Tag Archives: Philippians

A Trilogy from Paul, October 12, 2020

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

From the Philippians’ lectionary readings yesterday, three things jumped out at me that I wanted to share with you today. First, let me read the passage from Paul’s letter, then we will discuss each of them in reverse in the message and why I think we must address them as individuals and as the church, the body of Christ, today.

4 Always be glad for what the Lord has done, I will say it again, be glad.

5 Let everyone know that you think kindly of others before yourselves. The Lord is near.

6 Do not worry about anything. Talk to God about everything. Thank him for what you have. Ask him for what you need.

7 Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus.

8 Here, my brothers, are some things I want you to think about. Think about things that are true, honest, right, clean and pure, things that are lovely, and things that are good to talk about. If they are good, and if they bring praise to God, think about these things.

9 I taught you, and you learned things from me. You heard the things I said, and you saw the things I did. Do these same things yourselves. Then God who gives peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9 WE)

The topic that I’ll mention first comes from Paul’s last bold statement. Pattern your life after mine, and God will give you the peace he gives me. How many of us tell those coming behind us those words today? Too often, what we hear is my private life is private. Don’t peek into the closet; it’s none of your business what I do behind closed doors. You only need to know what I do in my business, my public life, that’s why you pay me.

Not Paul. He says, follow me around, watch me every moment of every day and do what I do. Use me as an example of holy living. Let me show you what it means to follow Jesus and his teachings. If you do the things I do, you will be okay when you stand before Him at the judgment.

We might call that overconfident. We might call Paul conceited. We might think him arrogant. Paul lived none of those characteristics. He just knew that if he followed Christ in all his practices, public and private, others could follow him and find their way to Jesus the same way he did. And when Paul discovered him, Jesus turned his world upside down, or should I say, he finally turned Paul’s world right-side up. That’s what Jesus came to do, after all, to make all things right again.

So, the first point in Paul’s words yesterday, can I say like Paul, follow in my footsteps, and you will be following Jesus? Am I walking so much in the light of God’s word and by the guidance of his spirit, that I can honestly make that statement to others? If not, why not, and what am I going to do about it?

Second is Paul’s admonition to watch with what we fill our cranial space. God created magnificent computer storage spaces when he created our brains. They operate in ways science and medicine still haven’t figured out. Somehow, memories get stored in the electrical impulses that happened between the cells in our brain, but how and what mechanism recall the right bit of those chemical and electrical impulses to bring back those memories decades later? We still have no clue.

What we have learned, though, is that everything that goes into the brain is there. Unless some injury or illness destroys some part of the brain, memories find their way in and remain. I might not be able to call them up at a moments’ notice, but they reside somewhere in that mass of tissue, and the right stimulus can bring them to the surface. So Paul says, if that’s true, just like a compute, our brains work on the principle of garbage in, garbage out. If you fill your mind with smut, violence, evil, things contradictory to God’s goodness, that’s what spills out. When you fill your mind with good things, that’s what comes out.

What does that mean for us practically? The older I get, the more I understand Paul’s words. Think about things that are true, honest, right, clean and pure, things that are lovely, and things that are good to talk about. If they are good, and if they bring praise to God, think about these things. I must admit, I’ve quit watching the news almost entirely. When is the last time you heard any news outlet talk about anything with these qualities? It’s been a long time. Bad news sells. In our broken state, we want to hear the dirt, the lies, the filth, the ugly. We want to know the worst of society to feel just a little better about ourselves in our minds.

Filling our mind with the worst of society doesn’t let God shine his light on the things in us he wants to change, though. Thinking on the goodness of creation, the goodness of humanity made in God’s image, the goodness of God’s love and mercy, the beauty of the things around us, pulls us out of the world and, for those moments, lets us get just a little closer to the joining of heaven and earth – God walking in the garden with us.

Yesterday’s scripture reminds us to keep our minds on things that focus on the best of this world. Paul tells us:

Think about things that are true, honest, right, clean and pure, things that are lovely, and things that are good to talk about. If they are good, and if they bring praise to God, think about these things.

Finally, the last thing I wanted to share with you from yesterday’s reading is just a four-word sentence from verse 5. “The Lord is near.” What makes that so important, and why did I want to share it with you today.

Allowing me to read more resulted in a pandemic’s positive effect as it seems the second wave begins to hit many areas of the world. As I’ve read much larger chunks of the Old and New Testaments at one sitting, often several books at a time, I’ve begun to notice things I never saw before.

I knew Jesus is the Messiah prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Still, I never saw how Jesus became the embodiment of the Israelites exile once again so he could go through it and overcome it. Abraham was exiled in a sense from Ur but failed to bless the nations. God rescued the fledgling tribe through Joseph, but they failed to show God to the Egyptians how they saw Yahweh as the only God of the heavens. God rescued the Israelites through Moses, but they turned back to their idolatry in the land he gave them. Now, after returning from Babylon, still scattered around the world, the Temple rebuilt, Jesus comes to rescue the Israelites and show them what God wants of his chosen people as lights of the world to bring the nations to him. The Pharisees and Sadducees work together to plot to kill him. Use trumped-up charges, break their laws to entice Pilate to execute Jesus for doing good on the Sabbath, and rid Jerusalem of another revolutionary leader – they thought.

Jesus’ resurrection brought heaven and earth together. Throughout his ministry, his message was clear. Repent, heaven is near. Some will think me crazy, I’m sure. Some will not want to hear the Lord is near. But as we discover the probability of multiple dimensions, I believe that’s where heaven might be. I think heaven is here, just out of sight. Jesus’ resurrected body could pass from one side to the other. Perhaps he could multiply the bread and fish by reaching from one side to the other. Maybe angels can do God’s bidding by passing from one side to the other.

We don’t understand what physical properties other dimensions might hold because we’ve never seen them or been there. Scientists only assume their probability through mathematical formulas. But suppose it is true and the Lord is just beside you and in this other dimension can be just beside any of us in the blink of an eye where time and space don’t operate the way it does in our dimension. What if Jesus, the son of God, who conquered death and showed his disciples his new resurrected body that comes and goes behind locked doors is right here, now, just waiting for God to say, “Open the curtain.”

It means in the blink of an eye; all could change. The new heaven and new earth could appear without notice, and suddenly we would be face to face with our Lord as a new dimension, a new earth, a new heaven, a new creation unfolds around us. “Heaven is near,” Jesus said. “The kingdom is at hand,” he proclaimed. Paul tells us, “The Lord is near.” Perhaps he’s even here. How does that change what you do and how you act today.

There they are: The Lord is near. Think about good things. Follow in my footsteps to follow in his. Three messages that will shake us and awaken us as we contemplate the days in which we live.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible-based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

Scriptures marked WE are taken from THE JESUS BOOK – The Bible in Worldwide English (WE). Scriptures are taken from THE JESUS BOOK – The Bible in Worldwide English, Copyright © 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications, Derby, DE65 6BN, UK. Used by permission.

How much do you want to know Jesus? (Philippians 3:7-11), July 2, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
How much do you want to know Jesus? Enough to give up everything to find Him?
Scripture
1. Philippians 3:7-11
2. But whatever I used to count as my greatest accomplishments, I’ve written them off as a loss because of the Anointed One. And more so, I now realize that all I gained and thought was important was nothing but yesterday’s garbage compared to knowing the Anointed Jesus my Lord. For Him I have thrown everything aside—it’s nothing but a pile of waste—so that I may gain Him. When it counts, I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness based on law, but actively relying on the faithfulness of the Anointed One. This is true righteousness, supplied by God, acquired by faith. I want to know Him inside and out. I want to experience the power of His resurrection and join in His suffering, shaped by His death, so that I may arrive safely at the resurrection from the dead.
Devotional
1. Some people want to be anonymous, but I’m not sure there are few who want absolutely nothing left behind. We all would like to have someone remember at least something we have done. We don’t want to go off into obscurity never leaving any mark at all on the world.
2. Paul recognizes the best mark we can leave, though.
  1. Whatever we accomplish write off as a loss.
  2. All gain and all accomplishments are like garbage compared to knowing Jesus
  3. Throw everything aside to know Him
  4. How much do you want to know Him?
  5. Is He worth everything to you?
  6. Are you willing to give up everything for Him?
3. It’s when we want to know Jesus the way Paul wanted to know Him that we can experience Him the way Paul experienced Him.
  1. Inside and out
  2. Transformed in our thinking
  3. Experiencing daily the resurrection power of that first Easter morning
4. Problem with most of us
  1. We hold to tightly to the things in this present age
  2. World blinds us to what is important
  3. That accomplishment we want others to remember
  4. The money or material possessions we accumulate
  5. The fame we get so our name is put into some history book
  6. We want to become a legend rather than letting God use us as His instrument to do whatever He wants
5. Get to know Him inside and out seeing everything else as garbage in comparison
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Bible Reading Plan – Philippians 3-4

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Please God and work for Him (Philippians 2:5-18) December 6, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Philippians 2:5-18

Set – Philippians 2-3

Go! – Philippians 1-4

Philippians 2:5-18
⁵ In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:
⁶ Though He was in the form of God,
He chose not to cling to equality with God;
⁷ But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
a servant in form
and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
⁸ He humbled Himself,
obedient to death—
a merciless death on the cross!
⁹ So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
¹⁰ So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
¹¹ And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!
¹²So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I can’t be. Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, ¹³ because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.
¹⁴ Do all things without complaining or bickering with each other, ¹⁵ so you will be found innocent and blameless; you are God’s children called to live without a single stain on your reputations among this perverted and crooked generation. Shine like stars across the land. ¹⁶ Cling to the word of life so that on the day of judgment when the Anointed One returns I may have reason to rejoice, because it will be plain that I didn’t turn from His mission nor did I work in vain. ¹⁷ Even if my lifeblood is to be poured out like wine as a sacrifice of your faith, I have great reason to celebrate with all of you. ¹⁸ And for the same reason, you can be glad and celebrate with me.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul inserted the words of a hymn the early Christians sang as they gathered together for worship. They wanted to remember who I am and why I came to live alongside you. It’s a good hymn. It tells the story of My departure from heaven to be with you. It tells of My death and resurrection and intercession for you at the right hand of the Father. But Paul doesn’t stop with the short hymn. He lets the Philippians and you know your responsibility because of the truth of they hymn those early Christians passed on to you.

Paul says, “Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.”

That doesn’t mean good works will get you to heaven, but James also reminds you that faith without a demonstration of your faith by good works is dead. Paul tells you often it is by faith you are saved so that none may boast. I told you that all who believe in Me will not perish but will have eternal life. So it’s faith that gets you to heaven, but your good works demonstrate the faith you have in Me. The demonstration comes not because of duty, but because of love. Love for Me and love for your brothers and sisters in My kingdom.

That’s also why in the next breath Paul says do everything for Me without complaining. If you do good works for Me out of duty, you’ll begin to complain. You can’t keep it up without grumbling. Just look at the history of the Israelites. They couldn’t help but grumble when they followed Me out of duty. It takes love to continuously do good works without grumbling. And until My love lives in you, you can’t please Me. You can’t live the life I want you to live. You can’t do the good works I have for you.

So work out your salvation. It requires faith first, but I created you to work. I didn’t create you to just sit around. I intend for you to do good works so that all may understand that I am a God of love and grace and mercy. You are the instrument of those attributes when you give yourself fully to Me. Never forget everything starts with faith. Without it you can’t begin to please Me, but then do what I ask of you, and I will ask you to good works for Me, because it pleases Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Knowing God is enough (Philippians 3:1-11), June 13, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Philippians 3:1-11
Set – 1 Kings 14; Philippians 3
Go! – 1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

Philippians 3:1-11
¹ It is time that I wrap up these thoughts to you, my brothers and sisters. Rejoice in the Lord! (I don’t mind writing these things over and over to you, as I know it keeps you safe.)

² Watch out for the dogs—wicked workers who run in packs looking for someone to maul with their false circumcision.

³ We are the true circumcision—those who worship God in Spirit and make our boast in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King—so we do not rely on what we have accomplished in the flesh.

⁴ If any try to throw around their pedigrees to you, remember my résumé—which is more impressive than theirs. ⁵ I was circumcised on the eighth day—as the law prescribes—born of the nation of Israel, descended from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew born of Hebrews; I have observed the law according to the strict piety of the Pharisees, separate from those embracing a less rigorous kind of Judaism. ⁶ Zealous? Yes. I ruthlessly pursued and persecuted the church. And when it comes to the righteousness required by the law, my record is spotless.

⁷ But whatever I used to count as my greatest accomplishments, I’ve written them off as a loss because of the Anointed One. ⁸ And more so, I now realize that all I gained and thought was important was nothing but yesterday’s garbage compared to knowing the Anointed Jesus my Lord. For Him I have thrown everything aside—it’s nothing but a pile of waste—so that I may gain Him. ⁹ When it counts, I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness based on law, but actively relying on the faithfulness of the Anointed One. This is true righteousness, supplied by God, acquired by faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Him inside and out. I want to experience the power of His resurrection and join in His suffering, shaped by His death, ¹¹ so that I may arrive safely at the resurrection from the dead.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you gotten to the point Paul discovered? Paul realized that all he gained and thought important was nothing but yesterday’s garbage compared to knowing Me. Have you developed a relationship like that with Me yet? What’s really important to you right now?

There was a time when Paul thought the Temple and the law were the most important things in his life. He prided himself on keeping the law and enforcing it upon others. He wanted all who associated with the Jewish faith or called on My name to understand that he studied under one of the most rigorous rabbis.

Gamaliel took few disciples and fewer still could stand up under the rigor of his training, but Paul did. He worked feverishly to keep the Pharisaical traditions pure and stop the radical teaching of My disciples. Paul applauded the arrest and imprisonment of those who disrupted the activities of the Temple. He hunted down those who declared Jesus the Messiah. Paul even held the coats of those who stoned to death Stephen, the gentle servant caring for the children and orphans who claimed allegiance to My kingdom.

Paul did all he could to persecute My church. That is until I met him on the road to Damascus. Then everything changed. When he saw Me, he saw the mistake he made in not believing My disciples’ word. He understood the truth of their message. Paul recognized the wrongs he committed in unjustly punishing those who lived as I instructed them.

As I opened his eyes to the scriptures Gamaliel taught him, Paul saw in them everything I told the crowds on the Judaean hillsides. He recognized the fallacies of the traditions he had tried to uphold and the necessity of love reaching out to overcome the failures of trying to keep the law.

Paul found in Me the hope he tried to find in his religion without success. He felt the forgiveness that lifted the burden of guilt sin placed upon his life and knew the stories he heard from My followers about My grace and mercy were true. Paul understood the transforming power of My Spirit and gave himself fully to Me.

Paul died to himself. He gave up everything for Me. Paul recognized the mission I wanted him to complete and eagerly accepted it. He saw the eternal ramifications of his decision and the temporary nature of all else around him. Paul could say without any doubt that everything he gained to that point in his life truly appeared as garbage compared to knowing Me.

Why? Because I am the Eternal God…and that’s enough.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Have the mind-set of Christ (Philippians 2:1-18), June 12, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Philippians 2:1-18
Set – 1 Kings 12; Philippians 2
Go! – 1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10-11; Philippians 2

Philippians 2:1-18
¹ If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, ² here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. ³ Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. ⁴ Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first.

⁵ In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:

⁶ Though He was in the form of God,
He chose not to cling to equality with God;
⁷ But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
a servant in form
and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
⁸ He humbled Himself,
obedient to death—
a merciless death on the cross!
⁹ So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
¹⁰ So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
¹¹ And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!

¹² So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I can’t be. Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, ¹³ because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining or bickering with each other, ¹⁵ so you will be found innocent and blameless; you are God’s children called to live without a single stain on your reputations among this perverted and crooked generation. Shine like stars across the land. ¹⁶ Cling to the word of life so that on the day of judgment when the Anointed One returns I may have reason to rejoice, because it will be plain that I didn’t turn from His mission nor did I work in vain. ¹⁷ Even if my lifeblood is to be poured out like wine as a sacrifice of your faith, I have great reason to celebrate with all of you. ¹⁸ And for the same reason, you can be glad and celebrate with me.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

It might seem I’m always talking to you about selfishness, but that’s the essence of sin, the opposite of perfect love. My love in you thinks about other’s interests ahead of your own. It doesn’t mean you ignore your own needs, but it meets their needs before your wants. It looks after your brothers and sisters. It demonstrates the kind of love I demonstrated toward you.

Paul puts it in terms of having the mindset of Christ – Me incarnate. When I came to you in the flesh, I showed you how to love. I showed you what love really means. It means putting others ahead of yourself even if it means dying. I let you put Me on a cross to show you how much I love you. I died to pay the penalty for your sins to demonstrate My love for you.

When you demonstrate love as a church, as a fellowship of believers, My spirit will guide you into directions that unify you toward goals that build My kingdom. When your selfish desires are replaced by My desires and you seek My kingdom instead of your interests, you’ll find yourself empowered to do My work in extraordinary ways.

So how do you get rid of those selfish motives, those selfish desires? Let Me take control. Die to self and let Me reign in your life. Fill your mind and soul with Me. Be mindful of what you let come into your life and spend time with Me. Spend time in My word and pray. Talk with Me about your day, your interests, your troubles, your desires. I will take them and give you other things to think about.

I will replace your troubles and your burdens with other burdens. I will replace your burdens with interests in others. I will give you tasks in My priorities instead of yours. I will begin to help you see others the way I see them and help you focus less on yourself and more on others. I will help you love.

Let Me help you adopt My mind-set. Let Me transform you by renewing your mind. Let Me make you over again by giving Me charge over your life. It’s easy to do. Just say yes to Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God put you where He wants you (Philippians 1:12-26), June 11, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Philippians 1:12-26
Set – Song of Songs 8; Philippians 1
Go! – Song of Songs 5-8; Philippians 1

Philippians 1:12-26
¹² I have good news, brothers and sisters; and I want to share it. Believe it or not, my imprisonment has actually helped spread the good news to new places and populations. ¹³ Word has spread through the ranks of the imperial guard and to everyone else around me that I am in prison because of my faith in the Anointed One. ¹⁴ My imprisonment has instilled courage in most of our brothers and sisters, so they are trusting God more and have been even more daring as they speak the good news without fear.

^15-17 I am well aware that some people out there are preaching the message of the Anointed One because of jealousies and rivalries. Their motives aren’t pure. They’re driven by selfish ambitions and personal agendas, hoping somehow to add to my pain here in prison. And I also know there are others who are preaching the Anointed from true goodness, motivated by love. They wish me the best because they know I’m here in prison in defense of the gospel.

¹⁸ So what do we do then? Listen. What matters is that in every way, regardless of the motives—whether pure or shady—the great story of the Anointed is a cause for joy. I will continue to rejoice ¹⁹ because I know that through your encouragement and prayers and through the help of the Spirit of Jesus the Anointed, I will soon be released from this dark place. ²⁰ I don’t expect that dishonor and shame will plague me in any way, but I do hope that I will continue to be able to speak freely and courageously about Jesus, and that now and forever the Anointed One will be glorified and placed above all else through this body of mine—whether I live or die. ²¹ For my life is about the Anointed and Him alone. And my death, when that comes, will mean great gain for me. ²² So, if it’s His will that I go on serving here, my work will be fruitful for the message. I honestly wouldn’t know how or what to choose; ²³ I would be hard-pressed to decide. I lean toward leaving this world to be with the Anointed One because I can only think that would be much better. ²⁴ To stay in this body of flesh—even with all its pains and weaknesses—would best serve your needs. ²⁵ Now that I think of it, I am sure of this: I would prefer to remain to share in the progress and joy of your growing belief. ²⁶ When I return to you, we will celebrate Jesus the Anointed even more.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I know you sometimes don’t understand why I place you in the situations you’re in. I know you sometimes at least want to complain about the pain and suffering you endure in life. But Paul learned in every situation to be content. The reason he learned that lesson is because of the outreach his situation provided in reaching others.

You don’t know the impact your life has on those who watch you from a distance. You often don’t notice the people who observe your situation and watch how you go through your suffering still able to give Me praise and glory even in times when it might seem difficult to do so. You don’t know the number of people who talk about your strength in times you should be at your weakest.

Paul understood the impact he had on the imperial guard when word came back to him about the number of soldiers talking about him from those who visited him. Friends and others guards asked about his faith, his spirit, his ability to endure in such harsh surroundings. His answer always came back to My Spirit living in him.

Would Paul rather be released to preach freely among the many churches he help found across Asia Minor? Certainly. But I had other plans for him. And because of his faith in these trying times, Paul had the time and resources to write his many epistles that survived the centuries and became the foundational documents for the doctrine of the church. He codified the message I wanted spread so you would have a chance to read it for yourself.

What would have happened had Paul been set free? How many letters would you miss had Paul not been imprisoned? How would the doctrine have survived had I not allowed the Jews to force his plea to Rome for justice? Paul still didn’t understand the full ramification of his imprisonment. He saw how his message spread to the guards, but never envisioned his letters would reach to you…but I did.

Never second guess My decision to put you where you are. I have reasons for your position in life. Just understand, like Paul, you have an opportunity to witness for Me to those around you. From your witness incredible things can happen. Whether you introduce Me to one person or thousands, the message remains vital to the spread of My name. I placed you where you are today for a reason. Don’t let today go by without knowing your role right now is important to Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.