Every Day Devotion

Philippians 1:18 [18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, (ESV) The Apostle Paul was a better man than I will ever be. There have been those who have looked at his persecution and judged him as stricken by God. These were men who also preached the Gospel. They should have been his support, but instead they sneered. They tried to rival him instead of reach out to him. It would have been very easy for Paul to be resentful or angered. Here his response in verse 18. No matter what the motivation of his colleagues he is rejoicing that the Gospel is being preached. This is where I struggle. If I hear some late night TV preacher, motivated by getting the money out of your wallet and into his "ministry" I find myself extremely agitated. I rarely say like Paul, "Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." I do think that in other

Philippians 1:17 [17] The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. (ESV) I would love to believe that all preachers of the Gospel have a right heart and motivation when they preach. I would also be wrong. The Apostle Paul knew this reality very well. Here he was, in a prison cell for preaching the Gospel. There were preachers that refused to be supportive of him, but rather viewed him as being punished by God and that was why he was in prison. They cared about their own ambitions, instead of caring for their colleague and brother in Christ. This attitude that we see in these selfish preachers is one that we all have to wrestle with. We look at someone who is going through a tough time and we make a judgment about them. They must be receiving punishment from God. We assume that God's blessing on a person's life means always having positive circumstances. This is terrible theology. God has not called us

Philippians 1:16 [16] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. (ESV) Paul is imprisoned. And some of his peers were preaching the Gospel alongside him as co-laborers in the Lord. Others were preaching, but were trying to rival Paul, envious of his ministry and actually rooting against him. In verse 16 Paul refers to those who were preaching out of love. These were true ministers in the faith, with hearts of good will. It would be delightful if all preachers of the Gospel could work together for a common goal of seeing lives rescued from the pit of hell. Sadly, there are those who compete against one another. We live in a time of great division. Political viewpoints are no longer discussed in a gentlemanly fashion. Opposing viewpoints are demonized. We fight against one another, not for one another. Those who preach the Gospel need to remember what the Gospel is. The Gospel is a message of God's great love to mankind that tran

Philippians 1:15 [15] Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. (ESV) I admire Paul. I have said many times that when I get to heaven, immediately after falling at the feet of my wonderful Savior, I want to find the Apostle Paul and Charles Spurgeon. These are men that have inspired me greatly in my faith. Paul demonstrated an attitude that I wish that I could emulate. So far, I am not sure how well I am doing. Paul has been boldly preaching the Gospel now for several years. The result? People all over the world have come to know Jesus Christ. There are churches planted in regions all over the Roman Empire. Paul has been transformed from a persecutor of the Church to it's greatest leader. He goes from an antagonist to an Apostle. You would think that all of the other preachers at that time would look at the Apostle Paul with admiration, gratitude, and encouragement. But you would sadly be incorrect. Paul describes certain preachers who we

Philippians 1:14 [14] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (ESV) The church in Philippi had been planted by the Apostle Paul several years before the writing of this letter. Paul writes this letter from prison, and it would have been very possible for the believers in Jesus Christ to become discouraged about preaching the Gospel. Would the possibility of being imprisoned for their faith stop the Gospel from being spread? Paul tells the believers in Philippi that his imprisonment for the Gospel has actually emboldened people to speak the truth of the Gospel even more boldly.  These brothers now viewed the Gospel as something that could not be stopped, not even when it's spokesmen were imprisoned. A person can be imprisoned, but not the Gospel. Richard Wurmbrand was a preacher in the 1900s. In Communist Romania he was imprisoned for sharing the Gospel. He spent many years being b

Philippians 1:13 [13] so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (ESV) Paul is in prison. Prison is not a picnic for anyone, least of all Paul. What made it worse was that Paul was not in prison for any sort of legitimate reason. Years prior, before Paul became a Christian, he was putting Christians into prison for no reason. Now the tables were turned. He was now a Christian and imprisoned for his belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul does not take his time in prison as an occasion to work on his legal defense. He does not spend that time writing letters against the oppressive Roman Empire. He is not fixated on how he can change his situation. Rather, he celebrates the fact that God has placed him in a strategic place where the imperial guard of Rome can hear the Gospel! Few of us will ever experience the level of injustice and tragedy that Paul did. However, we all find ourselves in situ

Philippians 1:12 [12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (ESV) How do you view the circumstances that happen in your life? Do you celebrate the things that are enjoyable and curse those that were painful? That is certainly the way the world views things. Paul had once belonged to the world, but now as a follower of Jesus Christ he has a very different perspective. He is able to see the value in even the painful moments of life. In verse 12 he speaks of "what has happened to me." What happened to Paul? In Paul's first visit to Philippi he preached the Gospel and helped to establish the church. He cast a demon out of a young slave girl and his reward was to be imprisoned, severely beaten, and chased out of town by the Roman guard. Over the next few years he had experienced great hardship and was now imprisoned in Rome. Paul is not one to bemoan all of his negative circumstances. Rather, he finds the

Philippians 1:11 [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (ESV) When I was a child my father had a bunch of fruit trees planted in the yard. I remember one year we postponed our vacation so that we could harvest all of the plums that ripened almost all at one time. We had apple trees, a pear tree, a peach tree, and a good sized garden. One thing I can say that we expected from the fruit trees:  fruit! I can assure you that my father would not have spent the time, money, and effort to plant fruit trees if he had no expectation of eventually enjoying the fruit. Sadly, there are many believers who seem to live their lives with no expectation of fruit being produced in their lives. It is enough for them that God has planted them. Paul says that as we look forward to the Day of Christ Jesus we should expect to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. That leads us to consider, &qu

Philippians 1:10 [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (ESV) How good are you at spotting a phony? Years ago I worked at a bank as a head teller. We would have training on what a counterfeit bill would look like. There were certain things that we were to look for to make sure that the bill we were looking at was the genuine article. The best way to know what is counterfeit is to be intimately familiar with what is the true item. In the previous verse Paul admonishes us to grow in knowledge and discernment. How do we grow in knowledge and discernment? By being intimately familiar with the true item. The Word of God is truth. There is no falsehood in it. We should regularly and faithfully be reading the Bible, familiarizing ourselves with every aspect of it's truth. In so doing we will know more and be able to tell the true from the almost true (discernment). In our verse today, Paul tells us that the result of u

Philippians 1:9 [9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, (ESV) There are some things in life that we wish we could have an endless supply of. I am sure that a coach of a sports team never says, "That's too much winning." Rather, he wants to win more and more. Many of us think about winning a lottery we never play, dreaming about what it would be like to have money that never stopped coming our direction. Paul here talks about love. And he is praying that it abounds more and more. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have an endless supply of love? This love that the Apostle Paul is describing is not just a mushy affection. It is also not a selfish manipulation of others, as in, "I will be loving to you if you are loving to me." Rather, this love is connected with two key things:  knowledge and discernment. What does Paul mean by knowledge and discernment. We need to remember that Paul is addressing

Philippians 1:8 [8] For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (ESV) There is a bond that exists between all believers in Jesus Christ that the world just does not understand. I have met believers in a different part of the world and felt an immediate connection. It was because the same Holy Spirit that dwells in me dwells in them. That love and affection are the glue that unites the family of God. Paul describes his bond with these Philippian believers in very strong terms. Here he is, imprisoned in Rome, unsure of whether or not he will ever be released to see the church at Philippi again. He had been cared for by their donations of money so that he could eat and have his physical needs met in prison. He had also been sent messages from the believers by their very own Epaphroditus. Paul missed these very dear people from Philippi. And with good reason. This word for "affection" in the Greek is a very intense word. Dr. John M

Philippians 1:7 [7] It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (ESV) Paul loved the Philippian believers. They held a very special place in his heart. In the opening verses he has talked about how he always thinks of them with thanksgiving. He has joy when he remembers them. They have been partners with him in the proclamation of the Gospel, the most important aspect of Paul's life. He now defends those feelings here in verse 7. saying "It is right for me to feel this way about you all." What had the Philippian believers done? They did not just support them when he was with them, but Paul was writing this letter from a prison cell in Rome. In those times the Roman Empire did not feed you or care for you in prison. If you did not have friends to supply your physical needs you would surely die of starvation.

Philippians 1:6 [6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV) I am not a very good carpenter. Ironically, one of my favorite things to do is carpentry! I do not have a whole lot of natural talent in carpentry. I have not been trained. I am also pretty clumsy, so there is a good chance that I will get hurt in the process of my building project. One of the things that I have always been impressed with is someone who can do finish carpentry. It's one thing to get a project started. It's quite another thing to finish the project! I have started many things that are still waiting to be finished. They likely never will be finished. A finish carpenter is one who makes all of the work look perfect. The final coat of paint.  All of the trim work and molding applied. The decorative touch added. What does all this have to do with Philippians 1:6? Everything! I want to remind you that Jesus, God's

Philippians 1:4–5 [4] always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (ESV) There are a number of occasions where the Apostle Paul writes in the New Testament about how he prays for the believers in Christ Jesus. I love that. The Apostle Paul was not so important that he did not have time to pray for the church. In fact, he knew that prayer was essential for the church's existence. In fact, there are other times where Paul himself asks for prayer. In verses 4 and 5 of the opening chapter of Philippians Paul is talking about the prayers he prays for the Philippian believers. He makes those prayers with joy. Why is he joyful? because the Philippian believers partnered with him in the Gospel. To Paul, the greatest thing he could do was to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was so committed to this task that it would ultimately be the death of him at the hands of a Roman sword

Philippians 1:3 [3] I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (ESV) When Paul thought about Philippi he thought of the people. And thinking of the people of Philippi made him thankful. When you think about what happened when Paul was first at Philippi it might be surprising that he thinks of the people and not what happened to him at the hands of the Romans Empire. Let's remember together what Paul had previously experienced at Philippi: Acts 16:22–24 [22] The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24] Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (ESV) Paul had delivered a slave girl from demonic possession. His reward? He was beaten and thrown into prison. I am sure that Paul had not forgotten his unjust treat

Philippians 1:2 [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV) Paul brings his standard greeting to the believers in Jesus Christ at Philippi. Grace and Peace. This greeting would remind them of the relationship they have with God. This may have been a standard greeting, but it was not an insignificant greeting. Those who had previously been eternally lost in their sin had now been brought near to God through Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace. The Apostle Paul knew a little something about what he was talking about when he spoke of grace. He previously had persecuted the church. He was holding people's cloaks while they threw stones at Stephen, the first martyr for Christ. He had gone to people's homes and dragged them off to prison for their faith in Christ. Yet, God reached down and showed Paul his amazing grace. 1 Timothy 1:12–15 [12] I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointin

Philippians 1:1 [1] Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (ESV) The final part of this verse mentions the overseers and deacons. Why does Paul mention them separately? Certainly they are included in the category, "all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi." Paul will be giving admonitions in this letter that will require the leadership of the church at Philippi to put them into action. So, who are overseers and deacons? Here is a good summary from www.differencebetween.net: Elders are the overseers of the church. The term “elder” is related to the Greek word “episkopos” which refers to the office of the bishop and the person holding this office. They are tasked with supporting, encouraging, and guiding the lower office of the deacons. Deacons are responsible for assisting the pastor by feeding the less fortunate, taking charge of the church building, distributing

Philippians 1:1 [1] Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (ESV) How do you view yourself? If someone were to ask you what you were would you reply, "I am a saint."? Most of us view that word as something that only applies to dead Christians who have been declared a saint by the Catholic church. We can gather from the context here that Paul and Timothy are not sending a letter to corpses! The word saint simply means "holy ones." Here is the great news. If you belong to Jesus Christ you are a saint. You have been declared holy because of Jesus Christ. When you become saved two things happen. Your sin is imputed to Christ, and Christ's righteousness is imputed to you. You are a new creation. Our challenge is that we still struggle with sin. We know that God has declared us holy, but we feel unholy. The Apostle Paul rightly calls us saints, but we do not feel like

Philippians 1:1 [1] Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (ESV) Paul and Timothy. Apostle and his assistant. Pastors. Elders. Evangelists. These titles could appropriately apply to Paul and Timothy. Yet, what do they describe themselves as in this letter to the church at Philippi? Servants of Christ Jesus. It is heartening to realize that the Apostle Paul did not feel the need to pull rank on these believers. He and Timothy are servants. How do you view yourself? If you were going to write a letter to a group of people what title would you claim? Do you like to be recognized as being an important leader in some field of industry? Maybe you are a CEO of a large corporation? Perhaps you are a custodian? Maybe just a simple "housewife?" A judge? Police Officer? No matter what you do you can be known as a servant. Our flesh loves to get all kinds of accolades. We long to be noti

Philippians 1:1 [1] Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (ESV) Can you imagine how cool it would be if the Apostle Paul sent you a letter? In the first century of the church's existence it is hard to imagine a more important person than Paul. God had called him from being a persecutor of the church, hauling people off to prison and having them killed, to becoming one of its greatest spokesmen. In this letter to Philippi, Paul, along with Timothy have an important message. We know who Paul was. Who was Timothy? The answer to that is found in the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts tells the story of the Early Church. In Acts 16 we find the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. The first couple verses of the chapter are where we meet Timothy. Acts 16:1–2 [1] Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer

Psalm 4:8 [8] In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (ESV) “I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?”  - Ernest Hemingway "Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."  - Thomas Dekker "Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone."  - Anthony Burgess Sleep can be a very elusive thing. The older I get the harder it is for me to sleep all the way through the night without interruption. Pharmaceutical companies make a fortune selling pills that will help you to sleep. Other companies claim to have more natural sleep remedies, such as Melatonin, which is supposedly a natural sleep product. King David had a great help in sleeping. He looked to the Lord to help him. He describes the Lord as the one who helps him dwell in safety. As a result he can both lie down, and sleep! Many of us lie down with no easy guarantee o

Psalm 4:6–7 [6] There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” [7] You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (ESV) It seems as if King David lived in our time! There are still many who say, "Who will show us some good?" Those who do not know the goodness of God take a mocking tone as they cry out demanding some good to be shown to them. In fact, the average skeptic is quick to point out all of the things that they blame God for (human suffering, sickness, death, poverty, etc.) while giving him no glory for the many ways he has already shown them his goodness. Before we understand how we are to be shown some good, let us first define what is good.  Goodness can only be defined as coming from God.  The problem that many of us make is that we claim things are not good, but our definition of goodness is not correct. We think if we have the things we selfishly desire then we wou

Psalm 4:4–5 [4] Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah [5] Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. (ESV) What does it mean to be angry and not sin? Actually, the Hebrew here implies more of a "being agitated." Dr. John MacArthur says, "In this context, the admonition means to tremble or shake in the fear of the Lord so as not to sin."  So, the emphasis is more on avoiding sin and recognizing his holiness rather than a command to be angry or agitated. How do you view sin and how do you view the Lord. It seems that our culture, even in the church, takes a very light view of our own sin. We feel that because we are under grace instead of being under Law that we do not need to be so concerned about sin. But, is that a Biblical way to think? In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul helps us with that concern: Romans 6:1–2 [1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Psalm 4:3 [3] But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. (ESV) We have seen the wicked described in the previous verse. They love vain words and seek after lies. It is very important to know this distinction. We cannot expect those who are ungodly to operate from a place of morality. Outside of a submission to God's Law mankind will only chase after that which is false and self-serving. Note the contrast here in verse 3. The Lord has set apart the godly for himself. The wicked are not the Lord's There is a saying that people use, "We are all God's children." That saying is not a godly one. God sets apart the godly for himself. The wicked are not his. In fact, Scripture makes clear that those who are not his will be eternally lost. The godly are set apart. Note also that we did not set ourselves apart for God. There is not a single person who has ever walked this Earth, apart from Jesus, who is godly. Ra

Psalm 4:2 [2] O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah (ESV) One of the continuing themes in all of the Psalms is the contrast of the righteous and the wicked. We saw this distinctly in Psalm 1 where the life of the one who is blessed is described as one who does not go where the wicked go nor do what the wicked do.  The blessed one is strong like a fruitful tree. "Not so the wicked." They are blown away like chaff. Here in Psalm 4 David questions the wicked. How long will you turn honor into shame? How long will you love vain words? How long will you seek after lies? These rhetorical questions could just as easily be posed to the world that we currently live in. It seems that we act surprised that people would rather believe lies than truth. Yet, even after several millennia of time, the wicked are the same. The wicked prefer to walk in darkness.  The light exposes their sinful behavior. Even J

Psalm 4:1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. [1] Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress.Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (ESV) This is one of many Psalms that has instructions. It is to be sung with stringed instruments. I love singing. I love playing bass guitar. I am so glad that God has given to us the gift of music to use for bringing Him glory. When you think about singing songs with God's people, what kinds of songs do you like to sing? What kinds of words have meaning to you? I love songs like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "It Is Well With My Soul," and "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." These timeless hymns speak of how good God is even in the midst of darkest tragedy. I believe that in the backdrop of darkness God's light shines the brightest. The words of songs that impact our lives the most come from authors who have experienced terrible

Psalm 3:7–8 [7] Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. [8] Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah (ESV) As we conclude this Psalm of David we find him in his final cry for God to save him from his enemies, the first of which was his son, Absalom. He recognizes that it is God who will fight his battles for him. God is the one who strikes all his enemies, breaking the teeth of the wicked. We know that God rescued David from his enemies. Here is an account of Absalom's death: 2 Samuel 18:14–15 [14] Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. [15] And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him. (ESV) We do not always know exactly how God is going to bring victory to us, but we know that we can count

Psalm 3:5–6 [5] I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. [6] I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. (ESV) We continue to look at this Psalm where David finds himself on the run from his own son, Absalom, who is trying to kill him and take away his throne. What a great tragedy. Absalom has stolen away the hearts and minds of many of David's previously loyal subjects. There is no question that David is hurt by these circumstances. Yet, his response is inspiring. David knows that he can leave this situation in God's hands. God is trustworthy. Those around him are not. He cannot even trust his own family. He cannot trust his friends. But, he can trust God to the point that he can go to sleep in peace even though the circumstances are not peaceful. He looks to the Lord to sustain him. How do you deal with terrible tragedy? What do you do when you have been betrayed by your co-workers? Long-time

Psalm 3:3–4 [3] But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. [4] I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah (ESV) We know the context of this Psalm because the title of the Psalm reminds us that this was written when David was on the run from his son, Absalom. Absalom was trying to take the throne away from his father. It was bad enough for David that his son is trying to kill him and take his kingdom. Additionally, he had to deal with being cursed by some of his own people. How does David respond? David looks to the Lord as his shield, and the one who lifts up his head. He had the confidence of knowing that when he called to the Lord, he would be heard. The image of a shield is not one we use in modern language. But, in David's day, a shield was a vital means of defense from the enemy. God was the shield that David relied upon for safety. David could have easily given up on life. After all, his son wants to kil

Psalm 3:1–2 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. [1] O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; [2] many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah (ESV) Have you ever felt like the whole world was against you? You are not alone in that feeling. David writes this Psalm at the very time when he is fleeing for his life from his own son, who was trying to steal the kingdom away from him. King David was a man after God's own heart. He was the standard by which all kings of Israel were measured against. Yet, he had to deal with betrayal and heartache in his own family. It's interesting to note that David's foe was primarily Absalom. Yet, he says that his foes are many. It does not take many people to be against you for it to feel like an overwhelming number. Just a few people who are willing to stir up trouble against you can feel like an army. Just a few words that are filled with poison can have amazing effect

Psalm 2:10–12 [10] Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. [11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (ESV) This Psalm began with a question: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot against God? Why do the kings and rulers take counsel against the Lord and his anointed one? This Psalm ends with a warning to these rulers of the earth. They are to submit to the Lord's authority and serve him. As a symbolic act of submission they are to kiss the Son. The Son would be the representative king of God's kingdom. In the time of this Psalm's writing it would have been King David, the righteous king of Israel. Ultimately, we can view this Son as the "greater David," Jesus, God's eternal Son. And as such, it would be fair to recognize that all should humbly bow before Jesus, as th