Sunday 22 Apr 2012

Sunday Reading: Philippians 4:1-4

Key Verse: Philippians 4:4
4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Devotion:
I love the way that Paul was able to put such beautiful words to paper that we may be able to read them many years later and still find the same joy that the earl church must have found in them. When he wrote it was with love that he wrote and that love was to be shown to all just as Christ had commanded the disciples – to love one another. Paul made sure that the people who would be reading the letter knew that he cared deeply for them and that they should be able to count on him for anything. There must be an art to being able to write such words without getting yourself into trouble!

That art has got to be that we “stand fast in the Lord” as he describes here; and that may well be a point at which many of us do fail because we tend to see that we may be able to help ourselves instead of fully relying on God and hence we try to do it ourselves. Yes God does want us out there doing the work and living for Him, but that does not mean that we have to come up with everything to get things accomplished otherwise we would not be relying on Him.

When Paul says that we should “rejoice in the Lord” it is that we need to not just depend on Him for things but to know that He is able, willing and will supply our needs when we want to do His will; for that reason we should always rejoice that we have a Lord and Saviour who is able! I continue to be amazed at how God is able to bring about change in people’s lives when they are more willing to rely on Him rather than to think that they have the wherewithal to do His will. Whenever I am called to speak or teach it is only that I know that Christ will be by my side that gives me the strength to come forward and do so.

Paul was also quite willing to turn to others and tell them that they could and should be supporting the people around them just as he was trying to support them. He did not come forward to bring riches and supplies but rather to bring them the more essential Gospel message; something that is being left out of society more and more each year by so many. We do have a task to bring God’s Word to others and we should be living up to that task every day. I began writing these daily devotions many years ago after the person that I was receiving devotions from stopped due to other work. I count it a great privilege and a joy to continue writing so you can receive.

Points to Ponder:
Are you enjoying your work?

Are you working for Christ yet?