let the fruit of joy be evident in my life, especially when it seems I have nothing to be joyful about. 

Help me count it all joy when I am tested and tried by life’s difficulties, and let the genuineness of my faith be reflected in a heart of joy and gratitude. You are my joy and my greatest reward. Today I choose Your joy, Lord, which is my strength and the safeguard of my faith. Thank You, King Jesus, that no one and nothing can rob me of the joy You give! I rejoice in You, my King and my God! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Day 25 – Here’s to the “Nobodies”

Philippians 2:25-30 (NLT) 25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

One of the main reasons for the letter to the Philippians was that Epaphroditus, a man from the church in Philippi, was sent to deliver a gift to Paul while he was in prison in Rome. As you will see, part of this care package was that Epaphroditus would help meet Paul's needs in prison.

There is something very significant about this part of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, something we must not overlook. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Paul presents Christ as the greatest example of humility, sacrifice, and selflessness. He then speaks of his own life, running the race not in vain and being poured out like a ‘libation,’ meaning a “drink offering”, in his service to the Lord. Then he writes about Timothy’s faithful, trustworthy character and service, holding up Jesus as the example everyone who confesses Christ needs to emulate. Paul did, Timothy did, and now we see that Epaphroditus did as well.

Paul the apostle follows in Jesus’ footsteps of sacrifice. Timothy follows in Jesus’ footsteps of unselfish love and care, and Epaphroditus follows in Jesus’ footsteps of faithfulness, even at the risk of his own life. All three of these men exemplify humility, service, and working together to proclaim the good news of Jesus. Paul was a Jew in the truest sense, a Pharisee of Pharisees, who submitted his life to Christ. Timothy, half Jew/half Greek, was willing to do whatever was necessary to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even to the point of being circumcised. Epaphroditus, whose name means "belonging to Aphrodite" (the Greek goddess of love), was willing to risk his own life by taking the gift to Paul in Rome, a trip that would take about seven weeks in good weather and up to three months in bad weather. He stayed in Rome to serve Paul, a hazardous decision given that Paul was a prisoner of great notoriety awaiting a trial that could carry the death penalty, and associating with Paul could mean the same for Epaphroditus. 

All three of these men follow Christ’s example of humility, unity, and working together for the sake of the Good News of Jesus. Their backgrounds, education, upbringing, and culture did not matter; what mattered was Christ Jesus. Paul wants the Philippian church to see what it looks like when people set aside their own agendas and work together in humility, love, and selflessness. However, while Epaphroditus was serving Paul in Rome, he fell deathly ill. Word obviously got back to Philippi, because Epaphroditus was distressed that they had heard he was ill. Paul wanted to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the letter he had written for them, but he didn’t want the Philippians to think Epaphroditus had quit on him, since they had sent him there to serve Paul.

Paul writes an amazing character reference for Epaphroditus, this seemingly “nobody” who was willing to risk it all for the sake of another. “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need” (Philippians 2:25 ESV). Paul calls him a true brother, placing Epaphroditus on the same level as Paul. A fellow worker, he worked to the point of exhaustion and even death. A fellow soldier, he fought side by side with me for the Gospel and faced the same kind of peril. Paul acknowledges that the Philippians sent Epaphroditus and uses the word apostolos to mean “messenger”. Apostolos means sent one, or anyone sent out on an errand. Just as Paul was sent out, this reflects Paul's high regard for him.

Paul says, Epaphroditus is your messenger and servant to my need. The word for servant is leitourgos. It refers to individuals in ancient Greece who loved their cities so much that they would, at their own expense, perform public duties or services. These leitourgoi were the great benefactors of the state, those who ministered relief. Paul, in these few verses, gives an incredibly strong witness to Epaphroditus's character and integrity. He wants to make sure that the church in Philippi knows that Epaphroditus was not a quitter and that Paul held him in extremely high regard.

Philippians 2:29-30 (NLT) 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”

Paul says to give him honor and to welcome him with great joy and the Lord’s love because he risked his life for the sake of the work of Christ. The word “risked” refers to gambling or risking it all on the throw of a dice. Epaphroditus risked his own life for the work of Christ.

Here’s to the nobodies. Everybody wants to be somebody, but in God’s kingdom, more nobodies are somebodies. Epaphroditus was the nobody who truly was somebody. We know about him because Paul tells us. We know of no books he wrote, and there are no statues built in his honor. Yet he was one of those who did what needed to be done, even at his own expense.

Unlike Timothy, he is not well known, and Paul tells the Philippians to give him the honor he deserves. There are many “Epaphroditusses” among us. Those who faithfully serve without fanfare or recognition. Those who tirelessly work in God’s vineyard and kingdom. Those who give when others hold back, and serve when others make excuses. Those who do it without expecting a pat on the back or a plaque on the wall. They do it because they simply love God and love people. They are the ones who understand what truly matters and are willing to risk it all because they know the joy of loving, the joy of giving, and the joy of self-sacrificial service for the benefit of Jesus Christ, their King!

“I believe that many professing Christians are cold and uncomfortable because they are doing nothing for their Lord; but if they actively served him, their blood would begin to circulate spiritually, and it would be well with them.”
– Charles Spurgeon

The Rock Church is full of these kinds of nobodies who truly are somebodies! Thank you for being the nobodies in this house, because one day everybody will know what you nobodies have done behind the scenes and see you for the somebodies you are!

Prayer:

• Pray that the Lord will help you see a need you can meet, then meet it.
• Pray for those who serve faithfully without recognition, and be willing to be one.
• Ask the Lord to give you the kind of heart that would make you a true brother or sister, a co-worker, and a fellow soldier.
• Pray for the Lord to send more people into His field to gather the ripe and ready harvest.
• Pray that The Rock Church will be filled with people willing to use their gifts to grow God’s kingdom and serve others.

Day 24 – “No One Else Like Him”

Philippians 2:19-24 (NLT) 19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

One of life’s greatest blessings is to have people in your life that you can lean on, trust, and rely on; people who are trustworthy in every way. Enter Timothy! Paul, the faithful apostle of the Lord, makes a profound statement about this young man: “I have no one else like Timothy…”

We are introduced to Timothy in Acts 16:1-5 (NIV): “1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”

In these verses, we read some things about Timothy. We don’t know when he was converted, but we see that Paul recognized something in this young man and that he had a good reputation among the believers in both Lystra, his hometown, and the neighboring town of Iconium. His mother, Eunice, was a Jew and a believer, and his father was Greek, though we don’t know whether he was a believer. His grandmother’s name was Lois, and also a believer. “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you” (2 Timothy 1:5 NLT). 

If we read Acts 16:3 casually, we would miss something about Timothy’s character. The fact that he was not circumcised suggests he was educated in Greek customs. Timothy’s submission, trust, and love for others are evident. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Paul had just met him, yet Timothy was willing to submit to Paul’s authority and to be circumcised so they could reach the Jewish community! I can’t even imagine how that conversation went, maybe something like this: Paul: “Shalom, Timothy, do you want to travel with me to preach the Good News?” Timothy: “Χαῖρε (khairē, Hello), Paul, nice to meet you. Yes, I believe I am called. Shall I go pack?” Paul: “Yes, but before you do, there is a small matter we need to address.”

We see in the Book of Acts that Timothy was Paul’s constant traveling companion, and he was with him in prison in Rome (Philippians 1:1). He was associated with Paul in the writing of at least five of his letters. Timothy was so trusted by Paul that Paul could send him to the different churches to bring correction, rebuke, information, advice, and encouragement, even when Paul could not go himself. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV), Paul speaks of Timothy as a son in the Lord: “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” 

In the end, Timothy was also a prisoner for the Lord Jesus: “I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you” (Hebrews 13:23 NIV). 

Writing to the Philippians, we see why Paul could trust Timothy. 

• He was a truth-teller (v19 Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.) 
• He genuinely loved and cared for others (v20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.)
• What mattered to Timothy is what matters to Jesus Christ: the preaching of the Good News (v21-22 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.)
• He was faithful, he proved himself, and he was willing to serve Paul no matter the cost. 

May the Lord give us a heart like that. May we be people who can be trusted with responsibility. People who look out not only for our own interests but also care deeply about others, and are willing to go the extra mile. May we be people others can rely on; people who can be trusted to do what they say they will do. Some people spend more time making excuses than actually doing what is needed. What can be said of you? Will the person to whom you are responsible be able to say this about you: “I have no one else like him or her...”

Do you genuinely care about the welfare of others? Do you care about what matters most to Jesus, or are you preoccupied with your own interests, leaving no time for God’s purpose? Are you willing to prove yourself by faithfully preaching the Good News alongside someone else? Can you be trusted with greater responsibility? How trustworthy are you? Can you be relied on? Do you show up when you say you will? Do you come prepared? Do you do your job well? Do you do it with a joyful attitude? Can you be trusted with small responsibilities that might not advance your own dream, or do you see them only as stepping stones to where you think you are called? Can you be given greater responsibility, or do people always have to wonder whether you will be there and do what needs to be done?

If you care more about yourself than about what matters most to Jesus, you will struggle with faithfulness. But Paul does not merely say Timothy is faithful; he says he is capable because he has proved himself. We want people to validate us, yet some of us are unwilling to do the hard work of being faithful without recognition and validation. Are you willing to serve in God’s vineyard without the praise of others?

How reliable are you? Will the Lord be able to give you greater responsibility because you were faithful over a few things, or have you neglected your responsibility? Are you full of the Holy Spirit? If your answer is yes, I want to remind you that faithfulness is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit! Will there be someone who will be able to truthfully say about you: “I have no one like him. I have no one like her.”

“Our world is obsessed with success. But how does God define success? Success in God's eyes is faithfulness to His calling.”
– Billy Graham

Prayer:

• Ask the Lord to grant you a genuine heart of care for others.
• Pray that the Lord will help you evaluate, with complete honesty and transparency, how faithful you really are, not how faithful you think you are.
• Ask the Lord to give you the strength and courage to change your unfruitful habits as needed.
• Pray that you will always prioritize what matters most to Jesus.

Day 23 – A Firm Grip on the Word of Life

Philippians 2:16-18 (NLT) 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Throughout the New Testament, particularly in Paul's writings, athletic imagery is used to communicate spiritual truth. Paul often refers to activities such as running, wrestling, and boxing to illustrate the spiritual journey. For example, he talks about not wrestling against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12). These metaphors appear dozens of times, with at least 15 direct references to athletics. With this in mind, we can better understand how his audience would have resonated with such comparisons.

Building on this, we know that Jewish life centered around the synagogue. It was a place for prayer, community gatherings, and adult education. Similarly, Greek cities had gymnasia, and they were more than just centers for exercise; they were also venues for discussion. Socrates often used the gymnasium for philosophical conversations, and speakers would find audiences there. Paul was well aware of the many games held throughout the Greek world. Games such as the Pan-Ionian games in Ephesus, the Isthmian games in Corinth (every two years), and the Olympic games in Olympia (every four years). Paul likely attended some of these games, preached the gospel, and won people to Christ.

In light of these cultural connections, when writing to the church in Corinth, Paul paints the picture of spiritual discipline and says this: “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize”
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV).

Paul had observed these games; the athletes practicing and disciplining themselves before the race. He knew about the oaths the athletes took, swearing to follow the rules in training and not to cheat during the race; otherwise, they would be disgraced and disqualified. The runners, as they start their race, press on through the tough parts, with the judge ultimately handing the laurel crown to the winner at the end (there were no 2nd or 3rd place finishes, only one winner). 

This background helps us better understand what Paul communicates to the church in Philippi as he encourages them to live in unity and love toward one another. He tells the Philippians, “Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless” (Philippians 2:16 NLT). Paul uses the athletic term "not running in vain," describing both his own journey as well as the Philippians’. He desires that both he and the Philippian church receive the promised reward at Jesus’ return, which depends on what they hold onto: their own selfish agenda or the life Jesus exemplified. Paul indicates that this is shown by holding firmly to the word of life received through the proclamation of the gospel.

Consider this: What are you holding on to? Where is your focus? What are you trusting in as you run your race? What you hold onto determines whether your race is run with purpose or left unfulfilled. The world offers little certainty, but, as followers of Christ, we are called to grip the Word of Life above all else. That is our sure foundation.

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, they did not have a Bible as we do today. They had his letter and his preaching. Paul’s commitment to sharing the gospel came at great personal cost. He likens his life to a drink offering poured out before God, given for the sake of the Philippians' faith and service. Paul invites them, and us, to share in the joy that comes from faithful sacrifice. Sacrifice and joy belong together when we understand that sacrifice is for a greater purpose: the reward found in Christ.
The willingness to give up something stems from seeing the value of what lies ahead. Practicing spiritual disciplines like fasting and prayer is not about mere duty but about holding on to the Word of Life. It is this focus that propels us through sacrifice toward God’s promise. Even simple acts, like reading this devotional, praying, or studying Philippians, are sacrifices, though small compared to those made by Paul and others, so we can have the Word today.

“It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a person in an armchair and taking them easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory.”
– J. C. Ryle.

It is easy to forget how many gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. Yet we sometimes struggle to make the small sacrifice of reading and studying the Word daily. Even today, people are persecuted for possessing, sharing, or preaching the Word. As our culture shifts, let us resolve to hold firmly to the Word of Life, not with legalism or judgment, but with joy and grace.

How strong is your hold on the Word of Life? Remember, your grip on God’s Word determines whether your spiritual race is purposeful and victorious.

Prayer:
•   Ask the Lord to give you a continued hunger for His Word.
•   Thank the Lord for all those who have paid a price so that we can have a Bible in our hands.
•   Pray for open doors in countries where the Word of God is being limited, and our fellow believers are being persecuted, prosecuted, and jailed for preaching the Word.
•   Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to empower you and show you what sacrifice is necessary for you to run your race effectively. Then ask for the grace to obey.

Day 22 – No Whining Allowed

Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT) 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Paul, through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of what was happening to the Philippian church, begins to hone in on what it looks like when they work with the Holy Spirit to realize the reality of a Christ community.

First of all, it is hard work. Spiritual growth, both personally and relationally with others, is not for the faint of heart. However, this is not a self-effort without the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is working in us to work with us, so that He can work through us. How can we, just like the Philippians, know that it is not just self-effort, but a true work of the Spirit?

Paul gives several indicators of what that looks like. There’s effective action. We’ve all heard the old saying, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” It means that if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well, and that a well-thought-out process, aka a plan, is essential. Many of us plan our vacations better than our spiritual lives and growth. Do you have a spiritual growth plan? Is it written down somewhere? We work harder on things that won’t matter in the future rather than on what will last forever. We fail to grasp that we must be deliberate in engaging in God’s process for growth. Growth is not automatic. Only weeds grow automatically, but crops that have value need to be planted. What are you planting for a spiritual harvest?

Those who are willing to work on their spiritual growth have a healthy respect and fear of the Lord. They also understand that they don’t work alone and that God does not ask us to do anything He does not empower us to do. The reason some of us don’t grow spiritually is that we have developed an appetite for the things that hinder us rather than help us. Here’s what is so powerful. If we work with God, He will give us the desire and power to do what pleases Him. You don’t have to stress it! You don’t have to sweat it! You just have to pray, plan, pursue, and persist in it.

Another great proof that you are working with the Lord is the absence of a spirit of arguing and complaining. Complaining shows that we are ungrateful. Arguing shows that we are prideful. This word complaining or grumbling is very interesting; it has a special connection to the grumblings of the Israelites in the wilderness (e.g., Exodus 15:24, 16:2, Numbers 16:41). It is the same word Paul uses talking about the Israelites in 1 Corinthians 10:10 (NLT): “And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.” We know that didn’t turn out well for them, and Paul uses them as a negative example of what not to do. The Holy Spirit’s work in us produces joy, not grumbling, griping, and complaining towards one another.

It’s easy to dismiss our complaining, murmuring, and ill-disputes as simply something that everyone does. That, however, doesn’t justify it or even sanctify it. God’s people don’t whine and complain, criticize and argue, nitpick and express their doubts about everything. There is a peace, a sense of serenity and trust, when we lean on the Lord to work in us and through us.

“We have received too much from God to allow ourselves opportunities for unbelief. We have received too many gifts and privileges to allow a grumbling, murmuring heart to disqualify us of our destiny. In contrast, the thankful heart sees the best part of every situation. It sees problems and weaknesses as opportunities, struggles as refining tools, and sinners as saints in progress.”
– Francis Frangipane

Paul continues to reveal what it looks like to work with the Holy Spirit. We grow in innocence and delight in the process because we want to do what pleases our Heavenly Father! We shine in a crooked and perverse world, marked by God-given innocence. We are not innocent because we haven’t done anything wrong, we are innocent because Christ has made the guilty innocent.

Philippians 2:15 (NIV) So that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

As we work out our salvation, there is an innocence and purity that mark our inner lives and outward actions, which are evident to those who do not live for Christ. We reflect this purity and innocence not of ourselves but because we are children of God!

Why is our growth so important? Because it shows people that there is a God who loves them and gives a better way to live. Instead of being crooked and perverse, we can live wholesome and pure. When will you start taking your spiritual growth seriously enough to change the way you plan your life? If not now, then when?

Prayer:

• Ask the Lord to remove any murmuring and complaining from your heart. 
• Pray: “Lord, forgive me when I grumble and complain about life circumstances and when I argue and murmur against others. Help me to cultivate a heart of gratitude and put a guard before my mouth. Let me reflect before I speak, discern before I complain, and humble myself before I utter words in a prideful manner. Holy Spirit, continue to equip me for every fruitful work, and let my life reflect Your work in me. Help me shine through acts of kindness, purity, integrity, and truth, so that You, Father, may be glorified in me and through me. I commit myself to work out my salvation with a heart fully devoted to Your purpose for my fellow brothers and sisters and for me. Help me to stay in community by working together with others to build Your kingdom. Jesus, I am fully Yours. Change in me what needs to change and let my heart always be filled with gratitude and my mouth with Your praise! I give You all the glory and honor due Your Name. Thank You for loving me and forming Jesus in me. Amen.”

Day 21 – Obedience That Is Reflected in Community

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT) 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Paul, as a spiritual father to the Philippians, reminds them of their obedience to the Lord's instructions, especially when he was with them in Philippi. This theme of obedience appears in several of Paul’s letters. He wrote to the church in Thessalonica: “3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 (NIV)

The same is true in his letter to the church in Rome: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” Romans 16:19 (NIV). He similarly encourages Philemon in Philemon 1:21 (NIV): “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”

Paul doesn’t want their obedience to be something that happens only when he is present. He wants them to truly demonstrate what Christ has done in their lives as they live out their obedience to Him, and even more so in Paul’s absence. He might not be with them, but Jesus is. This shows the results of being a true follower of Jesus. He just gave them the greatest example of humility when he wrote the “Hymn of Christ,” and we need to see the obedience he calls for in this context. It remains within the context of unity and wholehearted agreement in Christ’s love for one another. The NIV translation renders Philippians 2:12-13 as follows: “12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

The application is twofold. First, we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us because God is already at work in us, and the evidence is a church united in purpose. Second, we work out our salvation through personal commitment. However, we cannot separate our spiritual growth from growing together in the unity of the community. All our personal growth must be reflected in how we embrace, connect with, and work for the good of others within the Body of Christ. We have somehow misplaced the energy and effort required to be united in Christ, prioritizing what is good for me and my spiritual growth over the good of the spiritual community.

Our personal growth is essential, and we need to be committed to growing in Christ with fear and trembling. But we also need to ask whether we are committed to a local family of believers. Fear and trembling are not cringing or cowardice, but an acknowledgment that we cannot make any spiritual progress without the Holy Spirit’s direct work in our lives. We cannot grow without God working in us. Paul reminds us, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). Why trembling? Again, not a fear that makes us want to run, but the opposite. Because we want to please God, we want to make sure that nothing we do displeases Him. The Lord is pleased when His kids not only get along but also have a deep sense of love and honor for one another.

You cannot practice love without a community to love. Learning to love and practice grace absolutely starts with your own natural family, but that is the beginning of our learning, not the end. You are part of a much bigger spiritual body, and the way you relate to the Body of Christ reflects how well you truly understand Jesus as our example of humility and grace. How hard are you willing to work for the Christ community you are placed in? 

We know we are saved by grace and kept by grace. Thank God for His grace! We are also called to display the grace we have received. We do not work to receive grace; that wouldn’t be grace. We do, however, have to work hard to show that we have experienced God’s grace. James encourages all believers to have a faith that is evident in our actions. 

James 2:14-17 (NLT) 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” 
– A.W. Tozer

How much effort do you put into living out your faith by looking to Jesus as your example within the community God has called you to?


Prayer:

• Begin by thanking the Lord that He is working in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask the Lord to help you continually look to Jesus as your example for how to function within the community He has called you to.
• Pray so that your life will draw others to Christ and that you will be an instrument to demonstrate His love to others.
• Pray for the knowledge to plan for growth, the wisdom to pursue it, and the strength to finish it.

Day 20 – The Exaltation of Christ

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As we focus on the Book of Philippians, we see that Paul’s emphasis is on the joy of the Lord. The first chapter focuses on the joy of living and even dying for Christ. Whether living or dying, our victory is secured. Therefore, joy should be the constant attitude. We have joy because we are living for Christ Jesus. Paul then shifts the attention from the joy of living and even dying for Jesus to the joy of having Jesus as our model for humility so that we can serve one another in humility and love.

The Hymn of Christ shows both Christ’s humility and His exaltation. Paul, in writing to the Philippians, uses the highest possible model, namely Jesus. Because Jesus humbled Himself, the Father exalted Him once and for all to the highest place of honor! Jesus is forever exalted. In essence, when we worship Christ, we are not exalting Him, we are acknowledging that He is forever the exalted Christ. Christ is exalted through His resurrection, ascension, and glorification!

“20-21 That power is the same divine power which was demonstrated in Christ when he raised him from the dead and gave him the place of supreme honour in Heaven—a place that is infinitely superior to any conceivable command, authority, power or control, and which carries with it a name far beyond any name that could ever be used in this world or the world to come. 22-23 God has placed everything under the power of Christ and has set him up as head of everything for the Church. for the Church is his body, and in that body lives fully the one who fills the whole wide universe.” Ephesians 1:20-23 (PHILLIPS)

He was given the Name above every name. This is not merely an inference about a specific title Jesus received; it signifies His complete and ultimate authority over all creation, both now in this world and in the world to come. Jesus is forever exalted over all things for all time. Therefore, there is only one correct response to the mention of His Name. That is to bow the knee and confess that He is Lord of all! Jesus is Lord! The word “lord” is kurios in Greek. This word began as a term meaning "master" or "owner," and in ordinary conversation it served as a sign of respect, like "sir." It also became the official title of the Roman emperors, thereby calling Caesar “Lord”. When Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, into Greek, they substituted the Hebrew word Adonai (Lord) for YHWH. When translated into Greek, Adonai became kurios. Paul is ascribing the highest title possible to Jesus. Jesus is supreme over all, and there is none above Him. He is Master and Owner of the whole wide universe. He is God!

Christ Jesus is, and will forever be, the greatest example and model of humility. Our knees bow, and our tongues confess, because we recognize that Christ Jesus is Lord of all, including every single one of us. So why would we exalt ourselves over others rather than humble ourselves? Why not serve Christ together in unity with a Christ-like attitude of humility and leave the exaltation to God alone? Jesus said: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 (ESV)

“One of the worst things sin did for man was to make him selfish, for selfishness cannot love.” 
– Andy Murray

Humility helps us see others and ourselves as we should. Paul gives us the greatest picture of humility, not only to look at and marvel, but also to follow as an example. Jesus is the reason we love, serve, give, prefer, bless, honor, and work together in harmony. Jesus is the reason we get along, because Jesus in me gets along with Jesus in you. Christ is not divided, neither should we be.

We must all wear the garments of humility. To wear something is to choose to put it on. So what will you be wearing? The garment of selfishness and self-interest? The garment of pride and boasting? The garment of selfish ambition and bitter jealousy? Or will you be clothing yourself with the apron of humility and service, just as Jesus did?

1 Peter 5:5 (GNT) In the same way, you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

“The victorious Christian neither exalts nor downgrades himself. His interests have shifted from self to Christ.” 
– A.W. Tozer

Prayer:
Pray the Prayer that Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV):

• “9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Day 19 – The Humility of Christ

Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

Philippians 2:5-11 is known as the Hymn of Christ. Scholars tell us that these verses contain an actual hymn that the early church sang. In this chapter, Paul issues a strong call to unity. Paul’s desire for the church to be united in love and purpose is rooted in the Lord’s desire to see His church united and full of love. This unity of love and purpose can only be brought about by an attitude of humility and self-sacrifice. So, through the Holy Spirit's wisdom, Paul uses the greatest model of humility and sacrifice ever known: Christ. But to practice Christ’s humility, we must have Christ’s mind or attitude.

The doctrine of the deity of Christ Jesus has been attacked more than any other because Jesus's divinity is essential to our Christian faith, a fact that holds true throughout history and even to this day. If you can undermine Jesus to simply a good moral teacher or a prophet, Christ and His followers become powerless. The fact that Jesus is God and has always been is the reason we have faith, not just for today, but all our hopes are placed on our resurrected King. 

That’s why John wrote in John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (ESV). 

God becoming man, deity taking on human flesh, is the greatest act of humility. Jesus willingly gave up His divine privileges, not His divine person, and took the form of a slave, being born as a human being. In obedience, Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, not merely dying but dying a criminal’s death on the cross. Paul upholds Christ as the greatest example of humility, the model for us, so that we can clearly see what true humility looks like!

In his book The Crises of the Christ, G. Campbell Morgan wrote: "He was the God-Man. Not God indwelling man. Of such there has been many. Not a man deified. Of such there has been none save in the myths of pagan systems of thought; but God and man, combining in one personality the two natures, a perpetual enigma and mystery, baffling the possibility of explanation." 

This passage from the Christ Hymn so powerfully describes the sacrifice Jesus made. He did not cling to His position. He gave up His privileges. He humbled Himself, took the lowest position—that of a servant—and was obedient, even though He knew it would cost Him His life. He was willing to die a criminal's death so that criminals could be welcomed into God's Kingdom. Now, how does your attitude compare to Jesus' attitude?

Needless to say, when we have the mind and attitude of Christ among us, how can we not build healthy, vibrant, Christ-honoring relationships? Relationships that build unity, resist division, prefer others, and show tender, compassionate love. We cannot claim maturity in Christ or even the wisdom of Christ if we continually bite and devour one another (metaphorically speaking). That’s why James admonishes us in James 3:13: “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom” (NLT).  

Wise people are humble, and humble people take their example from Christ. The opposite is also true. When we remain arrogant and are full of selfish ambition, we take our example from the demonic. “14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:14-16 NLT). 

This rivalry, jealousy, and selfishness are hidden beneath a lie that takes the form of boasting. You ask how? We flatter and compliment, not from a sincere heart of truth but from a jealous heart of envy. The lie covers the reality. The lie is like the duvet cover on a bed; unfortunately, underneath is nothing but sheets of selfishness and jealousy, laid over a mattress manufactured from that which is earthly, unspiritual, and even demonic. A triple threat of dysfunction that smothers our ability to have life-giving and Christ-honoring relationships. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1 NLT).

Jesus has become our wisdom. He does not merely give us wisdom; He is our wisdom. That is the very reason Paul paints this striking picture of Christ’s humility for the Philippians and for us. We emulate Christ Jesus, who gives us the wisdom we need to live in humility, the essence of being a follower of Jesus. How can we be so arrogant when our Jesus is the very picture of humility? How can we claim to have His wisdom when nothing but selfishness broods within us?

As Symeon the New Theologian remarked: “A person who suffers bitterly when slighted or insulted should recognize from this that he still harbors the ancient serpent in his breast. If he quietly endures the insult or responds with great humility, he weakens the serpent and lessens its hold. But if he replies acrimoniously or brazenly, he gives it strength to pour its venom into his heart and to feed mercilessly on his guts. In this way the serpent becomes increasingly powerful; it destroys his soul's strength and his attempts to set himself right, compelling him to live for sin and to be completely dead to righteousness.”

Do you cling to your position or even your opinion? Are you willing to let go of what you believe you deserve, or do you demand your rights? Are you willing to take the lowest position, or are you quick to say, “That’s not my job”? Are you willing to lay down your life for another, even if they are not worthy in your estimation?  “17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17-18 NLT).

Jesus is our example; let’s follow Him completely. Let’s stop fighting for our rights and privileges and instead humble ourselves, adopting the same attitude as Jesus. The people around us will be grateful we did, and peace, gentleness, and joy will mark our fellowship with others.

Pray this prayer today:

“Jesus, we come today and humble ourselves before You. We ask that You would enable us to clothe ourselves in humility. Just like You humbled Yourself and stripped Yourself. We pray through the power of the Holy Spirit that we would walk in the humility of Christ Jesus.

Remove any arrogance and self-reliance, replacing them with complete dependence on You. Deliver us from the need to look good or be lifted up in pride. Deliver us from selfish ambition and jealousies that dwell in the recesses of our hearts. Help us not to cover them with lies and deceit, but let the light of Your Word and Your life expel lies and darkness.

In our relationships, let there be no division among us. In lowliness of mind, help us esteem others and prefer them before ourselves. Help us not to be trapped in the spirit of this world, and deliver us from a “me first” mentality. Let the mind of Christ be in us, work through us, and be among us. Let us see others the way You see them, and not prefer one above another. Help us to enjoy the uniqueness of each person You created, and honor them with our actions, not just our words.

Deliver us from fear of losing out or of needing to be consulted. Deliver us from a heart easily offended by any injustice, whether small or great, whether real or perceived. Remind us that we have great peace when we love Your Word and that nothing shall offend us. Remind us that we died to self in Christ and that our true life is hidden in You. You are our example of humility, grace, and forgiveness. Help us live in the power of that grace. Whether rebuked, neglected, forgotten, overlooked, or underappreciated, remind us that You, Jesus, are our reward.
 
Help us love more, give more, serve more, and, above all, be like You, Christ Jesus. Let Your wisdom be our portion and Your Humility our clothing as we enter this day, not knowing what or whom we will encounter. Make us instruments of Your peace and help us sow seeds of peace so that we may reap a harvest of righteousness. We pray this in the Name above all names, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.”

Day 18 – A Christ-Like Attitude

Philippians 2:5 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Philippians 2:5 (MEV) Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:5 (NCV) In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 (HCSB) Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:5 (NIV) In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5 (ESV) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

The passion with which Paul wrote to the Philippians has been abundantly clear. Paul loves them, and they love him. Just as a father and a mother desire that their children grow into loving, grounded adults with a mature outlook on life, so he desires this for the Philippian church. He wants them to be grounded in the truth of the Good News of Christ and to grow into the very image of Jesus. He wants them to have a united heart and action toward the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus. Knowing that they will face opposition, he wants them to overflow with God’s love and be united in purpose.

The work of the Holy Spirit makes this possible, as reflected in humble, self-sacrificing care and love for one another. But they have to embrace the same attitude as Jesus, meaning that in relating to one another God’s way, they have to have Christ’s mind or attitude among themselves. Without thinking Christ’s way, it is not possible to walk and live His way.

We might think that an idea is harmless or even unnecessary to discern how and what we think. But ideas that become set in our minds will soon become our daily lifestyle and practice.

“When [Satan] undertook to draw Eve away from God, he did not hit her with a stick, but with an idea. It was with an idea that God could not be trusted and that she must act on her own to secure her own well-being.” – Dallas Willard

An “attitude” is a little thing that makes a big difference. How is yours? Have you ever considered how your world would be if everyone in your sphere of influence shared your attitude? I am not talking about a fleeting, momentary attitude; I am talking about the prevailing attitude in your life! If everyone portrayed, displayed, and practiced your attitude, would it be a thriving or a shrinking environment? Would it be encouraging or conflicting? Would it be selfish or selfless? Would it be a joyful or a sour environment?

That is the very reason Paul says, “Have a Christ-like attitude…” Having the mind of Christ amongst us will revolutionize our relationships. This Christ-like attitude will produce such love, peace, and joy amongst us that we would experience a little bit of heaven on earth. Imagine selfless people, full of love and grace, who have nothing to prove, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide. Not living to impress anyone, but in humility, esteeming others better than themselves. Honoring, preferring, regarding, loving others, and working together for Kingdom purposes. Having an overflowing love for Jesus and for others, where the second mile is just normal Christ-like behavior. Not jockeying for position or trying to get ahead, but looking out for other people’s interests. 

Jesus’ attitude turns this from an “it would be nice” to an "it is very possible” when we allow His attitude to shape our actions and attitudes. Will you choose your prevailing attitude, or allow Christ’s attitude to have the run of your house?

The truth about our attitudes is that we choose them. The attitude you have in this very moment, even as you read this devotional, is 100% your choice. Here is my definition of an attitude: “It is a self-constructed response that controls your behavior and feelings towards a person, a place, a circumstance, or thing.” Simply put, your persistent thoughts create persistent feelings, which result in your persistent attitude! Positive thoughts toward others create positive feelings toward them and lead to positive behavior. The opposite is also true if we are negative towards others. Joyful living is within our grasp because no one is more joyful than Jesus.

Ask the Holy Spirit to permanently destroy your idea of God as a mean, angry, vengeful Creator, just waiting to bear down on you when you slip up. Sin does bear consequences and penalties, but that is sin's fruit. Sin carries its own judgment and condemnation. But in Christ, there is no more condemnation when we live by the Spirit and not the flesh. The joy of Jesus is present in abundance when the mind of Christ prevails in our lives.

Now here is where we separate the pretenders from the contenders: “You must have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.” Not you ought to have, you must have! Must is an imperative necessity! You’ve got to have Jesus’ attitude. How is your attitude compared to Jesus’ attitude?

Are you willing to admit that the first environment you need to change is in your own mind? Will you start today?

“Thoughts are the place where we can and must begin to change. There the light of God first begins to move upon us through the word of Christ, and there the divine Spirit begins to direct our will to God and his way.” – Dallas Willard

Prayer:

• Ask the Lord to examine your thoughts. Begin by reflecting on your prevailing thoughts, and if they tend to be negative, change them.
• Pray that the Lord will help you keep short accounts and ask for forgiveness for any wrong attitude you have held.
• Pray against a selfish mindset and ask for a heart of humility. (Warning: you will be placed in situations where your humility will be tested. Pass the test!)
• Ask the Holy Spirit to quicken God’s Word to you when you feel your attitude slipping. Make a decision to allow Christ’s attitude to be the prevailing attitude of your life.

Day 17 – The Picture of Love

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Like a painter on a canvas, Paul begins to paint a picture for the Philippian church of what this love looks like and what it does not. He gives them three don’ts. One, don’t be selfish. Two, don’t try to impress others. Three, don’t look out only for your own interests. Just like the Philippians, we would do well to heed Paul’s words, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul obviously heard about divisions in the Philippian church, and later, he will address a specific one between two individuals.

He also gives them three positive attitudes to embrace. An attitude of humility, an attitude of altruism, and the same attitude as Jesus. These are not for the faint of heart. This is where maturity is developed and the second mile is practiced, where love is self-sacrificial, not self-serving. Where me, mine, and I are replaced with us, we, and others. Where appearance and platitudes don’t supersede reality and empathy. Where high-mindedness about my own importance is replaced by acts of humility that serve others. This is a picture of real love. Love that comes at a cost of self and a high regard for others.

We all know that relationships can be the greatest joy in our lives or the greatest challenge. When it comes to relating to others, some do it well, while others struggle. How are you doing at relating to others? Some folks are indeed difficult to relate to, but that should never give us an excuse to dismiss them completely. We all need strength to relate to people. Our challenge is that we sometimes look to people to meet a need only God can meet. So we get frustrated with people and begin to point our fingers outward. We say things like, “If they could just do this or that,” “They just don’t get it,” or, “Why could they not be more...” You fill in the blanks. Here is a truth we all need to hold onto: You cannot control how others relate to you, but you can completely control how you relate to others!

The day we take full responsibility for how we relate is the day we take a step toward maturity. If you find your encouragement, comfort, and fellowship in Christ Jesus, you will have a tender, compassionate heart toward others! Paul, writing to the church in Rome, clarifies what this maturity looks like, and Eugene Peterson, in the Message Paraphrase of Romans 15, states it with perfect clarity:

“1-2Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” 3-6 That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!” (Romans 15:1-6 MSG).

Then what follows? Agreement, working together (Holy synergy), loving one another, and fulfilling God’s purpose! That’s what we would call a healthy relationship. What kind of people produce such relationships? Unselfish, secure, humble, willing to yield, and looking out for the interests of others! Not self-absorbed, me-first, what-about-me kind of people. We need to find our encouragement, strength, and fellowship in and through the Holy Spirit, and humble ourselves to have thriving, life-giving relationships.

Remember, others may hold on to their selfish way of relating, but that does not excuse you, as a Christ follower, from doing the same. Are you willing to relate God’s way?

Prayer:

• Ask the Lord to change you before asking Him to change others.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you the areas where you are expecting others to meet a need that only God can meet. Write them down for reflection, inspection, and repentance.
• Pray for a heart of tender compassion and for the strength and willingness to put others first.
• Pray for the people you find most difficult to relate to, and ask the Lord to bless them!
• Pray Paul’s prayer in Romans 15: “May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in me so that I get along with others as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!” (The Message). Thank You, Jesus, for making me part of Your body, bringing You glory as we serve You and one another in love…

Day 16 – Equipped to Love

Philippians 2:1-2 (NLT) 1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Paul shifts his attention from the Philippians’ relationship with Christ Jesus, trusting in Him and suffering for Him, to their relationships with one another. The first part of the letter focuses on their life in Christ. Paul now shifts their focus to look at Jesus as their example for relating to one another. The NIV renders the first two verses as follows: “1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV).

Everything Paul has admonished them to do up to this point results in practically living out their faith. Christ’s love, when lived out, means loving and treating one another as they see Christ has treated them. Paul is not simply saying to them: “Hey, Philippians, get along.” He appeals to the distinct reality of what it means to be a Christlike person. He lays out five pertinent truths for the Philippian church and, by extension, for us as we follow Christ.

Every believer belongs to Christ and is united with Him. We are all comforted by the reality of His love for us. Our comfort comes from His love. The fellowship we enjoy with one another and with our Heavenly Father is brought about by the Holy Spirit. We share the same Holy Spirit, meaning the same Spirit dwells in all believers. Tender hearts toward others and hearts filled with compassion for others are a direct result of God’s work in our lives. These five realities are the very reason we should be able to work together, love one another, and even be in wholehearted agreement.

If I belong to Christ and you belong to Christ, there is no reason we should not be united, because Christ is not divided. Let me say it more simply: “Jesus gets along with Jesus.” So, if we both belong to Jesus, why are we so divided? As followers of Jesus, we all find our comfort and security in God’s love. God loves all of us in the same unconditional way. So why can’t His love enable us to love one another? We are born again through the power of the same Holy Spirit and that same Spirit empowers us to become like Jesus. So why can’t we lean on the Holy Spirit to help us love one another God’s way? It is the Holy Spirit’s work in us that makes our hearts tender and compassionate. Why would we show compassion only to some and not to others? 

You see, no matter how you cut it, it all ends up in the same place. Jesus is not divided, and we should not be divided either. Just as Paul encouraged the Philippians, he did so for many of the churches he wrote to. For instance, he wrote to the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose”
(1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT).

He says it even more emphatically in verse 13: “Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!”
(1 Corinthians 1:13 NLT).

Jesus matters! If Jesus matters to you and to me, then Jesus becomes the Person around whom we build our unity. Unity can only be built on the truth of Christ; anything else is nothing but human attempts to reconstruct Babel. Man-made unity is feeble against the onslaught of a divisive world. Is it possible for the church to be one? Yes, it is! Because Jesus prayed for it and modeled it for us to see, and because the Holy Spirit enables it, all because we are rooted in Christ’s love. True joy awaits those who are willing to put their own agendas aside and become part of something bigger than themselves. Working together, with one mind and purpose, loving one another as Jesus loves us. “34 And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. 35 Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35 TLB).

With Christ’s love as our comfort, the Holy Spirit as our Equipper, and tender hearts full of compassion for one another, the world will take notice that we belong to Christ. We are fully equipped to love God’s way. Are we willing to yield to God’s love so that our joy would be full?

“Even when I feared and detested Christianity, I was struck by its essential unity, which, in spite of its divisions, it has never lost. I trembled on recognizing the same unmistakable aroma coming from the writings of Dante and Bunyan, Thomas Aquinas and William Law.” - C. S. Lewis

Prayer:

• Pray Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT):

(Adapted from Ephesians 3:14-19)
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. I pray that You, Lord Jesus, will make Your home in our hearts as we trust in You. Let our roots grow down into God’s love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You, Father God.” In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.