Rejoice Always!!!

Good Friday to all of you. God's word is so good but yet so challenging and as we will see today His word is very hard to do sometimes! here are today's verse:


Philippians 4:4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Remember again Paul is writing this in Prison and in verse 4 he says rejoice in the Lord always?? Think about that. You see rejoicing in the Lord does not have anything to do with what situation we are in right now in life it has all to do with what Jesus has done for us for eternity!!! We should be rejoicing always in this.

So how exactly do we do this? I believe we can see how to do this by looking at these verses in Romans also penned by Paul:

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “ Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen

In verse 33 it tells us God has infinite wisdom and knowledge. We have no reason and not even a minute portion of enough wisdom to question God about anything...therefore rejoice in what we do know through the word!

In verse 34-35 Paul asks us a series of questions in which we have no answer. Look at them and think about them...can you answer" me"? I didn't think so because none of us can! God has revealed Himself to us somewhat but not enough that we can counsel Him. We can't control God and He doesn't owe us anything! And in verse 36 Paul sums it all up...everything is for, by, and about God. He is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere. He deserves or worship and thus we should be rejoicing in Him always!

I can see why Paul was always able to rejoice. Paul knew life wasn't about Him it was about God plain and simple. So are you able to rejoice always? If not it may be we need to get our eyes off of ourselves and get them focused on Jesus...then you find it easy to rejoice!

God bless you and have a great weekend!

Tom

Citizenship

Hello my friends! I hope your day is off to a great start. Praise the Lord today no matter what it brings for He is worthy!

Here are the scriptures for today:

Philippians 3:17-21

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

This is some good stuff so hold o as we go through these verses. First in verse 17 Paul tells us to follow his and the other believer's example. But make sure it is a true believer!!! As He continues he tells us that their are many who enemies of the cross. I believe what Paul is saying here is their are many folks who pretend to be believers or maybe even think themselves they are believers but are not. Paul defines in verse 19 their goal which is destruction. To destroy the true gospel. They have a different god their belly. Wow think on that for a moment. Think about how many in the world today are obese. Now for those who have a physical problem I am not referring to them. Could it be that for many today their belly is their God? I love to eat. Sometimes if I think about it I can see where my belly could be my god. We very rarely fast but it is very biblical to do so. Is something as simple as food leading us to destruction? Take time to think and maybe do a little studying on this and tell me what you think...it will be pretty obvious we got a problem with food ourselves!

Paul continues and says "glory is their shame". What he is telling us is they wanted to be the center of attention...not God. Again look at us here in America. Who is getting the glory??? God? I don't think so. It is Hollywood, singers, politicians, athletes, ect. How many of us have longed to get some glory? Our lives should be consumed with humility and giving God the glory He deserves. The Paul continues that their minds are set on earthly things. Sound familiar? My how the word of God hits home today. I see in my own community where we are so consumed with earthly things. Things that will not be worth 2 cents when we meet our maker face to face. We are in danger of this very same problem...we need to wake up! Paul tells us where our minds should be in verse 20. Oh this is so good don't miss it. Heaven! That is where our home is not here. We should be working hard for Jesus our Savior as we wait for His return! So are you? What have you done for Jesus recently?? Jesus is going to transform our old used up bodies when He returns...thank you Jesus. We are going to have a glorious body just like His!!! Did you catch that? Oh how unworthy we are but how loved we are by God. Thank you Jesus!

When Jesus returns He will subdue all things...oh I can't wait to see that. So this morning where is your true citizenship? Are you happy with these earthly things and filling up that belly both phyisically and spiritually with those earthly things? Or are you filling up with the things of God and claiming that citizenship in heaven and serving the King until He returns???

Wow I hope this devotion speaks to you as it has me!

God send Jesus soon!

Tom

Press toward the goal

Good Morning to all. I pray we have a productive day for the Lord today! Here is the scripture for today:

Philippians 3:13-16

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Well Paul starts out here saying I may be in prison(apprehended) but I don't see it that way and I am working towards heaven(goal)! What an attitude. Positive in all things was Paul. When Paul mentions forgetting those things that are behind in verse 13 there are two things to think about.

1. Forget spiritual and moral success's. If we continually dwell on our success's two things happen. The first is we start to become lazy as we think about how good we have done. The second is pride will start to build. We think look at what I have done. In reality we have done nothing God has blessed us by using us as his tool! So forget and move on and keep working for the Lord if there is any reward to have we will receive it in heaven!

2. Forget failures. We are gonna have failures in our lives both spiritual and moral. When we do get up dust yourself off and confess your sins if needed and get back to work. In our spiritual lives if we aren't failing from time to time it probably means we aren't doing anything great for God! Think about that for a bit.

The Paul says reach for what is ahead in verse13. What he is talking about here is working towards sanctification. Which means training yourself for godliness. This is not easy!!! How do you do that? Three simple things....scripture(read your Bible), prayer, discipline. All three are required. If your aren't doing these I can promise you that you are not growing in godliness. Make a plan today and stick to it!

Then in verse 16 Paul closes with let us be of the same mind in the degree we have already obtained and by the same rule. What is this degree and rule? I believe it to be the Word of God. We need to live by the same rules(commandments) and have the same mind in degree(value and meaning) which we have obtained from God. When we try to make the Word fit into our lives the way we think it should that is when we get ourselves into trouble. God has revealed everything we need to know. So let's stick to that!

So keep pressing toward that goal my friends I can promise you it will be worth it!

Tom

Grab a hold of Jesus!

As I mentioned a few devotions back I have recently taken the youth to camp. The Pastor shared some insight on Philippians and I want to pass it along to you. Today we will be looking at this one verse.


Philippians 3:12

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

In this verse Paul tells us he is not perfect as we should already know the only perfect man was Jesus. What I want to reaaly focus on is where Paul says" he presses on so he may lay hold of for which Jesus has also laid hold of me". How do we lay hold of what Jesus what Jesus wants to grab a hold of? Basically as our camp Pastor Matt Chandler shared it is called Holy discontentment. In other words you have Jesus but you want more of Him. Get deeper into your relationship with Him. This aso can be used as a guage as to where you are in your relationship with Jesus. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Look to Jesus as your goal.

If Jesus is our goal we will always be working to improve in all areas of our Christian life. Unfortunatlely we have got into a habit of looking at other people who are sinners just like us and saying to ourselves well I am doing better than so and so. No where in the bible does it say to compare yourself to others. Look to Jesus and you always be discontent and wanting to grow

2. Surround yourself with Godly people.

If you have friends that are non-Christians and you are participating with them in their activities I can promise you that you are not growing in Christ like you should. I have found that if you hang with folks who arn't believers you will be led to do things God doesn't want you to do. Very rarly will you lead those who are unsaved to do what God wants to do with our lives. This is very hard to say but their are times when you have to let friends go to be what God wants you to be...I had too and it hurts but is necessary.

3. Know God's promises.

How do you know God's promises by reading his Word. If you are in the word you will not be content of where you are in Christ because the Word will convict you daily! One of the promises of God's Word is that He will not leave you where you are. We are works in progress! Read the Word!

4. Evaluate self...often.

Where are you with your walk with God. Then make adjustments. As I just said in the previous point we are a work in progress so we will have to make changes, reevaluate and move on. So where do you stand with God this morning. Be honest. Are you doing well or do you need major adjustments.

Holy discontentment. I like this word because I think it should decsribe the child of God. If we get content we may be losing ground!

God bless...have a great day!

Tom

Loss for Christ

I am a little late on getting my devotion out today as I just got in from a long drive home from vacation. So here it is!

When we serve God we are going to lose some things....worldly things sometimes and sometimes things we just have to cut for time sake. Let's read today's scriptures.

Philippians 3:1-11

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I n verse 1 Paul continues to tell us to rejoice...I just can't get over Paul telling us to rejoice when he is in prison. That is dedication my friends! Then he tells us to beware of those who want to lead us astray in verse 2. We need to be on our toes at all times for their are people who want us to fall on our face! Then in verses 4-6 Paul tells us that he has no confidence in the flesh which the bible also tells us not to live in the flesh. The flesh can be our own worldly desires or our status of who we are. Paul also says in theses verses that if their is anyone who could have confidence in flesh alone it would be him because of his credentials. He was a Jew through and through....top of the line but all that was nothing. Why did he says this??? Because all this is useless unless we have knowledge of Jesus Christ. Which he tells us in verse 8. Paul tells us in verses 7-9 that all the fleshly he has lost in his life....prestige, standing in the community, money, fame and fortune, is lost but he counts it gain because now He has a relationship with Jesus!! Stop and think about what he is saying here it is deep. What have you lost to follow Christ?

Paul tells us in verse 9 not his own righteousness(our works) but in faith(alone) in Christ Jesus is what has made him righteous before God!! Nothing we can do can save us from sin....it is all Jesus! In verse 10 Paul admits he wanted to suffer for Christ and one day Paul and us will know the power of the resurrection if we die before Jesus comes back. Then Paul tells us in verse 11 he will do anything to obtain this resurrection. So the question comes back to us...are we willing to do the same? Honestly? Paul proved it as he laid his life on the line everyday for Jesus.

Take time to read these scriptures again and let God speak to you. There is much more to grasp onto than what I mentioned.

God bless...Tom

Shine as lights!

Another great morning to be alive and serving the King. Today's lesson is a good one so let's get right to it. Here are today's verses:

Philippians 2:12-17

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

First in verse 12 Paul tell them to keep pressing on even when he isn't with them. He also says some thing interesting "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". Well salvation means deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption. So I believe here he is telling us not to take what God has done for us, providing salvation, lightly. Keep up the good fight with a rememberance to who God is which should make us fear and tremble. Wow that is some powerful stuff right there. Verse 13 tells us God wants to work in us for two reasons to accomplish His good will and for His pleasure. Are you aware God wants to work through you and has jobs only you can accomplish? So are you letting Him work through you? If you are verse 14 tells us we shouldn't be complaining or disputing. If we are working for God we need to have a good attitude and remember who are Boss is. Verse 15 tells us why. When we do things God's way we become blameless and harmless, people see we are the children of God are are without fault or very different than the crooked perverse generation we live in right now and we will SHINE as lights in a dark world. In return because you are shining there is no telling how many you may bring to Jesus! That should be enough right there to make us want to do as Paul taught here.

Verse 16 tells us to hold fast to the Word of God. This and prayer are the two keys to living like Christ desires. If we are not in the Word and praying I can promise you that you are not even close to where God wants you. It is impossible. In the rest of verses 16-18 Paul tells us to pour ourselves out like an offering to Christ and then rejoice as we all work out our salvation to the King!

So my fiends let me ask you...have you had anything to rejoice about in serving King Jesus? If yes Paul says rejoice!!! If not we have work to do and we need to start today! I can tell you with complete confidence that there is nothing more satisfying in life than serving Jesus...NOTHING!

I love you ll in the Lord...Tom

Same mind as Christ???

Good morning everyone. The title of today's devotion pretty well sums it up. Do we have the same mind as Christ? I can answer that one for you...No. Not totally anyway. But that is what we need to be striving for each day for the rest of our lives. So lets get into the scripture for today.

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In verse 6 Paul tells us that even Jesus was God plain and simple even though through His life he was accuse of blasphemy and being the devil and all sorts of other things He plainly revealed to us He was God in the flesh. Then in verse 7 Paul goes on to tell us that even though Jesus was God he became a bond servant which basically is some who wants to stay a slave and serve his master for life. Jesus came down here to earth to serve and He commands us to do the same....so ask yourself this morning are you serving or are you in the frame of mind that you want to be served?? It says in verse 7 it also says Jesus made Himself of no reputation. Wow. The Savior of the universe was one of the most disliked person's of His day and still is today in many places. Why? To serve His master and then to serve us on the cross...thank you Jesus! That is exactly what verse 9 tells us...obedient to the point of death...the cross. Don't think for one minute though that Jesus work here on earth wasn't recognized somewhere. Yes it was recognized by someone alright....God. God has placed Jesus at His right hand and given Him the name of above all names! Praise God. And one of these days ALL will bow on bended knee in heaven on earth and under the earth. What will they do on that bended knee??? Confess with their mouths the Jesus is LORD! And this will bring glory and honor to God.

Wow I get excited and pumped up and sing praises just writing that about Jesus! So think on that today and examine yourself and answer the question where is my mind in Christ? Strive to have his mind it is a second by second job...the rewards are awesome!

Have a blessed day and tell someone about Jesus!!!

Tom