September 30, 2024
To begin your time with God, take a moment to pause and be still. Remember that He is with you and that he loves you. Rest in that for a moment or two before you move on.
As we continue reading Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we hear him continue to give them some urgent words of wisdom.
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”
Philippians 1:27-30
In this segment, Paul issues some important reminders to his readers:
- Live with integrity and unity.
- Do not be intimidated by people who oppose you or the Gospel.
- Remember that you do not suffer alone.
- View suffering for Christ as a privilege.
How do you react to this? Is there one of these reminders that you especially need to embrace today? Which one and how so?
Practice: Think about one of the most difficult seasons of your life so far. As you reflect back on it, what is clear to you? What do you want to hold onto from what you experienced?