KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, December 17, 2017
Chapters: Book of Philippians
Message: Move Forward
Hello My Friend,
As I am sitting here distracted with time going faster than I would like it to, and having a hard time staying focused I am reminded by God that nothing I do is vain except not letting go of the past. It is not as though I regret my past or seek the things of my past, it is that there was no closure. There is a term that I just learned of, “Ghosted”, it is when someone disappears and cuts off complete contact with you with no explanation. Well, I have been “Ghosted” a few times and still have no clue why. The truth is, God knows, He saw something I did not and therefore spared me the suffering I would have had had they remained in my life. In this life we all desire that one thing more than anything that seems to not be in the will of God for us, at least, not for the moment, so instead of focusing on that we need to be content with what we are blessed with already, yet never get so lax that we forget better blessings are coming. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:11-13.
Philippians is another one of those books that hits the heart and opens up all sorts of emotions when you read it, especially when facing some kind of suffering. The Church at Philippi in Macedonia was planted by Paul around 53AD, the Philippians were greatly dedicated to Paul, and showed their affection by sending him supplies wherever he went. When they heard that he was imprisoned in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus, one of their pastors, to check on him, who then sent him back with this letter to thank them for their concern for him.
“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” – Philippians 1:18-24.
“Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” God has us where we are for a reason. People come and go in our lives for a reason, things come and go for a reason. One day I got up out of bed and had some pain in my knee, I still have no clue what I did, but it got worse, and every time I think it starts healing I feel a pull and it is right back to being in pain again, and this has gone on for almost a month now. I fuss about it, I cry, I plead with God that He takes the pain away, and that it will not be something He chooses to keep with me so that I could stay in His grace. Remember, Paul had some kind of a pain in his side or hip and Jesus would not take it away stating that His grace was sufficient enough to get Him through it. Sometimes, we will never understand God’s plan, but it is not for us to understand everything, it is for us to have faith that He will carry us through. As we remain faithful to Him we will eventually discover the blessings through the pain.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.” – Philippians 2:12-18.
“among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” The things we go through albeit some very painful are not meant as a punishment, or to imprison us, they are meant to free and empower us through Christ. Paraphrasing here, “I can do all things through Christ, who is my strength!” Repeat, “I can do all things through Christ, who is my strength!” When we do all things, knowing that Christ is our strength, we shine a light on us that nothing else on earth can ever compare to, that light is Christ, and nothing we do in His light is vain. I may have been “Ghosted”, by some, but they did not leave without knowing that Christ is my Saviour and theirs too if they believed in and received Him as their Saviour. Paul reminds us that nothing is lost when Christ is our strength.
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:7-14.
“those I counted loss for Christ.” Nothing gained or taken from our lives is counted for lost when Christ is involved, in fact, nothing we get on earth is more valuable than Christ. Think about it, what will we take with us when we leave the earth? If we are saved, the only thing will be Christ. Sometimes God puts us in some strange circumstances in order to bring others to Christ. It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ begins the good work in us, and it is Christ Who will ultimately complete that work by transforming us into His own likeness. Rejoice! Do not get mad or angry to the point that you walk away from God, rejoice, knowing that it will all get taken care of. As long as we trust God and remain faithful to Him He will see us through, even when we fuss and cry about how unfair He is. God is always with us, we just need to take the good with the bad, and I know that is hard.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” – Philippians 4:4-9.
“shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We must remember that affliction often brings obedience, which is often why we see God more when through affliction. No matter what life you choose you are going to be afflicted, you cannot change yesterday, but you can change today. The past is there for a reason, to help us learn and grow from it, but we must move forward and let all of the things that pull us back into the past go. Christ lives inside of you, the more you grow, the stronger you become, and are able to not only find joy through the affliction, but and end to it as well. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – I Peter 5:10. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:10-11.
Today’s Prayer: God, As much as I want to live my life for You, there are times when I am so overwhelmed with things that I just want to walk away from everything. This Psalm should cover all I have to say, Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Lord, Give me the peace, joy, and happiness that I once enjoyed before my affliction. Give me wisdom and guidance, help me see the light of Christ that shines in me. Give me the strength to look to Him in all that I do, and let me not forget to put You at the center of all that I do. I love You, Lord and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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