Saturday 28 Apr 2012

Saturday Reading: Philippians 4:20-23

Key Verse: Philippians 4:21
21  Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

Devotion:
One of the best things about working for God is that we can always see new life through all that He does in our lives and in the lives around us. Not only do we get to hear all the good news about how He continues to work through His servants around the world but we also get to commune with Him on a daily basis. If we continue to lift Him up for all that He does in our lives then the people around us will get to hear just how much He is in control in our lives.

If we can be a tiny blessing to just one person through lifting up our Awesome God, then we have done something right! But I do like the way that Paul not just shows that He continues to lift up and praise God for everything that He does in his life but that He acknowledges the fact that God is working in circles that we would never think possible – so we know that He is greater than anything that we can think to attain by ourselves!

Here Paul reminds the church at Philippi that they have made it possible for Paul to reach out to the court of the current emperor! They have made it possible for the Gospel to be heard in the highest of places and God has made that possible through Paul being in chains! Our ways and God’s way are so very different because we always try to get into a place where we will be comfortable and where we will get some of the glory as well. Christ, instead, works for the glory of God the Father and that is all.

When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane He lifted up His prayers and said that it should be God the Father’s will what happened next and not His own will – even though He is who He is, Christ lifted up God the Father! Our aim should be to lift up God at any and every opportunity – part of that is going to be through making sure that we do acknowledge Him in everything, that we do acknowledge other Children of God and that we do continue to share the Gospel with all that are willing to listen. God’s Word will never go to waste as He has promised that we will continue to hear the Gospel for as long as He wants it to be heard. God does not give up on us and He certainly will make sure that we do get to heard His Word no matter where we are in our lives! His Word will also go out to people of every position and walk in life. His love is for the whole of mankind and not just a select few – so let us share in that love for all people and not just those that we chose to like!

Points to Ponder:
Do you shy away from people?

Does God shy away from you?